Shrimp Gumbo

Many years ago, I went to Louisiana. It was there that I first tried shrimp gumbo. One bite and I was hooked. I found this recipe in this cookbook.

Shrimp Gumbo

INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup flour
7/8 cup bacon drippings
2 medium onions, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
4 stalks celery, chopped
2 tomatoes, diced
2 1/2lb shrimp, deveined and tail-off
Smoked sausage, chopped

1 tbsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp thyme
3 bay leaves

HOW TO PREPARE:

Brown flour in bacon drippings in large Dutch oven, stirring constantly. Add onions, green pepper, and celery; simmer, covered, for 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and shrimp; simmer, covered, until shrimp turn pink. Add sausage,  seasonings, thyme, bay leaves, and 3 quarts of hot water; simmer for about 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Serve over rice. Yield: 6 servings.