THIS is what it's about!

It's perfect. Sunday perfect. I did the Race for the Cure with my family this morning. Mom is a 21 year survivor. She was awesome today. Just awesome. I could not love her anymore than I do. We all went out after and had the most amazing lunch. Ever.

By 3pm, I was on my couch with football and winning my fantasy match. My next task was up. Gumbo. I had found okra at a farmer's market on Saturday and that meant gumbo. I have done nothing but watch football and have a cocktail or two while making chicken and sausage gumbo. Okay, I have waded through about a years worth of magazines ripping out crap.

My house smells amazing. It's been cooking since 3pm when I started the chicken stock from scratch. This is what Sunday is about. This is what fall is about. Not even knowing the Saints are playing the Sunday night game is what irony is all about. They will win. It will be because of my gumbo.

I am so way deep in happy it's stupid. It's not just the gumbo folks. Happy, like the snowbirds, is in full effect in Phoenix. In order to spread the happiness, I am sharing the gumbo recipe. I will spare you all the photo as I still have no digital camera (but I'm hinting largely to family for Christmas). An, you can't SMELL the picture, so what good is THAT. I mean, there is bacon and andouille sausage involved for God's sake!

3 1/2 pounds frying chicken

1 medium onion, cut in chunks

celery tops with leaves

1 teaspoon salt

5 cups of the broth

6 slices bacon

1 pound smoked andouille, sliced

1 medium onion, chopped

2 green bell peppers, chopped

2 celery ribs, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

3 tomatoes, peeled and chopped   

A little over half a pound sliced okra

1 tablespoon fresh chopped thyme

Combine chicken, onion, celery, and salt in a Dutch oven (the cast iron ones are so fun); add water to cover. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer between 45 minutes to an hour, until chicken is tender.

Remove chicken, reserving 5 cups of the chicken broth; discard onion and celery leaves. Remove chicken from bones; cut into bite sized pieces. Set aside.

Chop up bacon and cook with sausage in the Dutch oven over medium heat until bacon is crisp. Remove bacon and sausage with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add onion, pepper, celery, and garlic to Dutch oven; cook over medium heat until veggies are tender and onions start to get clear. Throw in chicken, bacon, sausage, broth, tomatoes, and remaining ingredients. Bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 1 1/2 hours.

Watch football. Not care about the score because you have no fantasy player in. Watch the Saints win. Be really happy. See? Easy. Just make sure you have four house for gumbo...

Comments

[rino]

I wish I could do your advise but it's 7 years too late for me. I am touched by what you wrote though. My mon succumbed to cancer only 5 months after being diagnosed.

[AntiBarbie]

Thanks so much for the recipe! I'm going to have to try this out. The only things I have on hand at the moment is the garlic and salt... sad but true. I really need to hit up the grocery store soon.

[Karen]

Well, I see the Saints did win. I am quite sure it was because of your gumbo! Glad you had such a nice day.