MMMM!!! Gumbo of The North!

Ok, ok, so I have lived all over the South, but I have lived up North longer.... I still like all the food and alot of the culture of the South! Don't hate me for not being a fan of collard greens, but I've also never had them prepared very well... maybe I'll take a vaction to Lousianna or Georgia or Alabama and get 'em done right! HA! But I do LOVE ME SOME GUMBO!!! And this Montana Girl has made a really good recipe... ok well I think it's good anyways... ha ha ha!!! I made it up. and if someone else does it the same way...sorry! I promise I didn't copy you! So here are the ingredients you will need. Just remember, it's NORTHERN so I don;t have as much fresh available. (Dontcha Know, eh? LOL) OH!! And i love Okra, it really is the key ingredient to gumbo, it is what gives the gumbo the right texture and flavor. If you don't like okra... you probably won't like gumbo, he he he!

YOU NEED:
1 bag frozen Okra ( fresh if you have it and want to use it I suppose)

Baby Sweet Peppers ( 3 orange, 2 yellow, 2 red) or half of a big pepper of each color.

1 cup frozen Lima beans (More if you like them alot)

a handful or two of frozen sweet corn

1 can diced tomatoes (or fresh)

1 small can (really small, the 70 cent ones) diced green chilles

1 small can tomatoe sauce

1 lb (up to 2 lb, depending on how big your pot is) Pork country ribs or loin, chopped into bite

size chunks

1/3 cup flour

1 small purple/red onion copped into larger slices

1 cup strong beef, pork, or chicen broth

Garlic Powder, or fresh garlic ( I use alot, like 2 or 3 tablespoons, you use how much you like)

Black Pepper (several strong shakes, or fresh ground to taste)

Cajun Seasoning ( about 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon, but you can add more or less depedning on your tatses)

salt to taste

Olive Oil

Heat large kettle (dutch oven or soup kettle) with a couple tablespoons of olive oil, add chopped meat and brown well, until cooked through. about halfway through cooking add flour and stir briskly to coat meat. add chilles and stir, let cook a minute or two. Add seasonings and stir well. Add onion and peppers. cook a few minutes. Add tomatoes, tomatoe sauce, and taste, add more seasonings if needed. Add broth and remaining veggies. stir well and every so often. cook a minimum or 30 minutes, but can cook longer if time allows!( like stew, cook longer or shorter as time allows haha!) Serve over rice or alone, I personally think it would be good with kneophla or chewy dumpling noodles :) But I didn't try it yet ha ha!

crusty rolls would be good too! You could use chicken or beef I suppose as well. Of course, I do like gator! hehe! Enjoy!!!