'MARDI GRAS' ORCHID PARADE ~ SHELLFISH GUMBO

"There's a thing I've dreamed of all my life, and I'll be damned if it don't look like it's about to come true—to be King of the Zulu's parade. After that, I'll be ready to die."

~ Louis Armstrong

( Time magazine, February 21, 1949)

~ 'Mardi Gras' orchids*

(life ... lives on)

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SHELLFISH GUMBO

~ from a fav source, Legal Sea Foods Cookbook, comes this slightly adapted (with the addition of herbs) peasant dish, perfect for 'Mardi Gras' and the upcoming season of Lent

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3 Tbsp. vegetable oil (preferably grape seed)

2 Tbsp. toasted unbleached, all-purpose flour*

1 1/2 cups peeled and chopped sweet onions

3/4 cup chopped celery

1 lb. (1/4-inch sliced) okra (frozen is fine)

1 1/2 cups peeled, seeded chopped tomatoes

1 tsp. dried thyme

1 bay leaf

6 cups hot fish, shrimp or chicken stock

1-2 tsp. chopped garlic

1-1/1/2 lbs. peeled shrimp

8 oz. fresh (picked over for shells & cartilage) crabmeat

1 pint fresh shucked oysters

hot pepper sauce

salt (opt)

• Heat oil in large pot and stir in flour over medium-high heat until flour is absorbed. Add onions & celery (the flour will stick to vegetables). Continue cooking roux, stirring constantly until vegetables wilt slightly. Add okra, tomatoes, thyme, bay leaf, and stock. Stir until stock comes to a boil, lower heat, and simmer for at least 45 minutes, uncovered. Stir in garlic (gumbo at this point may be refrigerated for 1-2 days).
• Check consistency and thin gumbo with water or additional stock if necessary. Before serving, bring to boil and add shrimp, crabmeat, and shucked oysters. Cook mixture no longer the 1-2 minutes, depending upon size of shrimp and oysters. Do not overcook. Season with hot sauce and salt to taste. Ladle over rice. (You can add add cooked andouille sausage, ham, chicken or bacon but all shellfish is a favorite.)

*Note: To make toasted flour, spread 3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour in baking dish. Roast in preheated 350-degree oven for 20-30 minutes or until light beige color (it darkens when mixed with fat). Cool and (if wished) whirl in blender to remove lumps. Store (refrigerated) in covered jar.

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*MARDI GRAS COLORS

The 1892 Rex Parade theme ~

Symbolism of Colors

gave meaning to the colors:

purple represents justice;

green, faith;

and gold, power.