Recipe(tried): Louisiana Red Beans and Rice

Here's the Louisiana version given to me by my Cajun neighbor.
* Exported from MasterCook *

RED BEANS AND RICE


Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 pound red kidney beans -- dried
ham hock/ cubed ham
1 whole onion -- chopped
1/2 cup bell pepper -- chopped
1 clove garlic -- chopped
1/2 cup celery -- chopped
water to cover
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 whole bay leaf
3 cups rice -- cooked
1/2 pound smoked sausage -- sliced

Soak beans in water overnight. Drain. In a Dutch oven add onions, peppers, garlic, and celery and saute for 3 minutes. Add beans, water to cover (again), Tabasco sauce, salt,ham and herbs. Simmer 1-2 hours or until beans are tender. Add water when necessary during cooking; water should barely cover beans at end of cooking. Add sausage for the last 15 minutes of cooking. Remove 1 cup beans and mash to paste. Add mashed bean paste back to beans; stir until liquid is thickened. . Serve over hot rice.