Greetings, all.

Here's a classic Louisiana recipe--not from New Orleans but authentic to the region:

2. Red Beans and Rice

Here's what you need:

1 pound red kidney beans
1 meaty ham bone
2 large onions, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Pinch of sugar
1 bay leaf (optional)
2 pounds spicy sausage
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
Rice

Here's what you do:

Soak beans overnight. Rinse. Cover with water and cook with ham bone (fat trimmed off), onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, salt, pepper, sugar, and bay leaf. While beans are cooking, put on "Songs I Heard", then boil the sausage in skillet. Drain, fry until crisp, and set aside. Cook beans until fork tender; then add fried sausage. Just before serving, remove bay leaf and add parsley. Freezes. Serves 8.

Good with corn bread and mustard greens.

From: "Pirate's Pantry: Treasured Recipes of Southwest Louisiana", The Junior League of Lake Charles, Inc., 1976, pg. 24.

I haven't personally tried this recipe yet but have made red beans and rice LA-style. It actually came out purplish-colored but was real tasty.

ClayBusby