"The Knitters" and Delicious Red River Gumbo

Do you have a close girlfriend? How about a group of girlfriends that get together regularly? What about in 50 years? Will you still be friends? Will you still get together?
This post is all about celebrating the remarkable, enduring  friendships of women! And a great vegetable soup recipe!

Over 50 years ago, there was a group of young mothers from small town in Oklahoma, who decided to get together once a month for a Girl's Night Out. 

"The Knitters" October 1992 (Iva with her granddaughter Jesse)

This group of 12 ladies would meet in each other's homes, taking turns as the hostess, eat, talk, laugh and have a great time.  They called themselves "The Knitters." 

When these ladies were in their mid 50's they decided to start taking a trip, once a year, to Taos, New Mexico. In between a lot of shopping and "a little bit of knitting" the ladies would pair off and take turns cooking.

This amazing soup came about from one of those trips.  As my friend Iva tells it, they each made suggestions as to what should be in the soup.  And a brand new recipe was created.  And since they "had to call it something...why not Red River Gumbo?" 

RED RIVER GUMBO

1 Lg. rotisserie chicken (OR whole chicken or chicken breasts cooked and shredded or diced)
2 lb bag frozen okra
4 C frozen corn
2 cans black eyed peas (drained and rinsed) I only use one can
1 28oz can diced tomatoes
1 12oz can tomato paste
2 cans Rotel
1 lg onion (or to taste)
8 cups chicken broth (or 8 c water plus chicken bullion)
garlic or garlic powder, salt, pepper, basil, oregano and Tabasco sauce (Sorry, this is all by sight! LOL! It was the way the recipe was given to me!) If I had to guess: 1/2t - salt and pepper.  1t -  Tabasco, basil, oregano and garlic. 
Place all ingredients except chicken in soup pot and simmer for 1.5 hours.  Add chicken and cook 30 more minutes.
 

I decided to add mushrooms for this batch!

Iva said they always served it with Mexican cornbread. 
Using cornbread mix, replace milk with salsa and mexicorn-drained. EASY!

This soup is delicious! Even my kids love it!

Iva just celebrated her 85th birthday! The friends who are still living remain close to this day.  Five of them chose to live in the same retirement home!

Iva told me that Ruth, the first "knitter" to pass away, told her friends she wanted everyone to share a banana split with her at her grave site!
And they did! 

And that's the story of The Knitters and Red River Gumbo!

Good food and good friends! What could be better?

Have a Blessed Day!

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