Roux Mixture

1/2 C. vegetable oil
1/2 C. all purpose flour
4 celery stalks, chopped
2 medium onions, chopped
1 small green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 C. fresh parsley
1/2 pound fresh okra, sliced or 1 10 oz. pkg frozen sliced okra
2 T. butter

Gumbo

1 qt. chicken broth
1 qt. water
1/4 C. Worcestershire
18 dashes Tobasco
1/4 C. ketchup
1 medium tomato, peeled and chopped
1/2 t. salt
1/2 pound Andouille sausage, sliced
1 bay leaf
1/8 t. dried thyme
1/8 t. dried rosemary
1/4 t. crushed red pepper flakes
1 C. diced cooked chicken
1 pound crabmeat
2 pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 t. molasses

3/4 – 1 cup cooked white rice per serving

In stockpot, combine oil and flour and cook over low heat stirring constantly until roux is the color of a copper penny. This could take 1 – 1 1/2 hours. Do not let roux burn. Stir in celery, onion, green pepper, garlic and parsley. Cook for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. In skillet, cook okra in butter until browned. Add to roux mixture and stir over low heat for 5 minutes. (At this point, mixture may be cooled, packed and refrigerated or frozen for later use.)

Add chicken broth, water, Worcestershire, Tobasco, ketchup, tomato, salt, sausage, bay leaf, thyme, rosemary and red pepper to roux mixure. Simmer covered for 2 1/2 – 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Thirty minutes before serving, stir in chicken, crabmeat, shrimp and molasses. Pack cooked rice into a measuring cup and turn cup over in individual soup plates to form an island of rice. Ladle soup around rice mound.

I want to give her some “just us” time this summer while she’s still small enough to want to spend time with me.

For the pre-teen years approacheth. *g*

Trips — however small — are great for “just us” time!!! Mine with my daughter were just great until those “let’s go visit colleges” nightmares.

Yep, mothering a pre-teen and/or teenage girl can be ROUGH, but @ 23, my daughter is now slowly realizing the value of a mom.

Having not had a good relationship with my own mom, and being a “guy” kind of girl [I like sports, math, woodworking; hate clothes & make-up], I really didn’t know how to parent a girl, and indeed, she’s much closer to my “sensitive” husband than she is to me.

But I think she at last appreciates the value of the “practical” parent, and those early trips — with ice cream, walking on the beach, or whatever — have to have helped. If not her, me.

have a recipe fit for my day here:

Ground Turkey Chili for People who Hate Ground Turkey

1 1/4 lbs ground turkey
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped (optional)
1 (16 oz) can kidney beans (i use homemade pinto)
1 (16 oz) can stewed tomatoes
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
2 T chili powder
1/2 t each: black pepper, salt, garlic powder, oregano, cumin and paprika
1 1/2 T cocoa powder
1 1/2 T brown sugar
1/2 t. cayenne (or to taste)
1 1/2 c. water

1. Saute ground turkey, green pepper and onion until lightly browned and onion and green pepper are soft (dutch oven).

2. Add remaining ingredients plus the water and stir well.

3. Simmer for 30 minutes.

This turns out wonderfully and everyone asks for the recipe so have it on hand.

Next week maybe the recipes i found for turkey breakfast or Italian sausage?

Grace

One of our dear friends here in Athens (Peggy Gish who has been in Iraq close to five years found out that she had uterine cancer after her latest return from Iraq. (we are allowed to share her story now) She just had a hysterectomy and things are looking hopeful. Peggy has been an inspiration to many of us here in Athens and for folks around the world who are aware of her devotion to social justice work. As a community we have helped keep them in meals, farm work etc. People want to help…it often takes a gatekeeper to put that support for the person struggling together

For me there is no rhyme or reason as to the why of cancer. Environmental, genetics and stress do seem to play parts but sometimes it seems like it is a roll of the dice. One thing that I have become very clear of it takes a village to raise a child, support those when they are struggling with health issues and take care of our elders.

Creating a support team is key to making sure the hardship does not fall on just a few peoples shoulders. And I have learned people really want to help.

Katymine you are in my prayers, meditations and so appreciate you being willing to share.

Also Lymelife….also a great film a real slice of life…but not a dance in the park film

My newest favorite from the garden.
Cut fresh beets into quarters, steam for a few minutes, drain. Spread the beets on cookie sheet cover with small amount of olive oil… lightly roast in oven l. Place roasted beets on top of fresh green salad sprinkle with feta, and toasted walnuts.

My favorite dressing of all time.

Half bulb of garlic chop individual cloves of garlic into small pieces add juice from two lemons, 1cup olive oil, teaspoon cumin, coriander, and one half tsp cayenne..1/5 cup soy sauce or braggs (like soy sauce) . Shake Shake shake.

Of course all of the ingredients above are added for your taste. This is my favorite summer time dressing

A toast to all those Warriors and Knights out there doing the good fight…