Chicken and Shrimp with Okra Gumbo Recipe

Ok I make stuff up and guesstimate on how much to use. I hope that's not too frustrating for some of you but I want you to encourage to use the spices you like or your family likes. I want you to experience. I am like Burger King ,I want you to have it your way. So use your judgement.  Add spices and ingredients based on what you think would be good because you can always add more later if it's too bland. You can also tame things down if you add too much and I can tell you how to do that too.

Recipe for Chicken and Shrimp Okra Gumbo:

One whole chicken or two small cornish hens
1 lemon cut in slices
1/2 cup Italian Dressing (light tastes just as good)
1 tbsp fennel seed
1/2 cup white wine
2 tsp lemon pepper
2 tsp minced garlic
2 tbsp olive oil    
1/2 onion chopped
1/2 green bell pepper chopped
1 can of petite diced tomatoes
10-15 pieces of okra sliced
1 lb shrimp thawed, deviened and peeled
2 cups hot cooked white rice
Franks RedHot sauce
Cayenne Pepper to taste
Fresh Cilantro


Cook first 7 ingredients on low in a slow cooker approximately 6-8 hours. I don't keep track but when you can pick up a leg on the bird with tongs and it pulls apart from the body easily it's done. Put on a plate to cool. Reserve liquids in the crockpot.

After chicken has cooled pull all viable meat off the bone. Keep the liquids in the crockpot, you will need them.  Meanwhile, get the olive oil heating over medium in a large dutch oven or saucepan. Add the onion, pepper and okra and saute 2-3 minutes then add the shrimp. Saute another 2 minutes, then add the can of tomatoes and another 1tsp of minced garlic. Simmer over medium for 2 more minutes until shrimp is turning pink and okra and veggies are soft. Then add pulled chicken. Immediately after take the juices from crockpot and add them to the saucepan using a fine strainer not a colander to remove bone and big particles.
Continue to simmer mixture for up to 5 minutes, add a little cayenne if you are feeling frisky then remove from heat.

Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve over or alongside hot steamy rice and Franks RedHot sauce. You can serve with fresh scallions and toasted garlic italian bread. Oooohh Weeeee!!