SUBLIME SLIME?

  Jane Tunks called okra, “sublime slime,” but it doesn’t have to be. If you think you don’t like it, try roasting it whole. It’s divine, but without the slime! ROASTED OKRA Start with the smallest, freshest okra you can find. Leave the pods whole and cook them quickly. They will be creamy inside, not slimy, with seeds that pop when you bite into them.  ½ pound (about 38 to 40 pods) small, young okra pods, 2-to 3-inches long or less 2 tablespoons light olive…

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MORE N’AWLINS FOOD: CREOLE GUMBO

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GUMBO, (c) 2008, JUDY BARNES BAKER Gumbo is the perfect metaphor for New Orleans: a rich, steamy, spicy, mélange of diverse ingredients that combine into an experience that is unique to this place. A place that feels distinctly foreign, while at the same time epitomizing the melting pot that is America. French, Italian, Native American, Creole, Cajun, and African—all share a part in the history of the Louisiana bayou region, intersecting, interacting, and blending into a one-of-a-kind, savory stew. Gumbo may contain a variety of…

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