Gumbo. Word.

If there is any time of year that is perfect for Gumbo, it is right now. This is the signature dish of the Cajuns. Every cook in Louisiana has his/her own variation and methods. This is mine, and it's damned good.

Seafood Gumbo

Get a big-assed cast iron dutch oven. It can be enameled. Add 1 cup of vegetable oil and 1 cup of FRESH flour. The old crap you have had for a year will not do. Whisk the flour into the oil, and prepare to be there a while. Keep your heat on medium high, and whisk constantly and slowly until the roux is the color of chocolate. This will take about 45 minutes, I'm not shittin' ya. Get a glass of wine, settle in, and have fun. When it starts to turn the color of peanut butter, the process will speed up. If you burn it, chuck it, and start over. This is the flavor of your gumbo, and you don't want to screw it up.

When it is perfect, add 2 cups of chopped onions, 1 cup of diced celery, 1 cup of diced bell pepper, and 1/4 cup of minced garlic. damn. I hate measuring, so I don't. BUT for those that need to, I am guesstamating. Saute 3-5 minutes or until the veggies are wilted.

Add 1/2 lb. of chopped andouille sausage and sautee 5 more minutes.

Stir in 1 lb of claw crabmeat,1/2 cup of shrimp chopped up, and a cup of frozen okra. This is gettin' good......

SLOWLY add about 3 quarts of hot shellfish stock, one ladle at a time, and stir constantly. Look up a recipe for the stock. I make mine out of shrimp shells, bay leaves, lemon, peppercorns and mirapoux. Bring the whole thing to a simmer for about 30 minutes.

Add 2 cups od sliced green onions, and 1/2 cup of chopped parsley. Season with salt, cayenne, some hot sauce, or some Slap Yer Mama or Tony Chachere's seasoning. Just spice it up to your own taste.

Fold in a pound of shelled shrimp, another lb. of crabmeat, and about 2 dozen shucked oysters. If you can get some fresh crab claws, add them!! Return to a simmer for about 5 minutes. Adjust seasonings.

Serve over cooked rice with hot garlic bead. Have some filet on the side if folks want it thicker.

Get ready........ Someone WILL slap you this is so damned good. There is no better eatin' than this. Great for Christmas!!!