Backstory. (Because with me, there is always back story)
I was taking my kiddos down to play with some friends at their RV for the day, and I realized that I needed to have plans for dinner. The boys had been asking to try gumbo for a while, so I thought "today is the day!" and I grabbed all the ingredients from the grocery store, then it hit me: I had chicken and sausage and veggies in my car. In TUCSON. In March (It had already hit the mid 80's, so I couldn't just leave it in the car). AND its a crockpot recipe. Dangit.
So I messaged my good friend, Nikki.
Me: "I will have a chicken breast and kielbasa with me - can I put it in your fridge?'
Nikki: "Yes. I totally get it. I travel with those too."
Me: "Lol. You would if you were making gumbo! Yikes! Its a crockpot recipe. Can I bring my crockpot to your house to start it?"
Nikki: "Lol! Yes"
Me: "I'm a mess"
Nikki: "No problem!! I have room for gumbo!"
(Isn't she just the sweetest friend? Hosting us at her house for a play date AND letting me make my dinner at her house!)
Me: "I should make a double batch and leave some for you guys. You want?"
And wouldn't you know? She DID want.
We had a great time visiting. I was busy chopping things in the kitchen and tossing them into my crockpot and her multicooker (which I totally now need). Kiddos were outside playing in a fort and riding bikes. Idyllic. And then as the afternoon wore on, the smell of that gumbo wafted out of the house and we were all drooling. When it was time to leave, I packed mine up and headed home. Just as I put a batch of cornbread in the oven, I get a text from Nikki.
"I'm gonna need this recipe!!!!!!" Six exclamation points. I counted.
I swore I would send it to her shortly, and of course, never did. Then I saw her later for her daughter's violin lesson (being the violin teacher, I was there). She asked for it again. I said "Sure". And forgot.
Then she and her kids came up for my son's birthday party, and she asked for it again. I laughed and said "Ooops! I'll send it to you!" And then today, I just got a text from her. Short and sweet and to the point: "I need gumbo recipe!" So... here I am writing a blog post about it, instead of sending her the recipe. I suck. BUT... I figured that if she wanted it badly enough to ask me for it multiple times, others may enjoy it to.
So. Here is my gumbo recipe.
Jessi's Evasive Gumbo Recipe
- 1 chicken breast, diced
- 1 link kielbasa (or smoked andouille sausage, or beef sausage, or whatever you'd like), sliced into rounds
- 1 green bell pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 10 oz okra (I've only ever used fresh, and instead of measuring okra, I grab "some") sliced into rounds
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 28-oz. can of diced tomatoes
- 1/4 tsp Tabasco sauce
- 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. salt.
Combine in your crockpot and cook on low for 8 hours.
Serve over cornbread or rice, or just eat it plain - either way, its delicious!
There you go, Nikki!
