It’s that time again!  Weekly Meal Deal.  Publix is having their big Viva Italia sale this week.  To many this may not mean much, but this is the sale that I really started couponing last year.  Seems like forever ago now.  I ended up with what I thought was more Progresso Soup and Chicken Stock than I knew what to do with.  It was gone in about 2 months.  That is what happens when you feed a family of 5.

I wanted to spice things up a bit this week.  I didn’t want to give you the obvious spaghetti, pizza, or baked ziti recipes.  I am trying to step out of my comfort zone a little, and bring more exciting recipes for both of us.  I am so glad I made that decision.  I made Chicken and Sausage Gumbo!  In honor of Mardi Gras.  Ok, just in honor of my hunger for something new.    This is so good.  Don’t let the amount of ingredients deter you.  Start to finish I was in the kitchen maybe 45 minutes.  I wasn’t cooking the whole time.  There were a lot of breaks.  Throw something in…let simmer for 15 minutes (Sweet! Dishes in the dishwasher!)  Sometimes saving time in the kitchen means multitasking. Getting the dishes done, or the table set while things are simmering.  Making dessert while waiting for dinner.  Returning those phone calls or answering emails. I am a multi-tasker extraordinaire!

I will have the meal deal, grocery list and coupon matchups below the recipe!  Can’t wait to here what you guys think!

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo Printable Version

• ½ cup butter or oil
• ½ cup flour
• 1 bag frozen peppers and onions (or  1 cup diced onion, ½ cup green pepper, ¼ cup red pepper, ¼ cup yellow pepper)
• 4 stalks celery diced
• 8 cups chicken stock
• 1 (8oz can) tomato sauce
• 2 (14oz cans) diced tomatoes
• 2 cups okra cut into 1 inch slices (just buy frozen)
• 1 lb. cooked chicken (diced)
• ½ lb. sausage (Andouille or smoked) diced (I used Mild Italian and it worked great)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 2 TBSP Cajun Seasoning
• ½ tsp. dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• ½ tsp. file powder (on spice isle also called ground sassafras leaves)
• Salt to taste
  

  Forgot the Okra in the Pic

Directions

Don’t be overwhelmed by the amount of ingredients!  This is very easy!

Heat butter or oil in a large pot over medium-high heat and add flour. Cook and stir until mixture is the color of an old copper penny; nice and dark.

It will come together pretty quick...keep and eye on it!

Add onion, celery and peppers.  Cook for several minutes until they begin to sweat and smell great!

Frozen Pepper an onion mix is perfect for this!

Add Chicken stock slowly while stirring and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer until veggies are tender about 20 minutes.

Add all tomato products and simmer for another 10 minutes.

Now throw in the chicken, sausage, okra, and all seasonings except for the File’ powder. (*Tip for the Chicken* Go Here to see how to use the leg quarters for the meat and to make your own stock!). 

Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes.

Turn heat off and add file’ powder; stir well, remove bay leaf and serve over cooked rice.

Makes 8 servings maybe a little more!

This was a major hit at my house.  Everyone cleaned their bowls.  Warmed me right up.  What is with this cold weather anyway?!

For seafood gumbo: Use ½ lb. shrimp and ½ lb. scallops in place of chicken.  Add during the last 15 minutes of cooking.  Use fish stock if available and add 2 tsp. of old bay.

Ok, The Meal Deal!

A big huge thank you goes to Michelle at I Heart Publix for the Weekly ad preview and matchups.  These are the current prices for this week 2/18 at Publix.  You could make this meal cheaper from your stockpile items or items from another store.  The price below is if you had to purchase everything right now at Publix, with coupons of course.

• 1 bag frozen Peppers and Onions $1.50
• 1 bag frozen diced Okra $1.50

-$1.00/2 Birds Eye Vegetables, Any Bags Or Boxes (Excluding Steamfresh) – 02-07-10 SS

• (2)Progresso 100% Natural Broth, Chicken: Regular or Reduced Sodium or Beef Flavored, 32 oz ctn, BOGO $2.59
  -$1/4 Italian Days Booklet or HERE

(Option)  2 for recipe and 2 for stockpile

• 1 pkg. Publix Mild or Hot Italian Sausage, $2.49/lb. (about 2 lbs $5.00)
• 4 cans Hunt’s 100% Natural Tomatoes, Assorted Varieties, 28 oz can or Sauce, 29 oz can, BOGO $1.89
  -$1/3 any Hunt’s PRINT

Great Stockpile price!

• Rico Long Grain Rice, 3 lb. bag, .99¢
• 1 pkg Chicken Leg Quarters, $.59/lb (about 3lbs. $1.77)

Boil and pull chicken off of bone for cooked meat.  Use broth for this recipe of save for another.  GO HERE for directions!

• 1 Bottle of Cajun Seasoning $2.15
• 1 bottle of File’ seasoning $1.99

Total after coupons $18.28

Divide by 8 (number of servings)

$2.29 per person!

Plus, extra sausage, canned tomatoes, rice, chicken, and left over seasonings!

What else could you make this week?

• Meatball Subs and Baked Ziti
• Italian Pasta toss
• Slow Cooker Pizza Pork chops
• Chicken Parmesan
• Lasagna

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