Red Beans and Rice

Directions

1. 1
   Cook on med-high heat the onion, bell pepper, and celery 6-8 minutes in oil until the onions and celery are semi-translucent and the bell pepper is tender.
2. 2
   Add the garlic and cook 1-2 minutes stirring constantly so as not to burn the garlic.
3. 3
   Add the ham, bay leaves, thyme, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, water and beans to the pot and increase heat to high.
4. 4
   Stir frequently until mixture comes to a boil.
5. 5
   Decrease the heat to low and maintain a simmer.
6. 6
   Cover and cook for 1 1/2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes.
7. 7
   Uncover, increase the heat slightly to maintain the simmer and cook for another 30-40 minutes or until the beans are tender and the sauce is thickened.
8. 8
   You can mash some of the beans with a potato masher if you like a creamier texture.
9. 9
   During the last 30 minutes of cooking the beans, prepare the rice.
10. 10
    To do this, bring 3 cups of water to a boil in one pot.
11. 11
    While boiling the water, in another pot melt the butter over medium heat.
12. 12
    Add the rice and stir to combine with butter.
13. 13
    Add the salt and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.
14. 14
    Carefully pour boiling water over the rice and stir.
15. 15
    Decrease heat to lowest setting, cover, and cook for 15-20 minutes.
16. 16
    Serve the beans over the rice and enjoy!