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A Lil' Somethin' Creole Slides Into One Big Easy

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ANNE-MARIE HODGES and PAM BRANDON

Tribune correspondents

Published: May 27, 2008

Cue the zydeco music and kick up your heels with a bodacious bowl of bliss. A saucy Creole classic - sans the okra - will lavish your family and friends with a bit of "lagniappe." That means "a little something extra" in the parlance of Southern Louisiana.

Creole cuisine was heavily influenced by the French settlers of Louisiana. Mirepoix, the classic French soup base, was adapted by Cajun and Creole cultures to include onions, celery and peppers - the "holy trinity" of veggies indigenous to the region and the foundation for hearty bayou fare.

This speedy, one-pot wonder will leave you plenty of time to practice your fais-do-do dance step.

We'll save you a place on the dance floor.

Anne-Marie Hodges and Pam Brandon can be reached at

BAYOU BEAUTY SHRIMP AND SAUSAGE GUMBO

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

2 ribs celery, chopped

Coarse salt and cracked black pepper, to taste

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

6 cloves garlic, minced

1 pound andouille sausage, split in two and sliced into 1/2-inch pieces

4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

4 cups chicken or fish stock

1 cup dry white wine

1/2 cup crushed tomatoes

1 pound shrimp, cleaned and de-veined

3 tablespoons minced fresh flat-leaf parsley

2 green onions, sliced

Hot cooked rice (optional)

Heat the oil in your favorite soup pot; add the onion, red pepper and celery. Season vegetables with salt, pepper and cayenne; saute until tender. Add the garlic, and cook for 1 minute.

Toss in the sausage, and cook for 5 minutes. Dust the mixture with flour and dried thyme. Stir until evenly distributed.

Add the stock, wine and tomatoes, and simmer for 20 minutes. Add shrimp.

Cook for 2 minutes or until shrimp is done. Top with parsley and green onions, and serve over rice if desired.

Anne-Marie Hodges and Pam Brandon can be reached at divas@culinaryconfessions.net.

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