I've decided that you need to learn how to make a roux. I will have you and the kids over for an etouffee lesson and you all shall roux. Maybe crawfish etouffee with pineapple bread pudding and coconut rum sauce. Dawn and the kids too. It'll be fun.
Roux is flour and fat (butter, lard, oil) cooked together on the stove. I'll often make a roux and build a soup upon it. Very easy. Sounds impressive because it has a silent x in it, but that's just marketing.