Great Catfish And Smoked Sausage Gumbo

Make a roux with the oil and flour, browning it slowly and stirring frequently. Cook over medium heat for about 30 minutes until it is a rich milk-chocolate color.

When the roux is just right, add the garlic, onions, celery, and green pepper, stirring vigorously. Cook 2 to 3 minutes. Turn the heat to low and cook 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for 1 hour or more. Don't completely forget about the gumbo on the stove, but it doesn't need a lot of attention at this point. Stir it just because it smells so good and you can't keep your tasting spoon out of it!

Taste for seasonings and add pepper or salt as you choose. You can also add a variety of seafood to the gumbo --shrimp, crab meat, crawfish-- whatever is on hand!