Chicken and Smoked Sausage Gumbo

Nana and Papa

Gumbo topped with fried okra
The Roux

Today, being Saturday, Ron is making Gumbo. This is Emeril Lagasse's recipe and is really delicious, dark and sultry.

1 c vegetable oil
1 c flour
1 1/2 c chopped onions
1 c chopped celery
1 c chopped bell peppers
1 ob smoked sausage (andouille or kielbasa, cut crosswise into 1/2 in slices)
1 1/2 t salt
1/4 t cayenne
3 bay leaves
6 c water
1 lb boneless chicken meat, cut into 1 in chunks
1 t Emeril's Rustic Rub
2 T chopped parsley
1/2 c chopped green onions
1 T file powder

1. Combine the oil and flour in a large cast-iron or enameled cast-iron Dutch oven over medium heat Stirring slowly and constantly for 20-25 minutes. Put something good on the TV and DO NOT LEAVE THE ROUX (This is why men make this dish. What woman has 20-25 minutes to stand around an oven stirring?)
The roux should become dark brown, chocolate color. It begins to smell nutty the more you cook it.
2. Add the onions, celery and bell peppers and continue to stir for 4-5 min or until wilted. Add the sausage, salt, cayenne and bay leaves. Continue to stir for 3-4 min. Add the water. Stir until the roux mixture and water are well-combined. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to med-low. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 1 hr.
3. Season the chicken with the rub and add to the pot. Simmer for 2 hrs.
4. Skim off any fat that rises to the surface. Remove from the heat. Stir in the parsley, green onions and file powder.
5. Remove the bay leaves and serve in deep bowls.

Ron has also created an avacado salad which is one of our favorites. Always good all the time.


Avocado Salad
1 Avocado, halved
1-2 T Cottage cheese
Diced tomatoes
Green onions sliced
Balsamic vinegar
Italian dressing

Place avocado hole side up on a bed of lettuce. Add some Italian dressing.
Fill avocado with cottage cheese.
Drizzle with tomato, onion and Balsamic vineger.
Enjoy!

Bri's Pizza

So, once again while my parents were out dining on their nice 3-course homemade meal with their friends, I was stuck at home left to fend for myself. My parents were offering to order me Chinese food, me being the outstanding daughter that I am told them I could make something with whatever is in the freezer. When I went to look at what food we had I could take my pick from, I saw a salsbury steak TV dinner, an individual frozen pizza that made my stomach turn last time I had it, and some chicken taquitos that were way past their expiration date. In the Italian spirit I was feeling, I decided to go with the pizza. It looked so depressing and as I was about to switch over to the taquitos, the wheels in my head started spinning, and this is what I came up with:

INGREDIENTS:
-disgusting pizza
-one tomato
-basil
-mozzarella cheese
-Spice Islands Pizza&Pasta seasoning
-garlic powder

DIRECTIONS:
1. Unwrap nasty pizza and preheat oven
2. Slice tomatoes and chiffonad basil
3. Spread mozzarella cheese all over pizza
4. Place tomatoes and basil on pizza
5. Add garlic powder and spices
6. Pop in oven, cook, and enjoy.