Gumbo:
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup finely chopped celery
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
1 1/2 teaspoons House Seasoning, recipe follows
1 cup chicken or fish stock
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
10-ounce package frozen cut okra
2 cups shrimp, cleaned, peeled, and deveined
Topping:
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup milk
12-ounce package corn muffin mix
In an iron skillet, saute onion and celery in oil. Add bay leaves, thyme, lemon-pepper seasoning (Salt, pepper, and garlic powder.) and House Seasoning. Pour in stock and add tomatoes and okra. Cover pot
and gently simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in shrimp.
To prepare the topping, preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Mix together egg and milk, add to muffin mix, and combine until just well-blended. Drop by
tablespoonfuls on top of hot shrimp mixture, leaving the center uncovered. Bake 15 to 20 minutes.
House Seasoning:
1 cup salt
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder
Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6
months.
Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 45 minutes Yield: 6 servings
Cook's Note: This Southern dish usually is prepared and served in an iron
skillet, but may be cooked in a frying pan with an oven proof handle.