Cooking and Life... adding spice in strife ... tied to the Widow's perseverance in the Kings account with Elijah ... with a New Orleans connection ...
Pic: Public Domain
”Now be sure to take da spoon and stir dat flour and oil a lot, and ...” said my client, J.
… “don't stop!” … J continued.
… “dat's the secret to a making da best ROUX!” J beamed with a smile from ear to ear!
When I would go to make a home social work visit with J - who was home-bound and had many health ailments, he would love to retell me this story.
And his wife would usually make me take a sample of something she'd put together for the day, like Chicken Stew!
J and R had once owned a deli in New Orleans, they had told me, and all their customers craved anything that they fixed, and especially the recipes they made that had a roux in them.
Recently at Mass, when I heard the First Reading from I Kings 17: 10 – 16, my mind went quickly to my memory above when the following verse (12) was read:
“As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”
As the account had further noted, the widow had expected for her son and her to die soon as the result of not having any more sustenance after that last bit of flour and oil, which Elijah had asked for her to make some bread for her first (Verses 10 and 11):
When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”
We can all learn so much from the trust and obedience demonstrated by the widow, who like Job, was blessed abundantly by God for her humility and faith!
Being a 'Yat, I have to end this piece with one of my fav quotes noted by renowned cookbook author, food writer, cajun and culinary historian, Marcelle Bienvenu, that graces the Louisiana Classic cookbook a dear friend, Marvelle, gave to my chef wife, Maria:
“Who's Your Mama, Are You Catholic, And Can You Make a Roux?”
Keith John Paul Horcasitas, LCSW, MHA, 1133 Knollhaven Drive, BRLA 70810
Bake beautiful and delicious French macarons in your own kitchen. This collection of tried-and-tested recipes allows bakers to create these tasty and colorful confections.
Pic: Public Domain
