Red Beans and Rice

Ingredients

• 2 cups red beans, dry
• 8 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups onion — chopped
• 1 cup celery — chopped
• 4 bay leaves
• 3 tablespoons garlic — chopped
• parsley — optional
• 2 teaspoons thyme — crushed, dried
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup red bell pepper — chopped - could also use green pepper
• 2 cups cooked brown rice

Method

1. Wash hands with soap and water.
2. Pick through beans to remove shriveled or broken beans.
3. Rinse beans thoroughly.
4. In a 5-quart pot, mix beans, water, onion, celery, and bay leaves.
5. Bring to boiling; reduce heat.
6. Cover and cook over low heat for about 1 to 1/2 hours or until beans are tender.
7. Stir and mash beans against side of pan.
8. Add garlic, parsley, thyme, salt, black pepper, and red or green pepper.
9. Cook uncovered, over low heat, until creamy, about 30 minutes.
10. Remove bay leaves.
11. Serve over hot cooked rice.