Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Originally from weightwatchers.com, this gumbo is more like a thick hearty soup.  It is simple and healthy.  Since discovering it about 8 years ago, I have made it many times and more than likely altered it in accordance with my personal preference as well as ingredients I can find.  The original recipe called for a bag of frozen "gumbo style" vegetables, but to this day I can't seem to find such a thing, so I came up with an alternative.  This soup is unlike the traditional gumbo as it is quick and easy, doesn't take a pretty penny to make or take all day to cook.  There is also no rice, yet it is still a very hearty and filling meal.

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

1/2 lb of chicken breast diced
1/2 lb of rope style sausage such as smoked sausage- chicken or turkey variety diced
1 cup of chicken broth
1 large can of crushed tomatoes
3 tablespoons flour
1 bag of frozen vegetables
     *I use "Mexican style" that includes broccoli, cauliflower, corn and peppers
1 1/2 cups frozen cut okra
garlic- fresh about one clove, minced or 1/2 teaspoon garlic power
onion- fresh about 1/4 cup worth, diced or 1 teaspoon onion powder
pepper
salt
chili powder, cumin, red pepper flakes or hot sauce if you desire a spicy gumbo

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large sauce pan or dutch oven over medium high heat.  Add chicken breast and garlic and onion, saute until chicken turns white.  Add sausage and continue cooking until both chicken and sausage are browned, reduce heat slightly if needed so meat doesn't burn.  Sprinkle in salt, pepper and spice (if spicy is desired). Stir together and add frozen vegetables and chicken broth, scraping the bottom as you go.  Once mixture starts to bubble, sprinkle in flour and mix.  Let heat until the liquid starts to thicken.  Add crushed tomatoes, stir and cook until heated throughout about 10 minutes.

Cost:
For this recipe, which makes a total of about 8 cups of soup, here is a breakdown of approximate cost.

Chicken breast-  on sale for about $2/lb, so around $1
Sausage- on sale for about $2 for a 14 oz package, often there are coupons as well, so about $1
Chicken broth- store brand 80cents a can, use 1 cup, so about 50 cents
Crushed tomatoes- $1.25 on sale
Mexican Vegetables- $1.25
Okra- $1.50/ bag, you use about 1/3 of the bag, so 50 cents worth
Total- About $8.80 to buy the packages you need, about $5.50 for the soup.
          This would cost about $.69 per cup.