Red Beans and Rice

Ingredients

• 1 lb dry red beans or dried red kidney beans
• 6 cups cold water
• 6 cups hot water
• 1 lb ham bone or smoked ham hock
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1 lb smoked sausage, cut in bite size pieces

Directions

1. 1

   Rinse beans. In a dutch oven cover beans with 6 cups of cold water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat,cover and let stand for 1 hour. Drain and rinse.

2. 2

   In same pan, combine rinsed beans, 6 cups of hot water, ham or hocks, onion, garlic, bay leaf, and ground red pepper. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and cover and simmer for about 2-1/2 hours, or until beans are tender. Add more water if necessary. Stir occasionally.

3. 3

   Remove meat and cut from bone, then add to the beans.

4. 4

   Add sausage and boil gently, uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes more, or until a thick gravy forms, stirring occasionally.

5. 5

   Serve over hot rice.