Red Beans and Rice

Happy Fat Tuesday!

1 lb dry small red beans
4 cups chicken broth
1 can of beer (if you don't want beer use 2 cups of water)
1 (8oz) can tomato sauce
1 medium onion, chopped
2 or 3 celery stalks, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 bunch of green onions, sliced (split in half)
2 1/2 tsp creole seasoning
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
1 lb smoked sausage, sliced
Cayenne pepper, to taste
Cooked rice

~ Rinse dry beans in a colander and remove any deformed ones. In your crock pot combined; chicken broth, beer (or water), tomato sauce, onion, celery, bell pepper, green onions, creole seasoning, and garlic. Next pour in the dry beans and stir. Toss in the bay leaves and cover. Add the sausage and cayenne pepper an hour or 2 before you are ready to eat. Cook on slow for 8 hours or until the beans are done. Once you are ready to eat, mash some of the beans along the side of the pot and stir. This will give it a creamy texture. Serve over cooked rice and garnish with green onions.

Side Note: Start by using 6 cups of liquid and if more is needed then add a small amount at a time. If you end up with to much liquid at the end of the cook time then remove some. All crock pots cook differently so adjust accordingly. Just remember the "sauce" is the best part about this dish so don't make it to "dry". Now go find your happy medium! :)