Gumbo Ingredients

2LBS Chicken cut into 1 inch cubes (I use boneless/skinless breast)
1lb chapel hill garlic sausage sliced into rounds
1 bag Frozen cut okra
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 lg onion diced (I use the small bag of diced onion found in the frozen foods section)
1 bell pepper diced (I use the small bag of diced onion found in the frozen foods section)
1 t dried celery flakes
1 t poultry seasoning
2 t salt
2 t cajun seasoning
1 1/2 C flour
1 C vegetable oil
2 qt. water

Rice ingredients
2 C rice
1 T butter
1 t salt
3 1/2 C water

Start with making the gumbo and to begin the gumbo you need to start with making the roux. Preheat your oven to 350. In a cast iron skillet combine the flour and oil and heat over a medium heat and stir constantly until well combined without lumps and bubbles start to form. Move this mixture in the skillet to the oven and bake for at least 1 hour. The end product will be a dark brick red roux. You can substitute store bought roux if you want, just use 1.5 C.

When the roux is dark, put the bag of okra in the the roux and stir. The cold okra will cause the roux to cover it and stick to the okra making it easy to move all of the contents of the skillet into a large 4+ qt stock pot that is on Med.Hi. Add the water all of the gumbo ingredients to the stock pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let the gumbo simmer for about an hour.

While that is simmering, you can make your rice. in a 2 qt. sauce pan, melt the butter over medium heat, add the rice and salt and stir. Ensure the rice is evenly covered by the melted butter and that some of the rice grains are turning whiter. At that point add the water, stir and bring to a light boil. Reduce heat to a simmer cover and let it cook for about 20 minutes. The rice should be cooked. Fluff with a fork.

To serve

Put a good scoop of rice in the bottom of a bowl and cover with the gumbo. Complement with some Louisiana hot sauce and french bread.

celery flakes? blasphemy! It's not the trinity without the real deal. Looks good though, loves me some gumbo.

Sometimes you just got to roll with the punches and run what you brung.

Looks good, gotsta try me sume gumbo....

Use Zummo's party time links if you can find them. It adds a little something to the gumbo

Ah yes! If one cannot have seafood gumbo then this is next best!!

Rice on the side, please.

Don't forget the Fil'e!!