I couldn’t tell you what I ate for dinner last Tuesday, but I can tell you what I had on Saturday, June 20th , 2015. It was the most mouth watering Chicken Gumbo I’ve ever tasted. Tender chunks of chicken and smoked sausage in a perfectly made roux, and trust me roux is not easy to make. If you stop stirring or take your eyes off of it for one second, your roux is ROUX-INED! I know… because the first time my husband and I tried… it was ruined. But that was all part of the fun. The best part is that it was a shared experience. This is something that we do from time to time. Howard and I pick a challenging recipe, and just GO FOR IT.
There is something romantic about pouring a nice glass of wine, turning on some soft music and chopping an onion while Howard is next to me stirring away. Neither one of us are expert chefs, but coming up with a menu and doing the work together, works for us. No one’s in charge. No one’s wearing the Top Chef hat. We’re both learning and creating together. Like when we actually experienced all the different stages of our now infamous roux. Get this: it goes from a peanut butter color to a dark brown milk chocolate color with a nutty aroma. We were like, “Oh my God…look, it IS turning a different color.” “You smell that?” “Nuts!”
And hey, don’t fret if you see black specs in the pan. Before you give up and dump it out and start over, because you think you have ruined it, let it simmer. Roux is very delicate. Who knew there was so much involved in making roux? And really, who cares? I just love that we’re spending quality time with each other. No TV, no phones, no distractions. We’re both focused on the meal at hand. We are together and present. The best is when the house starts to smell delicious and you know the meal is about done. You’ve worked hard on this so why not bring out the china that only gets used at Thanksgiving? Light a fancy candle. Savor every bite. That Saturday’s meal was so scrumptious it made me feel like I was actually in New Orleans dining on some authentic Creole cookin’ rather than in our own humble kitchen.
And don’t get me started on dessert. I don’t think I need to give you those juicy details. Let me just say…food can be VERY romantic. It’s so much more than just filling your belly. To “spice” up cooking your meals together, famed author and TV chef Rachel Ray suggests roasted salmon, homemade pasta, or get really creative and learn to roll sushi with your sweetie. Just go on line, look up a recipe and go for it. There’s no food police. If you want to put your own stamp on it, then do it.
I have no idea what I ate last week, but when I cook with my husband it forms a lasting memory. From now on, all Gumbo will be compared to the Gumbo we made and loved that June 20th, 2015. They say food always tastes better when there’s love in it. I couldn’t agree more. It’s a delicious journey that I highly recommend. Bon appétit! ~Susan