New Year's gumbo

[hal4uk]

Looks very tasty, KY (even if you didn't use okra!)

Roux and okra (as well as filé powder) are thickening agents, and yeah, the roux is the only one you can't do without. 
But, "gumbo" is an African word meaning "okra".

I like the base combo of roux/trinity/okra... 
Never was crazy about filé powder; just don't care for the flavor.

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filé powder
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[NePaSmoKer]

Looks very tasty, KY (even if you didn't use okra!)

Roux and okra (as well as filé powder) are thickening agents, and yeah, the roux is the only one you can't do without. 
But, "gumbo" is an African word meaning "okra".

I like the base combo of roux/trinity/okra... 
Never was crazy about filé powder; just don't care for the flavor.

----
filé powder
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filé is ground up sassafrass.

Which i just happen to have  ;D  Good for smoking sticks too  ;D

[hal4uk]

Nepas, the filé powder is the ground up sassafrass leaves...

Is the wood good for smoking?

[NePaSmoKer]

Yes the wood is real good for smoking. This spring it should be dry enough to cut up for the bighouse smoke.

I need to ask my buddy for some leaves.

[hal4uk]

What would you compare the wood to? is it a mild/strong flavor?

[NePaSmoKer]

What would you compare the wood to? is it a mild/strong flavor?

Mild like pecan with a hint of alder sweetness

[Ka Honu]

...The "trinity" is diced onions, bell peppers and celery...

Usually 2 parts onion to one part each celery & bell pepper.

As Ky says, the varieties are pretty near endless.  Roux, trinity, and stock are required - everything else is often either "to taste" or "what's on hand."

Two schools of thought on the etymology of "gumbo" - one (as hal pointed out) claims it's from the Bantu word for okra.  The other (less commonly accepted) school says it comes from a Choctaw work for sassafras.  Either way, it's one of the greatest foods there is and preparing it should be one of everyone's basic cooking skills. TMS(IAGS)&ISTI!

filé powder
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Where dat?

[squirtthecat]

Click Start/Run (or however you get to 'Run' on Vista) and type "charmap".

Brings up this little guy:



You'll find pretty much every character/symbol under the sun.  ♪☼♫¶..

[KevinG]

You realize you just cussed me out in Swahili.

[NePaSmoKer]

You realize you just cussed me out in Swahili.

DOH

[Ka Honu]

Squirt - For some reason my brain wasn't functioning very well and I was looking for special symbols in the forum interface. Thanks for the redirection.

[Quarlow]

Well that's cool and my kid just put it on my desk top for me to.

[ronbeaux]

I love a good gumbo!