Chicken Gumbo and Rice
(Yields 6 good servings)
Ingredients:
4 cups hot cooked rice
1 large stewing chicken
½ pound sausage
1 slice ham, diced
2 Tbsp butter
1 small onion, minced
1 green pepper, chopped
1 sprig thyme or parsley, minced
6 fresh or 1-½ cups canned tomatoes
4 okra pods, sliced
3 quarts boiling water
Salt and pepper to taste
1 bay leaf
1 tsp file (if desired)
Directions:
Cut up the chicken for stewing. Season with salt and pepper. Heat butter in soup kettle. Add chicken, sausage and ham, cover closely and let simmer for 10 minutes. Then add onion, pepper and thyme and let brown. Add the tomatoes and sliced okra pods. Now add the boiling water and let simmer on back of stove for two hours. Serve in a tureen. Sprinkle file, rest 20 minutes with lid on tureen. Accompany with a bowl of steamed rice. Or serve soup bowls with a generous mound of rice. Temperature: Simmer. Time: 2-3 hours.
