Mrs. Sledge's Gumbo.

This begins the gumbo recipes from local cookbooks.

This one is from the Junior League of Mobile's classic "Recipe Jubilee!" They lost their mind back in 2002 and let this one go out of print. I've had my copy for ages, and it was from the 10th printing way back in 1987.

Mrs. Edward Sledge, Sr.'s Gumbo

5 TBSP bacon drippings
6 TBSP flour
2 onions, finely chopped
1.5 cups celery, finely chopped
1 garlic pod
1 large can tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
5-6 cups water
3 TSP salt
1 TSP pepper
2 pounds shrimp or crab
1 package frozen okra, cut up
1 pint oysters
3 TBSP Worcestershire

Brown flour in bacon drippings to make roux. Add onions, celery, and garlic. Brown for 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, salt & pepper, and boil for one hour over medium heat. Add srimp (or crab) and okra, and cook 20 minutes longer. Add Worcestershire, stir well, and serve with steamed rice.