Chicken Gumbo

I made this recipe awhile back and it was so scrummy, I thought I'd share it! Basically the only thing I did different was add some Gumbo File and use the dehydrated Thyme (or whatever it's called! :) And of course I couldn't add the okra! I keep looking in the grocery stores, but so far no luck!

Chicken Gumbo Ingredients

1/2 pound sausage

1/2 pound bacon

4 cloves garlic, minced

3 onions, minced

2 sweet peppers, minced 

2 stalks celery, minced

4 tomatoes, peeled and chopped

Corn cut from 2 ears, or 2 cups frozen corn

1/4 cup tomato paste

4 cups hot chicken broth

2 cups cooked bits of chicken

2 pounds okra, washed and sliced

1 tablespoon fresh thyme

Instructions:

In a large pot, saute sausage and bacon until bacon is crispy. Then remove from pot and set aside. Saute garlic and onions in pan drippings for 3 minutes, then add peppers and celery and saute for another 5 minutes.Add thyme, corn, and tomato paste. Stir. Bring to a simmer. Add hot chicken broth, chicken, sausage, and bacon. Bring back to a simmer and simmer for 15 minutes to let flavors blend more, then add the chopped tomatoes. Add okra and cook about 4 minutes. The okra will still be bright green and the tomatoes a bright red! Serve just as a soup or over rice along with crusty sourdough bread or cornbread with lots of butter! And ENJOY!!

...Life...

Spring came last week but was soon chanced away by another bout of Winter! Saturday we woke up to the sound of the pager... vehicles in the ditch all over. One was even submerged in the cold icy water. Luckily the folks all got out right away. So in the the end there weren't any injuries just people hitting the ditches due to all the snow, rain, sleet, and lots of slush on the roads! Now it's having a really hard time warming back up! Looks like maybe next week.... we'll cross our fingers! 

This week so far has been very lazy. Saturday we/Kelly finally got the bed finished and so I cleaned downstairs. It's amazing that you can actually walk into the spare bedroom and see carpet!! Clean carpet at that! :) Sunday, we just relaxed. The youth gave their Easter program in the evening and then we had snacks after. Monday, was spent in Rosenort. Went to Nelson's for lunch so the guys could talk about rental property stuff and then went to have a meeting with my Doula! I'm quite excited to have one as they are there just to answer questions and take care of the husband! LOL Actually she's been on the Rosenort Fire Department with Kelly for years so she's a friend too, which I think is probably the only reason I decided to have a doula. But I've heard good things about them, especially from first-time-moms. I keep thinking it would be much better to be delivering this baby rather than having it!! Anyhow after that I ran to Tara's Gift Shoppe, you should all come visit so I can take you there. Then back to Nelson's and I managed to get a dress finished and a free supper! :) I really don't know what we would do without them! For sure me!! They are definitely my family here! Now today, I've just been home and the only thing I've gotten done so far is make the bed, eat, some laundry washed and folded, and prenatal classes booked.... I had to wait for the UPS man, thus no shower yet. (Sure didn't want to miss him, since I knew I had to sign for the pkg :) 

I should probably get busy now and see what all I can get done yet. Think there's training at the fire hall tonight so maybe I can make them something to eat. And then I'll probably cut out a dress, since I'm going to Ada's to sew tomorrow. (She's Hilda's niece and lots of fun!) And of course, I should make supper and decided what to make for dessert tomorrow as well....

So a great day to you all!

Spring?!

I can't believe it, but it looks like Spring actually might come this year after all!! Today the temp is suppose to be 57! I don't know if it's even gotten to 40 let this year! The breeze is still quite chilly, but the snow is melting! I think almost all our grass is showing! But there's still lots and lots left to melt yet. I think the snow pile in Winnipeg just might be there all year long. Unless we get the really hot summer that the weather folks have been talking about!

So as far as the projects go... I think they are all finally done, except for the wall bed. The bed is actually done just need to finish the book shelf that goes with it! And then get that room cleaned up for once! And now with Spring hopefully here, I need to wash all our winter stuff and get that put away so that it's not all laying around. And my other project that I've been working on as most of you will know or have imagined is sewing!! Isn't it kind of ridiculous that you have to sew a whole new wardrobe when you're pregnant?! So far I have 3 dresses done and my friend Greta is working on one for me. I plan on getting a couple more cut out today....

Kelly said I could quit working at K-Tec if I promised to have a company over one night a week and did something for someone else once a week, so.... I've gotten the company one done, at least there was someone here for a meal 3 days in a row last week! Not so sure about the helping someone else out though. Hopefully I'll get there once I get this sewing out of the way. 2 weekends ago, our little black nephew, Ben, was over for the night. I told Kelly before we went to bed Friday night, 'You know there won't be any sleeping in tomorrow.' And I don't think he really believed me! But this is what happened:

Ben comes walking to our room before 7 to inform us it's almost 7 and the sun is up! Kelly looks at the time and said, 'Yes, and we are going to sleep for a long time yet!' Ben says, ok, and promptly piles into bed with us! And decides that he will share my pillow. So we all laid there for a while with Ben tossing and turning.... So finally I told Ben I'd make him a bed on the floor by the fireplace heater and he could look at books. Well it was a great idea, but I guess he'd never heard of turning pages quietly! Finally Kelly decided this was enough. So he downloaded a bunch of games on his phone and gave it to Ben. And then there was peace all the way till 9:30! So at least we got a little more sleep! But then it was time for breakfast and Ben had brought along some sardines so he had them for breakfast! I walked up the stairs and that's all I could smell!! So told Kelly he better take that trash out right away cause that smell wasn't sitting the best with me! So ya.... All in all it was a great time! :)

Wishing you all a great day... till next time!