Louisiana Red Beans & Rice

Photo: flickr user naviniea

Ingredients

1 pound dried red kidney beans

Preparation

2 qt. water

1 meaty ham bone or ham cut in cubes or 2 smoked pork hocks

1 lb. hot sausage, fried

Drained

1 bunch green onions, tops too

1 green pepper, optional

2 stalks celery

3 med. onions

Lg. pinch of dried thyme

4 bay leaves

Salt, pepper, cayenne pepper or Tabasco sauce

Put beans in crock pot or kettle. Add boiling water, ham and sausage. Chop and add green onions, celery, onions and green pepper. Add thyme and bay leaves. Cook at least 8-10 hours in crock pot on high. The longer it cooks, the better it gets.

After beans are soft, mash 1/4 of them. 45 minutes after mashing beans, taste and season with salt, pepper and cayenne pepper (optional). Keep cooking until rice is ready. Ladle beans and sauce over rice.