Vegetable "gumbo"

Ingredients

• 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 1 celery rib, diced
• 20 baby carrots, diced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth (from a box)
• 1 (355 ml) can V8 vegetable juice
• 1/2 (14 ounce) can stewed tomatoes or diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
• 3/4 cup okra, chopped (frozen is fine)
• 1/2 cup frozen corn
• 1/2 cup frozen green bean
• 1/2 medium zucchini or summer squash, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon thyme
• hot sauce, like Tabasco to taste
• fresh ground black pepper
• 2 cups long grain rice, cooked

Directions

1. 1

   Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat.

2. 2

   Add onions and saute until translucent.

3. 3

   Add carrots, celery, and garlic and saute for another few minutes.

4. 4

   Add remaining ingredients except rice.

5. 5

   Stir well and simmer over low heat for 30-60 minutes, or until all the vegetables are very soft.

6. 6

   Serve in a bowl ladled over the rice, making it as thick or as soupy as you like.