Week 131: Bayou Gumbo with Black-Eyed Peas
As week seven, or what feels like four hundred and seven, of quarantine progressses I find myself daydreaming about where I want to travel to first. And while I love exploring new places, right now all I want to do is drive the familiar path south to Hilton Head Island. HHI holds so many fond memories ... it's the place I've vacationed nearly every summer since I met Tony. There's something about that hot, humid sun and beautiful beaches that just instantly relaxes me.
And, while I'm no southerner, I can't say enough about Southern cuisine. It's so different from the food I was raised on and what I typically cook in my own kitchen ... it's such a delicious treat to enjoy while down there. This week's menu is inspired by my desire to soon be traveling south towards warm, sunny beaches :-)
On the menu for MONDAY, MAY 4th is BAYOU GUMBO STEW WITH BLACK-EYED PEAS and CORNBREAD. This tasty stew features the "holy trinity" of aromatic vegetables - onions, celery & peppers - tender chicken, flavorful andouille sausage and black-eyed peas. It's generously seasoned with Creole seasoning, black pepper and loads of garlic to add layers of flavor.
The stew begins with sauteing the holy trinity of celery, onion and red peppers with sliced andouille sausage. Once the veggies are softened, the all-important roux (which thickens the stew) begins with flour and vegetable oil. Once the roux is a deep reddish color, homemade chicken stock, black-eyed peas, sliced okra, tender cooked chicken and Creole seasoning are mixed in. The stew is finished with cooked white rice and sliced green onions. And if sausage isn't your jam, I can easily leave it out ... just add a note when placing your order.
The bread companion this week is cornbread, which is the quintessential bread of the South. This buttery cornbread is baked in a loaf plan so you can easily cut into slices to share with your family.
**Please note that all soup is now delivered in disosable containers to avoid cross-contaimination, it is automatically added to your purchase. And while we love seeing your faces when we make our deliveries ... for the time being we will be leaving your dinner on your front porch so we can avoid breaching social distancing guidelines. All pick up orders will be from 5-6:30 PM as Z Place is currently closed on Mondays during this crisis. Thank you for your patience as I try to accomodate everyone under these unusual circumstances.