take a break… Seafood Gumbo is Best!

Aaaah Seafood Gumbo is Best!
Years ago, I started making my own Seafood Gumbo based on my intense love for this wonderful dish. I improvised quite a bit, departing from the inexpensive dish that it was originally intended to be and modified it into something a bit more healthy.

Now, I never leave a recipe alone, even my own, so I tried out a few modifications today that… well… were just wonderful. I substituted chopped King Crab meat for the canned variety I usually use ( but this was disappointing to me, so I will go back to canned as I think it makes the sauce a bit meatier… and I like that) and I added a pound of diced bacon into the blend, first using the left over fat as part of the roux! Oh, I made a few other changes… which were fun too.
On the crisp days we’ve been having in America… there is nothing that warms y’all better than a lunch full of Seafood Gumbo!  Here’s my original recipe!

Profitez de notre famille plats préférés! Cela me rappelle avec affection de mon temps en Louisiane. Laissez-vous prendre cette recette maison!

Roger Freberg

Laura teases me a bit about my use of the word ‘seafood’ as that implies fish… well, no, just chopped lobster, crab, diced clams and shrimp in this recipe… just the good stuff… oh yeah, this one has bacon!

John McCain & the Reagan Coalition

the NEW Reagan Coalition
What’s not to like about John McCain?

John brings together the same groups that Ronald Reagan did back in 1980. His attractiveness to each group is a bit different that President Reagan, John has many more moderates and folks on the left… but the coalition is in many significant ways… the same.

Now, I do understand that there are some vocal ‘conservatives’ that want to turn themselves into ‘suicide voters’ by supporting democrats… but these are your ‘abortion-is-everything’ conservatives and neither side of this debate can swing this election…. though the ‘social conservatives’ may try by linking to other issues they may feel are sexy with the voters… but the coalition behind McCain is formidable. bring it!

Of course, John McCain might throw a bone by putting a social conservative on the ticket as President Reagan did by placing a liberal Republican on his ticket. We shall see… politics makes such strange bedfellows.

Besides, a ‘suicide’ voter is already dead from the neck up.

Roger Freberg

ooops! Too Much Fun this Holidays!

too much fun? nah!

Well, a sad little side note.

Combined with too much fun, a cold and inactivity… it’s back on the Jenny Craig wagon again! Not that I didn’t enjoy the holidays, I did! It’s just that I am now over my allowable range… and that’s the way it goes.

Hopefully, I can get the weight off for Saturday… which is the day we cook!

Roger Freberg

PS. it must have been  Karen’s cheese cake, or my Eclairs… or perhaps, Laura’s deliciously decadent  ABC Rolls  (Amarula, Blueberry & Cinnamon!)… nah!

Delmonico’s Chocolate Eclairs!

what momma never told you!!!!
Bring on the eggs… lets say 16! Bring on the egg yolks… let’s say 10!

I am enjoying the ‘Epicurean’, the only cookbook you’ll ever need! I have loved the recipes from it… now we have a book! Karla found the perfect present for both Karen and Kristin!!!
Yes, there is some translation that needs to occur… you need to know what a ‘gil’ is ( 1/2 cup liquid) and what an ounce of corn starch is… but after you do the math… it is elegantly simple!

Here is the recipe! 

Now, in the beginning, ‘Eclairs’ were small (lady finger size), made with loads of eggs and totally fab ( as my girl’s would say)!

Check it out!

Roger Freberg