Gumbo:
The Peach Tree Family Cookbook

So many of my favorite recipes come from the South.  Must be the mixture of comfort food and also the family vibe the recipes share!  I love Texas and I love Austin, I especially love a little town outside of Austin called Fredricksburg.  There is a charming tea room there called The Peach Tree and it holds some unbelievably yummy food in it’s kitchen!  This is one of our family’s favorites!

Ingredients:

2/3 cup corn oil (do not use canola, it wont brown)
2/3 cups flour
1 green pepper, chopped
2 cups celery, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
3 to 4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup fresh parsley
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups water
1 tsp pepper
2 cups tomatoes, chopped, with juices (can use fresh of canned)
3 chicken breasts, 2″ cubes
1 lb smoked sausage, 1″ slices (Andouille is best, but too spicy for Addie so we use Lil Smokies)
1 cup green onions
1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined (Can buy these ready & frozen at Trader Joe’s and Costco)
1/2 tsp gumbo file
1/4 tsp Tabasco or to taste
salt to taste
Garnish: Green Onions, finely chopped

Directions:

1. MIx corn oil and flour well and microwave on high for 6 minue in an 8-cup Pyrex measuring cup.  Remove from microwave and stir very well with whisk.  Microwave again for 1 minute at a time until roux is dark walnut brown. Be careful not to let burn.

2. Add green pepper, celery and onion to roux and microwave on high for 3 minutes.  Add garlic and parsley.

3. Trasnfer to stock pot and add chicken broth, water, pepper, and tomatoes.  Bring it to a boil and lower heat and cook for 30 minutes.

4. Add chicken and sausage and cook for 20 minutes.

5. Add green onions, shrimp, gumbo file and Tabasco.  Taste for Salt & Pepper.  Cook for another 10-15 munutes.  Serve in bowls over rice and garnish with green onion.

Serve with Corn Bread, honey and butter!!!  Either Trader Joe’s Corn Bread or “Bandera’s Clone Corn Bread”.