Quick (doctored Campbell's) Shrimp Gumbo soup

[Bob Pr.]

To one can of Campbell's Chicken Gumbo Soup add 9-11 small frozen salad shrimp, liberal sprinkling of Gumbo Filé* (powdered sassafras), garlic to taste, 1 bayleaf, 1/2 oz cognac/dry brandy. Bring to just a boil then simmer covered 3 minutes. Serves 2.

* Gumbo filé [some brands are only powdered sassafras, a few are powdered s. with a bit of thyme; IMO either is satisfactory but the flavor of the sassafras is critical to gumbo; many prefer (and advise) adding the filé after cooking, just before serving -- try it both ways and choose your preference.]

[joflake]

I have never heard of powdered sassafrass! Now we can make sassafrass tea from the bark and roots. How do you get that? At the store or do you pulverize it and make your own?

[Bob Pr.]

I have never heard of powdered sassafrass!.... How do you get that?

Years ago I bought it in a small jar of the gourmet line of McCormick's but I haven't seen it in any of the McCormick displays for several years. Possibly it's still available from the company. But the McC's variety also included some thyme in it, IIRC.

I like the flavor so much, when I couldn't find any in our local stores, I searched onliine and that brought up a variety of sources. I bought some but grumbled about having to pay the S&H charge, too, which cost as much as the spice.

So after that ran out, I went to a brand new Hy-Vee store that recently opened in Topeka and they had some Zatarain's Gumbo Filé on the shelf. If you don't find any locally, you might try www.zatarain.com

(I just tried Zatarain's. If you type "gumbo file" in their search, you may get nothing; but copy this:Gumbo Filé -- the accented e does the trick.

Re: sassafras tea -- I think that's made from the bark or roots; Gumbo Filé is made from the dried leaves that are then ground and powdered.

[joflake]

Thank you, that sounds very interesting. I have several sassafras trees in my yard. Maybe I'll try to make my own and taste it.