Reflections of the South
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Reflections of the South |
This essay companying the African American Doll, Zabelle's Triumph, New Orleans Creole Gumbo Queen contains a Gumbo recipe that will surely please the palate. Read the origins of "Creole Cooking" and how it eventually became a trademark of New Orleans cuisine.
"Zabelle Triumph"
written by JoAnn Bernard
Zabelle triumphantly holds her Creole Gumbo. A dish New Orleans claims the honor of having created. Early French settlers of New Orleans relied on available resources for their cooking. The land was surrounded by water. Seafood was readily available. Vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, garlic and green peppers grew abundantly in the area. The Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians shared their knowledge of roots and Herb's (file' powder) with the early settlers. These ingredients combined to develop a distinct cuisine that easily pleased the palate and eventually made "Creole Cooking" a trademark of New Orleans.
Creole Gumbo
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lb. okra, sliced
4 tbsp shortening 2 tbsp flour
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1 white onion, chopped
1 bunch, green onions ˝ c. celery, chopped
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1 sprig thyme
2 sprigs parsley 1 can tomatoes 2 quarts of hot water
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˝ lb. crab meat
1 lb. raw shrimp salt & pepper 1 tsp. file` if desired |
Sauté okra in 2 tbs. of shortening for about 30-45 min. In another saucepan make roux by browning flour in remaining shortening. Add onions and celery. Cook until soft. Stir in seasonings, tomatoes and water. Simmer for 30 min. Add shrimp and crab meat or 1 doz. crabs. Simmer for 30 min. Remove from heat. If desirable, add file` just before serving. (Never cook file`). Serves 6
JoAnn Bernard is a self-taught artist. Born JoAnn Gonzales on the bayou of Delacroix Island, Louisiana, with an Islenos heritage that stems back to Spain's Canary Islands. Her love of the beautiful State of Louisiana has inspired the Days of Old Collection, a line of Louisiana heritage character dolls. Through research, she has reproduced Louisiana ancestry; African American, Cajun, Islenos and others in life-like forms as they were seen years ago. JoAnn has created a complete original collection. She sculpts the original pieces and reproduces them in plaster molds. The face of each character is hand-painted, dressed (clothing and jewelry may vary) and positioned on handcrafted wooden pedestals and chairs to recreate photographs and sketches of the 1800's. The body designs are unique in construction and design. All wigs are hand-made by the artist using mohair strands. The artist developed original clothing designs and patterns. Props were designed and created for each individual character doll. All clay pieces are limited editions of 500 and are numbered and signed by the artist. Booklets and display cards are also designed by Jo Ann to include the number of the piece and a short story about the character doll. Booklets are attached to the piece, and the display card can be framed to stand along side the piece. Character dolls range in height from 16 to 18 inches tall. Total height of the piece may vary depending upon position of character dolls. A numbered and signed Certificate of Authenticity is provided with each character doll.
©Jo Ann Bernard
Attached booklets contain above information
   
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African American Heritage Dolls |
Visit the Louisiana State Crafts Program
Learn about Louisiana Culture through this African American Heritage Doll collection inspired by sketches, photographs and stories of the 1800's.
Display card and Booklets printed on aged parchment paper
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For more information email: jo_ann_bernard@southernelegance.net
Display card printed on aged parchment paper
