Seafood Gumbo

• 1 c. bacon drippings
• 1 c. all-purpose flour
• 8 stalks celery, chopped
• 3 large yellow onions, chopped
• 1 bunch green onions, chopped
• 1 green pepper, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 c. parsley, chopped
• 1 lb. okra, sliced
• 2 Tbsp. shortening
• 2 qt. chicken stock
• 2 qt. water
• 1/2 c. Worcestershire sauce
• Tabasco sauce to taste
• 1/2 c. catsup
• 1 (16 oz.) can whole tomatoes
• 2 Tbsp. salt
• 1 large slice smoked ham, chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/4 tsp. thyme
• 1/4 tsp. rosemary
• 2 c. cooked chicken, chopped
• 1 lb. claw crabmeat
• 3 to 5 lb. boiled shrimp
• 1 pt. oysters (optional)
• 1 tsp. brown sugar
• lemon juice to taste

1. Heat bacon drippings over medium heat; add flour slowly and stir constantly until roux is a chocolate brown.
2. This takes a long time.
3. Add celery, onions, green pepper, garlic and parsley and cook 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
4. Fry okra in shortening until slightly browned.
5. Add to first mixture and stir well for a few minutes.
6. Add chicken stock, water, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, catsup, tomatoes with juice, salt, ham, bay leaves, thyme and rosemary.
7. Simmer 2 1/2 hours.
8. Add chicken, crabmeat and shrimp and simmer 30 minutes more.
9. Add brown sugar and lemon juice.
10. Serve in bowls over hot rice.
11. Serves 20.

bacon, flour, stalks celery, yellow onions, green onions, green pepper, garlic, parsley, okra, shortening, chicken stock, water, worcestershire sauce, tabasco sauce, catsup, tomatoes, salt, ham, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, chicken, claw crabmeat, boiled shrimp, oysters, brown sugar, lemon juice

Taken from www.cookbooks.com/Recipe-Details.aspx?id=861430 (may not work)