Creole Gumbo

Photo: flickr user stu_spivack

Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter

1/4 teaspoon bottled hot pepper sauce

1 1/2 lbs. fresh shrimp, cleaned and deveined

1 7 ½ oz. can crab meat, drained and cartilage removed

Add sauteed chicken wings, 1 tablespoon file powder

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 cup chopped onions

1 clove garlic, minced

1 16 oz. can tomatoes cut up

1/2 cup chopped green peppers

2 bay leaves

1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed

1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed

Preparation

Serve over hot cooked rice.

In a large saucepan melt butter; blend in flour, cook and stir until golden brown, 7 to 8 minutes.

Stir in onions and garlic; cook until onions are tender but not brown. Stir in undrained tomatoes, green pepper, bay leaves, oregano, thyme, hot pepper sauce, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to boiling; reduce heat and simmer covered, about 20 minutes.

Remove bay leaves. Stir in chicken wings, sausage, and ham chunks. Simmer 40 minutes.

Stir in shrimp and crab meat, heat through. Remove from heat. Blend moderate amount hot liquid if needed. Serves 12 to 15.