Chicken Gumbo

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup olive oil or peanut oil
• 3/4 cups flour
• 2 cups onion, diced
• 3 ribs celery, diced
• 2 green pepper, diced
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen okra, thawed and sliced
• 1 carrot, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large can (48 ounce) chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons hot sauce
• 1/2 cup uncooked rice
• 3 chicken breasts (cut in bite-size pieces)
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• salt and pepper to taste