Slow Cooker Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup grapeseed oil or clarified butter
• 1/3 cup sweet rice flour (or sub white flour for non-gluten free version)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup celery, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 pounds chicken breasts
• 2 (15 oz.) cans diced tomatoes
• 3 cups water
• 2 bell peppers, chopped
• 2 cups okra, sliced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons thyme, dried
• 1 1/2 teaspoons basil, dried
• 1/4-3/4 teaspoon cayenne (1/4 is mild heat)
• 1 bay leaf
• black pepper, to taste
• 1 (12 oz.) box Jones Dairy Farm All Natural Little Pork Sausage Links
• 1 teaspoon gumbo file