Gumbo File - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 to 5 lb. chicken (bite-size)
hot water to cover
2 tsp. salt
1 small onion
3 sprigs parsley
2 (3-inch) celery stalks with leaves
2 to 3 peppercorns
2 Tbsp. butter
2 medium onions, chopped
1/2 lb. ham, cooked and cut into bite-size pieces
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp. chili powder
2 Tbsp. file powder (powdered sassafras leaves)

Preparation

Put chicken into heavy saucepot.
Add next 6 ingredients; cover and bring to boil.
Remove foam.
Simmer, covered 1 1/2 to 2 hours until chicken is tender.
Remove chicken from broth.
Strain broth and cool slightly.
Remove fat from surface; remove skin from chicken and meat from bones.
Dice chicken and set aside.