New Orleans Red Beans and Rice

You can serve this New Orleans Style Red Beans
and Rice dish with fried chicken and corn bread.

Ingredients:
1 lb dry red beans
2 quarts water
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
4 bay leaves
1 cup chopped green pepper
3 tbsp chopped parsley
3 tbsp chopped garlic
2 tsp dried thyme, crushed
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper

Cooking Directions:
Sort through your beans removing any defective beans
or small stones that may be present.
Place the beans in a colander and rinse several times.
Place beans, chopped onion, chopped celery, and bay leaves
in a 5-quart pot and cover with two inches of water.
Bring to boil, replace lid and reduce to low-heat.
Cook for about 1-1/2 hours until beans are tender.
When beans are tender remove bay leaves then mash
and stir beans against side of pot.
Next add your remaining ingredients
consisting of chopped green peppers, parsley,
garlic, thyme, salt and pepper.
Cook uncovered over low-heat for about 30 minutes,
until red beans mixture is creamy.
Serve red beans over steamed rice.