Baked Vegetable Gumbo Creole
Grrrrrgh!
Course : Gumbo
From: HungryMonster.com
Serves: 10
 

Ingredients:

1 pound fresh okra -- diag. sliced
20 ounces frozen sliced okra
2 quarts boiling salted water
1 rib celery -- diagonally sliced
2 medium bell peppers -- in strips
20 ounces frozen lima beans
8 medium fresh corn kernels ears
20 ounces frozen corn -- thawed
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons bread crumbs
1 small onion -- chopped
4 medium ripe tomatoes -- sliced
2 medium serrano chiles -- thinly sliced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon dried basil -- crumbled
1/2 teaspoon salt to taste
1/2 teaspoon black pepper to taste
1/2 cup shredded monterey jack
1 pound fresh okra -- diag. sliced
2 packages frozen sliced okra -- (10oz)
1/2 cup boiling salted water
1 rib celery -- diagonally sliced
2 medium bell peppers -- in strips
2 packages frozen lima beans -- (10oz)
8 ears fresh corn kernels
2 packages frozen corn -- thawed(10oz)
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 small onion -- chopped
4 medium ripe tomatoes -- sliced
2 medium serrano chiles -- thinly sliced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon dried basil -- crumbled
1/4 teaspoon salt to taste
1/4 teaspoon black pepper to taste
1/2 cup shredded monterey jack
 

Preparation:

1. Cook fresh okra briefly in boiling salted water; drain. 2. Blanch celery in boiling salted water. 3. Add bell peppers and lima beans and cook until just tender; during last 30 seconds, add corn (do not overcook), then drain vegetables. 4. Butter a large baking dish and sprinkle with bread crumbs; add a layer of corn-bean mixture and okra. 5. Combine onion, tomatoes and basil; spoon layer of onion-tomato mixture over bottom layer in dish. 6. Sprinkle with chiles and season with salt and pepper. 7. Dot with butter and sprinkle with bread crumbs. 8. Repeat layering until casserole is filled. 9. Top with a layer of okra that has been dipped in crumbs and lightly sauteed in butter; sprinkle evenly with shredded cheese if desired. 10. Bake uncovered in preheated 300' over for 1 hour. NOTE: This can be baked in the morning and reheated slowly before serving. It tastes even better the second da