Recipe: Angie's Cajun Style White Beans and Rice (crock pot) and White Beans and Rice with Ham (not Zatarain's)

ANGIE'S CAJUN STYLE WHITE BEANS AND RICE

1 lb great northern white beans
3 to 4 bacon strips
1/4 cup chopped onions
1/4 cup chopped bell peppers
1/4 cup chopped celery
Salt to taste
Freshly-ground black pepper to taste
hot cooked rice (to serve)

Cover beans with water and let soak overnight in the refrigerator.

The next day, put all ingredients in crockpot* and cook on LOW about 4 hours.

If the beans are cooked but the "gravy" is too thin, you may have to boil the beans on the stove until it is thicker.

Serve over rice.

*If desired, drain and rinse beans before adding to crock pot and add fresh water to pot to cover beans.

Comments: I've seem some recipes say don't boil the beans too hard so the beans won't burst. I say let them burst!! This is what makes it good!! -Angie.

---

WHITE BEANS AND RICE
Adapted from source: Mama Jennie
Servings: 10

This recipe was passed down from my Cajun grandmother to me. It makes A LOT of food, and freezes well. I love to make this dish because the aroma that fills my house reminds me of back home. This can be made in a large crockpot, but I recommend a large stewpot as it makes a lot of food.

2 bags (16 ounce each) navy beans
1 lb diced ham
2 teaspoons canola oil, divided use
2 small onions, chopped
1 1/2 stalks celery, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
4 to 5 garlic cloves, minced or crushed
2 bay leaves (or to taste)
2 tablespoons salt (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or to taste)
6 cups cooked rice (to serve)

Wash beans and add to stew pot with water to cover beans; boil for 30-45 minutes.

Brown ham in 1 tsp of oil until just brown. Remove ham from pan; set aside.

To the pan add the remaining 1 tsp oil, onion, celery, bell pepper, and garlic; cook until soft. (If sticky, just add a LITTLE water.)

Add ham back to skillet and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes.

Add skillet mixture to beans and season with salt, cayenne pepper, and bay leaves. Taste the liquid to make sure that it agrees to your tastes. Cook in stewpot until beans are soft (4-6 hours).

Remove 1 1/2 cups of beans and mash. Add mashed beans back to mixture.

Serve beans over rice.