Cajun Day

I hate being sick- throat hurts and nothing sounds good. No matter how bad momma feels people in this house still want to eat- and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches wasn't cutting it. So since it is Mardis Gras and the fact Louisiana is where my people hail from, I decided to pay homage to them and make Gumbo today.  Nothing fancy like seafood gumbo- just Chicken and Sausage. It was a good choice  might add- soothing to the throat and just enough spice to open up the sinuses.

Ingredients

• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 large green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 pound andouille or smoked sausage, sliced 1/4 inch thick- then cut in half
• 3 large cloves garlic, minced
• salt and pepper to taste
• Creole seasoning to taste
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 bay leaf
• 3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breast-shredded

Directions

 Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. When hot, whisk in flour. Continue whisking until the roux has cooked to the color of chocolate milk, 8 to 10 minutes. Be careful not to burn the roux. If you see black specks in the mixture, start over

     Stir onion, bell pepper, celery, and sausage into the roux;

 cook about 5 minutes. 

Stir in garlic- cook another 5 minutes-

add salt, pepper and creole seasoning (add as much as your taste buds will allow)

Pour in the chicken broth and add the bay leaf

Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Stir in the chicken and cook for an additional hour

Top with rice and Bon Appetit!