Gumbo File - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb. shrimp, cleaned
2 doz. oysters
1 small young hen
1/2 lb. hot sausage
2 onions, finely chopped
6 cloves garlic
2 green peppers
6 fresh tomatoes
1 lb. crab meat
6 Tbsp. parsley
1/2 c. bacon fat
1/2 tsp. sugar
4 Tbsp. flour
4 Tbsp. file
1 1/2 to 2 qt. water
4 sprigs thyme
salt, pepper and cayenne to taste

Preparation

Fry chicken until partially done.
Add sausage, crab meat, onions, garlic, green peppers and parsley.
Fry for 2 minutes.
Add flour and brown.
Add water, tomatoes and sugar; boil for 15 minutes.
Add shrimp and cook 10 minutes.
Add oysters and cook for 5 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Add file and keep top off pot until served.
Serve over rice.