Burnt Fingers, Part II

New Year's resolutions.  Does anyone have them anymore?  I asked around at work, my friends, and family.  No one would fess up to a New Year's resolution.  Is it because everyone around me is perfect and can't come up with any goals to better themselves or the world around them?  I doubt it.  I think maybe people associate a New Year's resolution with failure.  They try several years to lose the weight, quit smoking, save money, be a better friend and on December 31st, they look back at the past year and can't even remember what they set out to accomplish last year or they failed miserably.  So they just say "forget it".  I don't blame them; I've had a few failed resolutions myself.  Or maybe they have a goal but saying it will make them accountable for it, which they would prefer not to be.  

Holt and I brought in the New Year at Bardog Tavern in downtown Memphis

Last year I had one of my more successful resolutions.  I resolved to be more organized.  In the past 12 months I have designed a budget and actually stuck to it, filed all my important documents in a filing box, made a key holder which I (usually) hang my car keys on, and have mini toiletries in clear plastic bags ready to travel on a moments notice.  While that may not sound like a drastic change in my life, I can't tell you how much peace it's brought me.  I have realized peace is a product of organization and thus being organized has become an ongoing goal.  One of the tenets of organization is everything in your home should have a purpose or be meaningful/appealing.  This ugly old lamp has been an eyesore on my desk for months.  While it does have a purpose, I resolved to make it appealing as well.

Old lamp I acquired for free

I get a lot of projects done during hunting season.  Holt works almost every weekend so I get plenty of time to craft.  Saturday morning while drinking my coffee I painted the base of this lamp a brilliant turquoise.  I also recovered the shade with a yard of fabric I picked up on sale a some point and hadn't found a use for yet.

My desk with the painted and recovered lamp.  I love the pop of color.

So if I can stick to a resolution, you can too!  Don't give up on the excitement of new beginnings on January first.  If you did have a resolution and it was health-related, you should probably stop reading now.  I was organizing my food stores last weekend and realized I've got a lot of duck I need to be eating.  I spent all afternoon making a rich and hearty duck gumbo and a loaf of artisan white bread.   

Hank Shaw's Wild Game Gumbo

Cook a half a pound of bacon slowly, remove, and chop.  Sear game meats in bacon fat and remove meat as it browns.

Pepper bacon in the dutch oven

Make your roux with a cup of oil on medium high and whisk in a cup of flour stirring frequently.  Continue to cook the roux until it turns the color of coffee with cream.  You can let it cook until chocolate brown but don't burn it!

Stirring the roux

Also, don't try to photograph your beautiful dark roux because you might burn the crap out of your finger.

Battle wound from the duck gumbo

When the roux is ready, add two minced green peppers, two onions, 6 cloves of garlic, and 6 celery stalks. Cook, stirring often 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender.  Combine 2 tablespoons tomato paste with 1-2 qts stock of your choosing.  Mix a teaspoon black pepper, 2 T sweet paprika, 1 t cayenne, 1 T dried thyme, 1 T dried oregano, 2 T garlic powder, and 1 t celery seed in a separate container.  Add stock and turn heat to high.

Peppers and onions mixed into the rich, dark roux

Add meats, bacon, half of the spice mixture, and a little salt.  Stir and taste.  Continue adding spices and hot sauce until you reach the desired flavor.  Bring to a boil, then drop the heat to a simmer.  Cover and cook at least 90 minutes, but more like 3-4 hours.  Add a pound of sliced okra and cook another 15 minutes.  Add 2 T file powder (if you have it), 2 green onions, and some chopped parsley.  Cook five more minutes then serve over rice.

Duck gumbo served over rice with a slice of homemade artisan bread

As with most things, this gumbo is better after a good night's sleep.  Get the full recipe here!  I realize I didn't go into what my resolution is for 2013, but I promise to get to that next time.