It's been a while, so let me fill you in.
My local pub has been running a promotion for the last several weeks (during the playoffs in American football). They go way off-menu, with some strange looking guy bringing in the food. That would be me.
This started out with the jambalaya competition, then went to a chili cookoff, then took off from there. Since the chili cookoff, the publican has declined to compete. So has everyone else. They still show up for some really good eats
One of their favorites was the stuffed mushrooms (see previous thread for recipe). People who detested mushrooms asked for third and fourth servings. I was mobbed.
Last Sunday the playoffs saw New Orleans playing against Minnesota. All things considered, I had to bring in a good gumbo. Note to forumites who have not yet had a good gumbo: stay off of Burbon Street. I brought in an extra huge batch, and was mobbed.
What am I to do next week, with NOLA in the Superbowl? Keep in mind that I have recently brought in both the jambalaya and also the gumbo, and that we still have Mardi Gras looming in the all too near future. Too much of a good thing is not so good.
My idea: a Superbowl soup bowl. I culled the internet for a decent recipe for beef stew. I also looked into some vegetable soups, and gleaned from them what I could. My next thought: how would a Creole ignore these recipes and do it better?
It's really not bad. It takes about 6 hours, but it really is something to write home about. I still need to tone down the spices and bring out the herbs, but even without that this is the best stew I have ever had.
The publican told me that if I enjoy it, no further credentials are needed. He gives it his full blessing, sight unseen.
The soup bowl Superbowl is on!
- A
