My Gumbo Secrets

The weather has finally dropped and stayed low enough for me to get in a gumbo-making mood -- not that I really need an excuse, but Pop Culture Dad usually makes jokes when I make gumbo, and it's 90 degrees outside. I make a pretty good gumbo. really good, actually. Since I'm also in a writing mood today, I thought I'd share some of my gumbo secrets. Unfortunately, I'll probably never share my gumbo recipe. My best friend knows, and while she hasn't been exactly sworn to secrecy, she's not telling. Pop Culture Dad has seen and even helped me make it, but even while eating it, he probably couldn't tell you a single ingredient in it. So right now, this secret recipe stays closely held. I will however share several pointers that should help you make an excellent gumbo no matter whose recipe you're using.

The Roux

As any great gumbo cook will tell you, the roux is the heart of the gumbo. Mess up here, and your gumbo is a goner no matter what else you do. The good news is, this is the easiest and cheapest step to fix. If you over- or under-cook your roux, throw it out and start over. If you mess it up again, chuck it all and start over again. Trust me – never rest on a bad roux.

I’ve read several recipes that call for equal parts oil and flour in the roux. Unless you like really greasy gumbo, don’t ever do this. Ever. There should always be more flour than oil.

Some recipes call for butter and others for oil or shortening. My personal preference is that butter-based roux [not “rouxes"; that’s not a word. Even though I’ve probably said it before, that is not a word. Let me say it again in case you missed it, “rouxes” is not a word.] be used for étouffés,while oil-based roux should be used for gumbo. Save the shortening for your pies and cookies. And olive oil? Yeah, no. Not a good taste. Never use an oil with an overpowering taste as part of your roux.

And while the idea of seafood stock as part of your roux base sounds intriguing, skip it. Water works just fine.
So, given that your basic good roux is just oil, flour and water, tell me again why you would ever keep a bad roux? Say it with me: “A bad roux just won’t do. Throw that sucker out.”


The Meats

This is purely a matter of personal preference. I tend to prefer a moderate amount of chicken, a minimal amount of sausage, and a lot of seafood. Pop Culture Dad prefers a moderate amount of seafood, a minimal amount of chicken, and a lot of sausage. Pop Culture Toddler just wants the rice. I usually try to make everyone happy. Use what makes you happy.

I will say, however, that one mistake I’ve seen a lot is people trying to get too “fancy” with their gumbos. When you try too hard, the result is usually more of a stew and not a gumbo. Gumbo means something, and crazy ingredients just don’t fit that meaning. When I lived in New York, I once went to a restaurant that claimed to have excellent seafood gumbo. Among the ingredients were snapper, flounder and Mahi Mahi.  Roux or no, that is not a gumbo. That’s a fish soup. [Side note: I tried it anyway. It was disgusting.]  I had a professor in law school that had us all over for “venison gumbo.” It was a very delicious venison stew; but as he darn-well knew when he served it, it was not a gumbo. I feel as strongly about this as I do people who use cream of chicken or cream of mushroom in a dish they claim is an étoufée. It is not, and stop telling that lie.

On the flip side, don’t go too pedestrian with your ingredients. My mom and some of her sisters use dried shrimp. I understand that growing up that’s all they could afford, but now that they can buy better, don’t go there. Gross gross gross.

Another note learned from my mom’s misadventures in cooking: do not, I repeat do NOT, cook your meat or vegetables before adding them to the roux. The mixture of the juices when everything cooks together is what makes a gumbo so good. If you precook your meat or veggies, you lose or alter the juices. Just don’t. The thing takes two hours to cook. If you don’t have the time to simmer your gumbo properly so that all of the meats will cook, then don’t bother making it that day at all.

And if you’ve ever cooked, you should know that seafood cooks more quickly than anything. If you’re adding shrimp or crab, do not add them until five to ten minutes before the end.


The Veggies

Yes, yes, yes. I know Emeril says that all Créole cooking requires the Holy Trinity of celery, onion and bell pepper. As a Créole rather than some guy from Jersey who cooks (really good) Créole food, I’m gonna say that’s bunk. Yes, my Holy Trinity appears in many things (like my étoufées or my cornbread dressing), but you will never find a piece of celery in my gumbo. I just don’t like it. Again, it’s a personal choice. If you like it, go for it. But I never will.

The veggies are usually the first thing I add, and they get a little bit of alone time with the roux before the seasoning and the meat are added.  The only exception to this is okra.  If you choose to add okra, that should only go in before the seafood (at the end). My okra usually only cooks 15 – 20 minutes. Otherwise, the result is often slimy okra. {{shudder}}


The Rice

Totally a personal choice, but I think you can’t go wrong with Uncle Ben’s Converted Rice. Of course, I also think this rice is so good that with a little butter, I’d eat a bowl of just that. So maybe I’m a little biased.
=-=-=-=-=

Hope these tips serve you well. All this gumbo talk has made me hungry, so I’m going to go tend to mine.

While cooking on the stove. Probably a bit much for a family of three. We could eat for a week off this thing [if only Pop Culture Dad ate leftovers].

 The finished product! And it was good (as usual)!
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P.J.

When I was nine years old, shortly before Christmas, my mom took me to Palais Royal.  This wasn’t an unusual or special event; this was just a normal shopping trip. On display were a bunch of teddy bears called the P.R. Bear.  They were white and cuddly and wearing green and red winter accessories. I had to have one. So my mom bought one for me. I thought P.R. was a stupid name for a bear, so I named him P.J.

Unlike many childhood toys that have come and gone, P.J. (sans clothes) stayed throughout elementary, middle and high school.  P.J. went to college with me. Eventually he went to law school with me. My last year of law school, P.J. even had a best friend.  My roommate had a number of bears of his own, and P.J.’s “best friend” was my roommate’s teddy bear. I actually have a picture on my wall of my roommate, P.J., Mr. Giggles a*k*a Giggie, and me. And, yes, throughout all these years, I slept with P.J. cuddled up to me.

As you can imagine a bear who’s been around – and used – for more than 20 years would be, P.J.’s had a little wear and tear. At some point, P.J. ended up on the top shelf of one of our rarely used closets.  One day I went into that closet to find winter clothes, and my daughter discovered P.J.  She had to have him. So I let her hold him.

My husband wasn’t entirely thrilled about the idea. As I mentioned, P.J. has had some wear and tear. Instead of white, he was grey. And not a good grey either. Pop Culture Dad kept imploring me to throw him away, but I just refused, because I’ve had this bear for 24 years. He didn’t have much to worry about, Pop Culture Toddler quickly forgot about P.J. like she does most toys, and P.J. went back in the closet.

For some reason, this weekend I decided it was finally time for P.J. to have a bath. I was washing my daughter’s current lovey, Elmo, anyway, so it seemed like a good idea. I just prayed that Elmo didn’t turn P.J. pink. My husband was the one who took the laundry out of the dryer this weekend, so I forgot about P.J. (and everything else in the laundry) altogether. Until Tuesday night…

Pop Culture Toddler was running through the hallway and noticed the laundry basket [don’t judge!]. All of the sudden, I hear a squeal, “P.J.!!!!!!!!!!!”. I honestly didn’t know she still knew his name. Not only did she remember P.J.’s name, she remembered him.  PCT pointed at P.J. and said “Mommy’s bear.” Then she picked him up, squeezed him, and said her favorite word these days, “Mine.” Honestly, I wasn’t sure I wanted to give up my bear, even though it’s been a few years (okay, couple) since he’s been my sleeping companion. But sometimes being a mommy means you have to make the hard choices, so I let PCT keep him.

Last night, she insisted that P.J. sit with us for her bedtime story, an honor previously bestowed on Abby and Elmo. This morning, I found Abby and Elmo on the floor next to the bed, while P.J. slept soundly next to my baby girl. Even then, I thought it would be a fad.  Tonight, I asked PCT if she wanted to grab Abby and Elmo for a bedtime story, and she grabbed P.J. instead.  She clung to him even after she fell asleep.

Maybe Pop Culture Toddler will be bored with P.J. a week from now. Or maybe she’ll follow my lead and take him off to college with her. Only time will tell. I will say, though, that I never thought you could consider a single teddy bear a family tradition, but now I’m wondering…

Caitie & PJ

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Childcare Issues - What Would You Do?

One of my friends called me this evening for an urgent mommy conference. She's having nanny issues and wanted to get my opinion. She also wants the opinions of the mommysphere, so if anyone has thoughts, please weigh in (and ASAP).

Here's the deal:

My friend came home early unannounced. When she got home, her nanny was in the bathroom at the front of her house. One of her twins was in my friend's bedroom... At the back of the house... Sleeping in her car seat... With the door closed. When my friend asked why her daughter was strapped in her car seat, the nanny's response was that the air conditioner repairman had to get into her daughter's bedroom upstairs. By my friend's estimation (though we're not sure), the repairman would have left an hour prior.

To cap it all off nicely, my friend also found out the nanny's been in her bed when she's gone.

My friend isn't sure what to think or what to do. Maybe this was a one time, unusual thing. Maybe this is what happens often before she gets home. No one but the nanny (and the one-year old twins who can't tell her what goes on) knows for sure.

So what's a mom to do -- push all of the what-else-does-she-do-when-I'm-not-home thoughts out her head and go about business as usual? Enroll her twins in Montessori a few months earlier than she planned (their spot is already open)? Get a new nanny? And if she gets rid of this nanny, does she give her notice or inform her on Friday that she need not return Monday?

What would you do?

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RECIPE: Pop Culture Mom's "Famous" Cornbread Dressing

As I mentioned in my pre-Halloween blog, we resumed our annual Samhain/Halloween dinner party this year [menu appears at the bottom of this post]. The second most requested recipe was my recipe for cornbread dressing. My pumpkin bread wins first prize for most requested. Since the holidays are coming up, I figured it's a perfect time to share the cornbread dressing recipe. Maybe with enough prodding, I'll share the pumpkin bread recipe, too.

Now, I'm not very proprietary about this recipe. For one, I co-opted it from one of my aunts quite some time ago and have only made a few minor adjustments, so it's not like it's this huge secret or even mine to own [not to mention, it's very close to a recipe I just found online]. For another, I'm not trying to publish a cookbook or otherwise make money off this recipe, so sharing it for free doesn't hurt me in any way [though, if you really like it, feel free to send me $10. J/K. Maybe....]. In any event, I'm so conceited about my cooking that I'm sure no one will make it as well as I do.  All that being said, I'm not going to say what kind of seasoning I use. Anyone who knows me can figure it out in a millisecond, because, well, I put it in everything. Create your own style. I'm also not going to say how much seasoning I use because, well, I don't know. I just keep mixing and tasting until it seems right.

I'm also totally guessing on the cream of chicken and chicken broth, because, again, I never measure. I do know, however, how much I buy at the store. So that's what I'm giving you.

Now with all of that, on to the recipe!

Pop Culture Mom's "Famous Cornbread Dressing and Giblet Gravy


(in action at the party, half gone)

Serving Size: I dunno. Usually the party has 20 or so people and sometimes we have some left over, sometimes we don't. This year I had maybe a spoonfull left over. Feel free to cut the recipe by 1/3 for smaller groups.

Ingredients

 
4 cans cream of chicken soup (personally, I think you can't go wrong here)
1 32 oz. box chicken broth (I like this one)
6 large eggs (or, alternatively 3/4 cup of Egg Beaters and 3 large eggs)
1 cup milk (I use organic skim, but that's because that's what I drink)
1 cup each of onion, celery, and green bell pepper, all diced [yes, I'm Créole; therefore, you need the "holy trinity"]
chicken seasoning, to taste
other seasonings, to taste
(optional) one chicken giblet or neck bone

Instructions

1. Set three eggs to hard-boil. Set aside when done.

2. While the eggs are boiling, use the cornbread mix, three eggs/Egg Beaters and milk to make the cornbread according to the instructions on the Jiffy box.

3. Once the cornbread is done, transfer it to a large mixing bowl and crumble it.

4. Chop up two of the hard boiled eggs and add them to the mixing bowl.  Then add the onion, celery, green pepper, 3 cans of cream of chicken and 2-1/2 cups of chicken broth. Stir everything until well mixed.  Add the chicken seasoning and other seasonings to taste.

5. Pour the mixture into a 9x13 pan and bake at 350ºF until the top is golden brown (usually 45 minutes for this size; around 20-25 minutes if only making a third of this recipe).

6. FOR THE GRAVY: Slice the remaining hard-boiled egg (including yolk) into slivers. Put the egg slices with the remaining chicken broth and cream of chicken [and chicken giblet/neck bone, if desired] into a medium-sized sauce pan.  Add black pepper and any other desired seasonings to taste. Simmer for five to ten minutes, stirring repeatedly (don't let it boil over). If you added the chicken parts, remove them before serving.

***

Note: None of the brands I recommend are paying me for these endorsements [though, if anyone's looking, CALL ME. Wink]. These are just the brands I always use; and as a creature of habit, I stick with what I know. I know exactly what the taste is using my brands of choice. I make no guarantees for the taste using other brands. Feel free to experiment, and if you find something that works well, let me know!

BTW, here's the menu for this year's party. Minus one major omission in the description of the salad [how the heck could I forget to mention the star of the salad -- bacon!?], this is exactly what we had. I'm getting hungry all over again, just thinking about it.


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I Hate Being Up at Pre-Dawn

I really hate being up at dawn. Even worse than being up at dawn? Being up at dawn on vacation.

Tonight/this morning is the second time this week (vacation week) that Pop Culture Toddler decided to wake up at 4 a.m. The last time was two nights ago. She was up at 4:30 a.m. and didn't go back to sleep until a little after 6. Today seems to be following a similar pattern, only it was slightly before 4 when she woke up. And we have to leave at 10 to catch our plane. I don't see this going well.

PCT is easy enough to get to bed the first time. Even on vacation, she's done pretty well with out modified version of her routine and fallen asleep rather easily. It's the falling back asleep that's the problem.

First is the unreasonable list of demands that changes every time a wish is fulfilled. "Mommy, tuck you in" is usually followed by "No, Mommy! No covers!!". "Mommy, lay down!", then "Mommy, stand up!". "Water, please" is chased by either "Water in [cup that is nowhere near the room and likely dirty]!!" or "No water! No water, Mommy! No!". "Abby, Elmo, please" comes right before "No Abby! No Elmo!" followed by Abby and Elmo being chucked across the room. Then come the various requests to blow her nose (only with a Boogie Wipe) and lather her with Aquaphor -- in very specific places, and usually the same spot over and over, despite the half-inch layer that is already present.

And these demands aren't just said loudly, they're usually screamed - sometimes screamed and cried - and always on an endless loop with one another. Nothing makes her happy. Nothing.

Since we're on vaca in an ocean-front condo, I have substituted the ocean white noise machine to which she always goes to sleep with the sound of the actual ocean. The problem with that tonight is that she likes to listen on the patio, and a cold front came through yesterday. It's 40 degrees and windy. And it's sort of hard to bundle up when my requests have been "Mommy stand up" and "No covers! No blanket!". Seriously?! Look, kid, you're gonna have to meet me halfway.

It's a little after 5 now, and I've finally convinced her to (1) let me close the patio door, (2) allow me a blanket, and to sit down on a chair (3) put her head on my shoulder and close her eyes, and (4) stop screaming [I'm sure the octogenarians downstairs appreciate that last one]. This is real progress! If I can just manage to lull her into sleep within the next half hour, I may actually get some rest in before we're off to Palm Beach International. I won't hold my breath, though.
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My Vacation Musings

The Pop Culture Family is currently on vacation in Florida, visiting my in-laws. Now that we’re almost done with Day Three of our trip, a few things occur to me…

  1. When you’re going out of town for almost a week, a trial-sized tube of toothpaste just isn’t going to cut it.
  2. No matter how nice the resort, always bring your own soap – particularly when two out of three family members are allergic to pretty much everything.
  3. When you have a toddler who has some good potty days and some bad ones, never underestimate the loveliness and convenience of a hotel room that comes with its own washer and dryer. That’s two vacas in the last three weeks where we have been so blessed. Thank you vacation gods!
  4. Wherever you accidentally fail to put sunscreen will be the one area that gets the most sun (ask Pop Culture Toddler and Pop Culture Dad about that one…).
  5. Never go on vacation with a full suitcase unless you plan on FedEx’ing things back home.
  6. If the guy on the beach makes a “this wide” sign when jumping out of the water and the fish are going crazy, it means there’s a shark. Do not go in the water. I repeat, do not go in the water. [We were smart enough to recognize this; the ladies next to us, not so much].
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