I’ve been keeping something from you. I’m not sure why, but it’s time to share: We made video of my making three Loaves & Dishes recipes that you can see on www.GoErie.com. They’re a work in progress, including my failure to share these links with you until now.
TOMATO WATERMELON SALAD
COLORFUL CORN CHOWDER
TOMATO-PESTO FRITTATA

If you get a chance to watch any of them, please feel free to let me know what you think, anything we should change or add, or what you really like. If it’s easier to reply here, feel free. If you want to reserve your comments just for me, drop me a note at jennie.geisler@timesnews.com.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I made Half-Hour Gumbo for dinner last night, and wished I had another stomach to eat seconds.
I added a teaspoon of file powder, a dry olive-colored spice made from ground sassafras root. It thickens the broth and makes the gumbo taste like it simmered all day. I got a big bottle of it at Larry’s Central Market on, coincidentally, Sassafras Street. It’s way up on a top shelf, and the clerk had trouble finding it for me, but it’s there.
If you like gumbo, you’ll have no trouble using it up.
By the way, the recipe makes 10 cups.
Per cup it contains
225 calories
11 grams fat
72 milligrams cholesterol
1,038 milligrams sodium
8.8 grams carbohydrate
0.8 grams fiber (I didn’t use the okra, which might up this a little.)
24 grams protein