Gumbo is a stew or soup associated with southern Louisiana since the
18th century. It consists primarily of meat or shellfish, a strongly
flavored stock, a thickener, celery, bell peppers, and onions. The dish
likely derived its name from either the Bantu word for okra (ki ngombo)
or the Choctaw word for filé (kombo). Several varieties exist; Creole
gumbo generally contains shellfish and tomatoes, while Cajun gumbo is
generally based on a dark roux and is spicier, with either shellfish or
fowl. Sausage or ham are often added to gumbos. After the base is
prepared, the vegetables are cooked down, and meat is added. The dish
simmers for a minimum of three hours, with shellfish and some spices
added near the end. It is traditionally served over rice. The dish
combines ingredients and culinary practices of several cultures,
including French, Spanish, German, West African, and Choctaw. It was
first described in 1802, and was listed in various cookbooks in the
latter half of the 19th century. Chef Paul Prudhomme's popularity in the
1980s spurred further interest in gumbo. The dish is the official
cuisine of Louisiana.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gumbo>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1776:
American Revolutionary War: American colonists defeated British
troops at the Battle of Harlem Heights in present-day New York City.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Harlem_Heights>
1940:
Second World War: Italy captured the town of Sidi Barrani, but
its invasion of Egypt (Italian tanks pictured) progressed no further.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_invasion_of_Egypt>
1963:
Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo (present-day Sabah), and
Sarawak merged to form Malaysia.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia>
1990:
Construction of the Northern Xinjiang Railway was completed
between Ürümqi and Alashankou, linking the railway lines of China and
Kazakhstan, and adding a sizable portion to the Eurasian Land Bridge.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_Land_Bridge>
2007:
Seventeen Iraqi civilians were shot and killed by Blackwater
Worldwide guards.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nisour_Square_massacre>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
hombre:
(chiefly US, in Spanish-speaking contexts, slang) A man, a chap, a guy;
especially a Hispanic or Spanish man.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hombre>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Some problems are so complex that you have to be highly
intelligent and well informed just to be undecided about them.
--Laurence J. Peter
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Laurence_J._Peter>
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