Baked Vegetable Gumbo Creole Recipe

1 lb Okra, sliced diagonally

20 oz Frozen okra, sliced

Boiling salted water 1 ea Celery rib, sliced diagonal

2 ea Bell peppers, cut in strips

20 oz Frozen lima beans

8 ea Ears fresh corn kernels

20 oz Frozen corn, thawed

Margarine Bread crumbs 1 sm Onion,chopped

4 ea Ripe tomatoes, sliced

2 ea Serrano chiles,thinly sliced

1 ts Chopped fresh basil

1/2 ts Dried basil,crumbled

Salt to taste Black pepper to taste Cook fresh okra briefly in boiling salted water; drain. Blanch celery in boiling salted water. Add bell peppers and lima beans and cook until just tender; during last 30 seconds, add corn (do not overcook), then drain vegetables. Oil a large baking dish and sprinkle with bread crumbs; add a layer of corn-bean mixture and okra. Combine onion, tomatoes and basil; spoon layer of onion-tomato mixture over bottom layer in dish. Sprinkle with chiles and season with salt and pepper. Dot with margarine and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Repeat layering until casserole is filled. Top with a layer of okra that has been dipped in crumbs and lightly sauteed. Bake uncovered in preheated 300F for 1 hour. NOTE: This can be baked in the morning and reheated slowly before serving. It tastes even better the second day.