Best Shrimp Creole Ever - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 lbs shrimp (cleaned)
2 cups chopped onions
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/3 cup cooking oil (optional)
1 (10 ounce) can Rotel Tomatoes
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (28 ounce) can whole tomatoes
1 teaspoon salt
6 teaspoons sugar
4 bay leaves
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can chicken broth
1 teaspoon flour

Preparation

Pour oil in heavy pot. Add onion, celery, bell pepper, garlic, all tomatoes, salt, sugar, and bay leaves. (that's everything but shrimp, broth, and flour) Bring to boil, then turn to medium heat. Cook for 1 hour; stirring occasionally at first. increase frequency of stirring as hour progresses and liquid reduces. After one hour the mixture goes from soupy to thick paste. careful not to scorch as thickens.
Dissolve flour in chicken broth and add to tomato sauce mixture. Bring to boil. Add shrimp and bring back to boil; boil 10 minutes. Turn heat off, cover pot and let set for 20 minutes.
Serve over rice and enjoy!
note: I use tabasco as condiment since hot is such a personal thing.