Hot and Spicy Cajun Gumbo

Hot and Spicy Cajun Gumbo

4 oz. shrimp (Peeled, de-veined and chopped) (9-10)
3/4 cup spicy, pepperoni sausage (halved lengthwise and sliced 1/4" thick)
1 cup chicken (cut into 1" cubes) (thigh)
2 Jalapeno peppers
1/2 tsp. olive oil
1/2 cup of each: vegetable oil and flour
1 cup yellow onion (diced)
1 cup roasted green peppers (diced)
1/2 tsp. garlic (minced)
1 (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes (with liquid)
1 tsp. oregano (dried)
2 bay leaves
1/4 tsp. of each: thyme (dried), fresh basil and pepper
1 tbsp. Cajun seasoning
6 cups chicken broth
1 cup white rice (short grained, rinsed and drained)
2 cups okra (sliced)
Salt (to taste)
Pepper (to taste)
Cajun seasoning (to taste)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Coat peppers with olive oil. Place in baking dish and roast peppers for 10-12 until blistered, turning occasionally, Remove from oven and let cool. Remove skins, seeds and veins and coarsely chop. Cook sausage and chicken for 5-7 minutes in a large pot over medium heat until lightly browned and remove from pot. Add vegetable oil to pot and heat til hot. Stir in flour (scrape bottom with a spoon. Suggestion: wooden spoon) and cook and stir until light brown. Add jalapeno pepper, onion, green pepper, garlic and tomatoes and cook until all vegetables are soft. Add in oregano, bay leaves, thyme, basil, pepper and Cajun seasoning while continually stirring mixture. Add in broth, rice, sausage and chicken and bring to a simmer. Cover while venting slightly. Simmer until rice is tender, about 20-25 minutes. Stir in okra and shrimp and simmer for 5-7 minutes. Season with salt, pepper and Cajun seasoning. Remove bay leaves and stir. Remove from heat and serve.

*Johnna's tip: Fat Tuesday!!!!! Hooray! When celebrating Mardi Gras, one must eat Mardi Gras style and what better dish to make than gumbo?! This gumbo is dee-lish (*so deelish this is a repost because we thought it was the best for a Mardi Gras foodie celebration) and turn the heat up a notch if your feeling spicy;-) Serve with some cornbread on the side or if you really want to go New Orleans all the way, finish the meal with some beignets (*even though we still haven't figured out where we could get a replica of these sweet treats in the District...). Celebrate!

*Johnna's tip, tip: A little history on Mardi Gras (*we love keeping you informed;-)-Mardi Gras, which literally means "Fat Tuesday", is the Carnival (the festive season that occurs right before Lent, which includes parades, masque and public street parties) celebrations that end the day before Ash Wednesday (*the time period varies throughout various cities that hold Carnival). It is indeed a time to celebrate! Have fun and let us know how you celebrated this Fat Tuesday;-)

Picture source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gumbo