Oct 24th 2012 08:11 am Full stomach, empty calories
I enjoyed the discussion of chili! Now, on to an even more complex subject, gumbo. Here, the season’s first pot of seafood gumbo isn’t far away. Let me tell you my favorite gumbo story. I was in the check-out lane of Delchamps supermarket in Pass Christian, Mississippi. (Remember Delchamps, third-coasters?) I was assembling the ingredients for seafood gumbo that day. I was leaning on my cart, double checking my grocery list, when an African-American lady in line ahead of me said, “Mmmmm… looks like somebody’s making some gumbo.” I was quite pleased with myself and perked up immediately. Not to generalize, but I knew if she were like most in her community she had an innate understanding of and appreciation for gumbo. I deemed it an honor she’d even broach the subject with me. I replied, “Yes, Ma’am! I certainly am!” Then she asked, “You’re not from around here, are you?” Somewhat puzzled by the seeming nonsequitir, I replied, “No, not originally. Why did you ask me that?” Matter of factly, she told me: “Because you have a list!”
Posted by jimmyjohnson / Vintage A&J
53 Responses to “Full stomach, empty calories”
Crickett on 24 Oct 2012 at 8:21 am #
Delchamps! Loved that store! I worked there the summer before college in Foley.
Whistling Rufus on 24 Oct 2012 at 8:23 am #
So, what happened to Delchamps? Hurricane?
Steve from Royal Oak, MI on 24 Oct 2012 at 8:27 am #
I was thinking of making gumbo tonight, but the temperature will be in the mid-70′s so I might make a quick stop at the grocery store for something to grill. I can’t eat shrimp due to allergies, so I make with with sausage. However, I use a store box mix and tweak it. Just with the mix, I find gumbo to be a little hot, so I am sure that I would probably not like the “true” gumbo enjoyed in the gulf coast. To each his own.
Jean in Dahlonega Ga aka Trapper Jean on 24 Oct 2012 at 8:30 am #
c ex-p, the only time I didn’t like her pear and pineapple preserves was the summer I was 8 years old and had the mumps. The sweetness hurt my jaws. Otherwise it was heaven on hot biscuits!
I have a friend who makes pretty good chicken gumbo, except she puts too much file powder (to my way of thinking) and she adds it in too soon. Her gumbo is a bit gelatinous and is a funny greenish color.
Yep, time to make gumbo.
Mindy on 24 Oct 2012 at 8:46 am #
Gumbo is a seasonal dish? Around here it’s a staple of life and if we don’t have it at least once in ten days — one pot lasts three glorious days — either John or I get downright vicious. He’s been known to go snarling into the kitchen to fix his own [truly delicious] version of the Soup of the Gods unless I have already gone snarling into the kitchen to fix my own [equally truly delicious] version. I see some irony here, Jimmy. I was taught to fix gumbo by an elderly black woman who had to be in her nineties but honestly wasn’t sure. She told me, in the process of teaching me, “Honey, you can put anything in gumbo except a pair of old shoes or your husband and you can put him in if he’s too much of an [anal orifice] to put up with.” She did add that John was a keeper. John was a pall bearer at her funeral and cried like a baby. Got to say that the funeral itself was memorable since she was a Voodoo Priestess Emeritus.
Mindy on 24 Oct 2012 at 8:47 am #
That’s where I learned most of my spells and hexes, Ghost and sandcastler, before you ask.
Hurd in Bay Minette on 24 Oct 2012 at 8:48 am #
Just when I thought I knew what I was cooking this weekend you change my mind.
By the way. There is going to be an important ballgame for my Mississippi State Bulldogs this weekend. If they pull it off it will be a historic win for State. Not many “Historic” games this year so far. So ya’ll think of me. A lone MSU fan in an Alabama family. At least I’ll have a good pot of gumbo.
Bob, near Mark on 24 Oct 2012 at 8:49 am #
And there’s always Rose Gumbo.
http://www.gocomics.com/roseisrose
sandcastler on 24 Oct 2012 at 8:57 am #
Mindy, no hexes for bamboo?
Mindy on 24 Oct 2012 at 9:05 am #
Bob, near Mark, Rose Gumbo is cute but not even in the same class a Janis. Sandcastler, I used every hex [and curse] I know on Demon Bamboo and that disgusting spawn of the fiery regions has bested me each time, so now I resort to physical force. “Curses” reminds me, El Preacher called and asked if he could stop by for a few minutes before lunch “accompanied” by his wife and one of the deacons. Why does this feel ominous? And why do I not think the preacher will be invited to stay for lunch [day-old chicken noodle soup which is a close contender to chili and gumbo]? Film at eleven.
America’s Most Wanted at twelve?
Galliglo in Ohio on 24 Oct 2012 at 9:13 am #
To change the subject(s)… today’s strip is a grand example of understated wisdom. Applies in almost any example one can think of…
Cindy Bear on 24 Oct 2012 at 9:19 am #
I love this story, Jimmy!
Symply Fargone on 24 Oct 2012 at 9:40 am #
I have been looking at a recipe for Gumbo, being a New Englander and not knowing any southern folk up here I am going through recipes looking for congruities to tie one together. Anybody out here willing to share their favorite gumbo with me? Looking for something that will make a Symply Fargone cold Fall dinner.
Bryan on 24 Oct 2012 at 9:49 am #
@ TruckeRon-
Regarding the GF peanut butter cookie recipe. My version uses 75% granulated suger, 25% brown sugar (1.5c/0.5c) and 2 teaspoon vanilla. I bake all my cookies on parchment paper. No oil/grease on baking sheet and I can just slide the paper with the cookies off to cool. While one batch is baking I put the next of dough and paper and only have the baking sheet out of the oven for less than a minute.
Reading the recipes yesterday got me craving them and I made up a batch last night.
Neal in Bahstawn on 24 Oct 2012 at 9:59 am #
Symply, my wife is a dyed-in-the-wool Damn Yankee (who has been “just visiting” New England for 24 of the past 32 years), but she makes a gumbo that would make my Georgia-born mother proud (or at least a little less disdainful of our ‘mixed marriage’). The principal ingredients are chicken, shrimp, hot sausage, rice, and a liberal dose (all New Yorkers are liberal) of Louisiana hot sauce.
And, I agree with Mindy that gumbo knows no season.
Ghost Rider 6 on 24 Oct 2012 at 10:44 am #
Mindy, I enjoyed your Lonesome Dove-themed post earlier today. That’s the one that taught me that cowboys weren’t always talking about “a wallet or a money purse” when they asked for “a poke.”
I once asked an agriculture extension agent the best way to deal with nut grass in a residential lawn. He said, “Move.” I hope that the Evil Bamboo Monster doesn’t prove to be that intractable. Do that voodoo that you do so well and hope for the best.
7-5 odds that El Idiota is coming to apologize. Will you be wearing your Bamboo Fighter outfit when they arrive?
I have both homemade chili and homemade gumbo in my freezer. What are the odds of that?
Steve from Royal Oak, MI on 24 Oct 2012 at 11:00 am #
A co-worker informed us on Friday that he was going on vacation to Jamaica. Can’t wait to hear his stories of the storm.
Today’s strip is Jimmy looking in our windows again. I have shared the You Tube video of my cat doing a somersault when he wants to be fed his canned treat. Not sure if that counts for herding.
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 24 Oct 2012 at 11:12 am #
Cut up bell peppers are fine in chili, and I’ve had good chili with tomatoes in it. I’m no cinnamon fan generally, but, considering how spicy chili sometimes is, many of us may have eaten chili with cinnamon in it and not known it.
De gustibus . . .. Some people even like PH’s pizza sauce.
nick chik on 24 Oct 2012 at 11:40 am #
Hello from “the third coast”…just one comment about gumbo. The key ingredient (in my neck of the woods) is OKRA. It ain’t gumbo without OKRA…’nuff said.
Mindy on 24 Oct 2012 at 12:08 pm #
Simply Fargone, give me a bit of time and I’ll post one for you, but right now I go forth on the Crusade against the backyard evil demon. Be patient!
Bob, near Mark on 24 Oct 2012 at 12:11 pm #
Does it give you gas, or is Okra Windfree?
John in Virginia on 24 Oct 2012 at 12:34 pm #
Okra is windfree. Oprah is a wind bag.
Mindy is out there with a hatchet! I’m skeered!
Bob, near Mark on 24 Oct 2012 at 12:43 pm #
John, are you skeered for yourself, for the hatchet, for Mindy, or for the bamboo?… or is she out there with the hatchet waiting for El Preacher?
Ghost Rider 6 on 24 Oct 2012 at 12:46 pm #
John, that reminds me of a vision I had back in the 80′s…that the Soviet Union invaded the US during deer season, found the woods crawling with camouflage-wearing people with rifles, and withdrew.
al-Qaeda beware. I’m just sayin’.
John in Virginia on 24 Oct 2012 at 12:56 pm #
Oh, Lord, Mindy is ballistic! El Preacher showed up, wife and deacon in tow, humbly apologized and said that he simply couldn’t function in an environment where his pure and honest motives were so questioned. {His quote, not mine} and that he was going to resign his position and more to another church where he would be more appreciated. I think he expected one or both of us to beg him to stay but that didn’t happen since we don’t go to that church and it wasn’t our place to do that. Then he blew it. Since we didn’t respond, he huffed a bit and then said, “It’s really a shame that I should be so punished by mistrust and spiteful words when all I wanted to do was make this poor woman see the error of her disgusting, evil ways and save her from her own perverted and repulsive displays of flesh, her unbecoming and lustful behavior and speech, and her never ending efforts to entice innocent souls into sin with her evil displays of bare flesh and her ceaseless sexual appetites.” I wrote that down as soon as he — quickly, since Mindy was holding the hatchet and showed every intention of using it — departed, wife in tow, and she was heard to exclaim, “You idiot! You poor, simple minded idiot!” The deacon moved to keep me from hitting him which was a good choice since he didn’t want to get in front of scalp-taking Mindy. I find it hard to believe that any man would persist in being so…judgemental? Idiotic? I feel sorry for his wife. Now I have to get Mindy to chill out or she’s going to be breaking things for the next week. Besides, what’s lustful about killing bamboo?
Ghost Rider 6 on 24 Oct 2012 at 1:04 pm #
Oh, Lord. (And I say that most reverently.)
I was right about the apology, but I didn’t foresee the (choose your own term) of the apologizer.
sideburns on 24 Oct 2012 at 1:10 pm #
John, I think the fact that he was pestering Mindy even though she’s not a member of his congregation says it all.
Steve from Royal Oak, MI on 24 Oct 2012 at 1:25 pm #
Silence can be the best weapon. I had a little league mom go completely ballistic on me and I just stood in silence. She was hoping to draw me into an arguement and I refused…which further infuriated her. Once she left, I had the respect of the kids and their parents. I got a LOT more cooperation after that.
There are simple words that may help you with this situation and they were among the last that Christ spoke: “Forgive them, for they know not what they do” Trust me, do not let it bother you and please don’t judge all ministers by the irrational actions of this guy.
Ruth on 24 Oct 2012 at 2:49 pm #
Mindy, You have my utmost respect for not clobbering the idiot. I would have dropped kicked him from here to next Sunday for what he was doing and saying. The “sin” he saw was in the eye of the beholder. Since he was affected by the site of you he had to shift the blame to you instead of accepting he wasn’t as holy and pure as he thought (a very hard thinkg for a minister to do). What makes it worse is you weren’t even a member of his church so he had no legitimate reason to even speak to you about it. I bet yours was not the only complaint against him if he is “resigning” and is being “punished by mistrust and spiteful words”. We’ve all heard about the shuffle various denominations and organizations do instead of dealing with the real issue of sexual predators in their leaders.
John in Richmond Texas on 24 Oct 2012 at 3:53 pm #
Wow ! I’ve followed the whole minister saga, just wow – smart to write it down so quick
John in Virginia on 24 Oct 2012 at 3:57 pm #
Mindy fumed a bit and then laughed. “Dork,” was all she said before launching her bamboo assault. One good thing about the incident was that it got her mad enough that when he did her assault she got almost twice much as planned done. I personally feel that his church is better for his departure. The deacon came back, apologized profusely, and said that the preacher’s two-week notice had been waived and he was officially gone, albeit with four-weeks severance pay as per contract. I hold no blame with the church itself, nor does Mindy. In fact, she fixed the deacon a venison sandwich and red him a can of her precious Mug Root Beer. If I drink one, I get crucified! Or worse. Guess what’s worse, Ghost? Sandcastler? Ladies, pay no attention, please.
Ghost Rider 6 on 24 Oct 2012 at 4:05 pm #
John, I KNOW what’s worse.
Please tell Mindy I’m proud of her for keeping her cool as well as she did. In my book, she’s a lady. A bit of a salty one sometimes, maybe, but a lady.
Tom (somewhere in Georgia) on 24 Oct 2012 at 4:10 pm #
Wow. All I wanted to do- since this is a gumbo day- was ask Neal in Bahstawn a seafood related question. (seafood and gumbo are somehow related, right?) And then I read that there’s a sanctimonious, soon to be ex- preacher and a hatchet-bearing Mindy… is this for real?
Not all preachers are quite that nutty, Mindy.
Ruth- my denomination stands firmly for clergy sexual ethics and has since I’ve been a member. There is a zero tolerance policy to charges of sexual misconduct. We believe that Church must be a “safe zone” from all predators. Sexual and otherwise.
Robin in Fl on 24 Oct 2012 at 4:20 pm #
Mindy
I was all set to see you on the evening news, scalp in hand… Kudos to both of you for behaving in a civilized manner.
And now the preacher goes off to another church, and flock, another group of women (and probably young girls) to prey on.
Mindy on 24 Oct 2012 at 4:30 pm #
Thanks for the support ladies and gentlemen. I suspect the preach will move on to dominate yet another congregation and I feel for them…unless he is the kind they want, and then I feel for them in another way completely.
Simply Fargone, if you’ll post early some morning to indicate that you’ll be back that evening, or that you’ll check that date’s postings on yet another day [I do love that phrase], I’ll give you my gumbo recipe. Handwritten, it’s two pages. I don’t know what that boils down to typed, and I don’t know how much can be put on a page here before I’d get banned forever less time served.
Be aware of the fact that mine is just one of hundreds of gumbo recipes, just as any one chili recipe can be trampled by all the others. The rest of you guys and gals get ready to post your own. I have none using bamboo, before Ghost or sandcastler ask.
Mindy on 24 Oct 2012 at 4:45 pm #
p.s. John in Richmond, Texas, John was a police officer & detective for years and years and years…he writes down everything. He says, and believes, that the pen is mightier than the sword but that it’s wise to have Mr. Colt or Mr. Beretta or the Smith & Wesson partners around as a backup. I’m more proud of him not tearing off body parts of the now unemployed preacher. If he comes back again he goes to jail, end discussion. I really hate getting involved in something like this.
emeritus Minnesota biologist on 24 Oct 2012 at 5:05 pm #
Tom, Mindy, etc. I think “my denomination” may be key. Sounds like our obsessed [possessed?] friend was pastor of either a fully independent “gospel” church of some sort, and hence had no synod, presbytery, annual conference, or whatever to answer to, or part of a loose affiliation which is not much different. Like Tom’s denomination, the UMC now has a no toleration approach, though any system works only if the heirarchy behaves as the rules require. Mostly, it now works pretty well, and they now have a system where the Annual Conference has resources in place to bring a trained, organized group of ordained folks with counseling expertise into the affected congregation to work through the consequent trauma: e.g., people who are disturbed by concerns such as what will I tell my kids now that pastor Quincey has suddenly disappeared, what will the community think, etc. Local example: it worked quite well. I think few if any left the congregation as a result.
In my unrelated experience, friends and relatives in LA use “okra” and “gumbo” partly as synonyms: the raw vegetable is often called gumbo. When first exposed to it as a teenager, I tolerated gumbo but found it too slimy and too hot. I’ve grown to love it, but am not sure that I’ll ever attempt to make it.
sandcastler on 24 Oct 2012 at 5:34 pm #
Tuning in late, once ,more life invaded my day. On the morrow I have to be out of action due to duty calling. Great to see the saga of Mindy and the preacher came to a peaceful end. Mindy the hatchet in hand truly read like a tale from Samuel Clemens. Just happy all ended safe, peaceful and that your woods or bamboo thicket is back to normal.
Ghost Rider 6 on 24 Oct 2012 at 5:42 pm #
I think I’ll throw together a beef/veggie stir fry for (name of evening meal of your choice). To show solidarity with Mindy, I will toss in some sliced bamboo shoots and eat them with gusto.
I would say “Bamboo Shoots” would be great name for a rock band, but there is actually an alternative/electro/pop band by that name. I’m guessing it’s probably not high on the list of Mindy’s favorite groups.
Jeff in Ann Arbor on 24 Oct 2012 at 5:48 pm #
I missed the chili discussion, so I’ll throw in my two cents worth late.
Instead of ground beef, I semi-freeze stew beer until it’s sort of crunchy, and then dice it into 1/4″ chunks. It’s much easier when the meat is semi-frozen. I don’t know what became of our meat grinder, but I do remember that the cross-shaped blade snapped in two many years ago and I don’t remember seeing it since.
For heat and chili flavor, I grind five or six big long dried chilies minus seeds and membranes, those 6″ long, dark red ones with more flavor than heat, and one chipotle (also deseeded) in a spice grinder along with cumin and oregano, and then add a few cloves of garlic once the dry spices are finely ground. The subtle smokiness of the chipotle adds a certain je ne sais quoi.
I like kidney beans, tomatoes and chopped, browned onions. And despite being a Cincinnati native, I don’t like Cincinnati chili, which became a big thing after I left. Heresy, I know.
I’d love to try gumbo.
Oh, and Go, Tigers!
Jean in Dahlonega Ga aka Trapper Jean on 24 Oct 2012 at 5:55 pm #
I was going to say to Mindy that maybe John should be at home when The Moron and company came calling, but John beat me to it. I’m glad he was, and that the whole thing seems to have turned out well, at least for Mindy, John, and the local congregation.
Venison sandwich? Oh, that does sound good. Some of the best lasagna I ever made had chopped-up leftover venison roast in it. Everybody had seconds, and my sister-in-law was really chowing down until she heard me say “venison”, then she made a face and pushed her (mostly empty) plate away. Not to worry…her husband finished it.
We eat a lot of fried okra around here, but I do love it boiled and buttered. Has to be the small pods, though. The bigger ones are too tough. A couple of weeks ago my younger daughter and some of her friends came over and we cooked dinner. She made a pot of okra and tomatoes that was absolutely wonderful. I ate way more than I should have, but it sure was good!
Lost in A**2 on 24 Oct 2012 at 6:38 pm #
Independent churches looking for a new pastor usually contact the minister’s former churches for references. In my experience, the references are honest. I don’t think it likely he will find work in his profession.
Mindy on 24 Oct 2012 at 6:43 pm #
I love the fact that the LSU Tigers are playing. When does that start?
Goodnight.
David in Austin on 24 Oct 2012 at 7:03 pm #
John (in Richmond),
Did the pastor’s wife, or Mindy, call him a poor, simple-minded idiot? Could be that there may be looming marital problems for the minister as well. Congratulations on resolving the issue without bloodshed. Perhaps a response that would have met him more than half way would be, “If thy eye offends thee, pluck it out!” Or “Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye, and not notice the beam which is in your own eye?”
Tom (somewhere in Georgia) on 24 Oct 2012 at 7:39 pm #
eMt- we are of the same tribe. (UMC) The more I think about Mindy’s story- the angrier I become. Sheesh.
Mark in TTown on 24 Oct 2012 at 8:23 pm #
Mindy, maybe a little laying on of hands would have quieted him down. (AOG) But better that it ended quietly and that he is on his way out. Some people just aren’t cut out for the ministry.
Mark in Boston on 24 Oct 2012 at 8:42 pm #
MMM! Stew beer!
Galliglo in Ohio on 24 Oct 2012 at 9:42 pm #
eMt & Tom in GA: I’m a member of the UMC tribe also. In fact, I just came home from a meeting and, EMt, the crisis team was there. Our church as been going thru H*** the last couple of weeks. Our pastor was arrested for sexual misconduct with a young girl. He denies it but he has been arraigned… trial to be in Jan. He has three young sons. We are all heart broken. This may sound horrible, but our biggest concern is not so much for him as for his family.
I have no idea if he is guilty as charged. He was a lousy administrator and – I think – had episodes of depression. But… that does not necessarily mean that he is a pervert. I’m “trying” to keep an open mind and be fair, but – as a mother and grandmother – it is difficult.
When all this came up, I thought of Mindy’s problems with the jerk. And, although I previously had sympathy for the issues she was dealing with, this episode in my home church has made me that much more sensitive to this type of problem – for everyone involved.
We are a small church and we are “family.” And our family is hurting. But – you know what? We will survive and we will be stronger than ever. We shall not let the people who will point fingers and gossip have the last word. We SHALL overcome!
Bob, near Mark on 24 Oct 2012 at 9:42 pm #
I like the idea of semi-frozen stew beer that’s in crunchy ΒΌ” chunks. Would be great on a hot summer day. :;
John in Virginia on 24 Oct 2012 at 9:50 pm #
Obviously I’m a bit rusty on my report writing, David in Austin. The preacher’s wife was the one commenting on his level of intelligence. All things considered, Mark in TTown, I probably could have laid on the hands and gotten by with it, considering our history with the jerk, but it’s more my “style” not to do so unless he’d made the mistake of actually touching Mindy or me. She was afraid I’d lose my temper and go for his throat. I was afraid that she’d do the same. Her restraint is to be admired far more than mine. I spent almost 25 years working in an environment where I learned to, literally and honestly, use only the force necessary to overcome. Professional opinion? The preacher is just a step or two away from escalating voyeurism to sexual battery or worse. Rape, in my opinion {and in all my reading and college psych courses} has little or nothing to actually do with sex. Rape is control, inflating the rapists’ ego and self worth. I hope the man can change for his wife’s sake and for the sake of an woman who comes in contact with him {I do think he actually hates and/or fears women to act as he did}. As slender as Mindy is, she’s tough and she’s learned enough to defend herself against most people {and to run when she’s out-matched} but so man women the guy will encounter from now on out have never been taught how to fight, nor are they inclined to do so. And, no, I am in no way belittling women. Society has unfortunately pounded the “gentler sex” thing into men and women alike, which makes it easier for predators such as the preacher to thrive. Mindy and her books prove that she’s a bit of a wildcat.
Mark in TTown on 24 Oct 2012 at 10:28 pm #
John in Virginia, and anyone else interested. A good Bible quote for this is Romans 12:19, “…Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord. I will repay.”. Of course this doesn’t protect the wrongdoer for his responsibility under whatever laws he may break.
TruckerRon on 25 Oct 2012 at 1:04 am #
I’m glad I didn’t read about what could have been on The DrudgeReport or National Enquirer: Minister Scalped By She-Devil! The Reverend John Doe said only that he’s grateful he wasn’t bald since the wild woman said had he been hairless she’d had…
Tom (somewhere in Georgia) on 25 Oct 2012 at 5:43 am #
Galliglo in Ohio- So sorry to hear of your situation. How horrible for all concerned- the young girl, her family, your church and the man and his family. Silent prayer attatched. Tom