[stankazul]

:roll:I am a begining cook and need a red bean recipe. I have a rice cooker and a package of red beans . Help!
I am trying to be less dependent on my wife regarding my ricing. The more self suficient I am the more confident I becom, the greater chance for sucess I acquire.
Stan

[slf19]

Hi Stan,
I use low sodium canned beans and put them into a pot with 6 bay leaves, chopped onions and garlic and 1/2 can of water. Simmer for about 30 minutes then you can thicken by smashing some of the beans or using a small amount of cornstarch mixed with a little water.
They will thicken a lot when cooled.
I eat them on rice or bread.
Check the recipe thread, there are loads of great bean recipes.
Miles of smiles,
Sharon

[Aideen]

Red Beans and Rice

1 one pound bag of red beans
1 med. onion
3 cloves of garlic (I add more)
2 celery ribs
1 green bell pepper
2 tsp. Braggs Amino Acids
4 tsp. liquid smoke (Wright's is 2 calories, 0 g. fat and 0 mg. sodium)
fresh black pepper, to taste (not too much you can always add more later)

Pick through beans to remove rocks and then "wash" thoroughly. Put beans in a crock pot, add water and turn the pot on. Chop onion, celery and bell pepper into very small pieces and mince the garlic; then add the lot to the beans. Add remaining ingredients and cook until the beans are soft.

You can cook over night on low or on high for a few hours. Length of time depends on the crock pot. You can also cook in a regular pot, but stir occasionally to prevent for sticking to the bottom on the pot. When the bean are soft they're done.

To cook rice, rinse well and then you can just follow the package directions. But omit salt if it's called for. I always pour rice in a pot and add water until it is about an inch above the rice. This method has to be adjusted according to the size of the pot and amount of the rice, but it works for me.

You can also soak the beans overnight in the refrigerator. That allows them to absorb water, begin to ferment and cook a bit faster. Fermenting is necessary however.

[stankazul]

Tried Aideen's recipie for red beans and it was great ,further as a begining cook I was so proud of myself when it came out edibile.
Going to keep it and try it again
Thank you guys for answering my plea
Stan Kazul

[Aideen]

Stan,
I'm glad you like my recipe.

Sharon,
I usually add a bay leaf or two to my red bean recipe too, but I forgot to the day I made my beans and wrote down the recipe.

[Lony]

Stan, how great that you're learning to cook some RD stuff. I know your wife appreciates it...and I'm impressed that you have the wish to do this in an independent spirit. I'll just bet that in one year's time you'll be the best cook in the neighbourhood. And other people will be asking you for recipes.

[jeanie35]

When I make red beans to put on rice I ad salsa (I use medium) in whatever amount you want. Varies depending on the amount of beans.
Really makes them great!

[Aideen]

jeanie35,
I like salsa also, I add it when I make pinto beans.

The Red Beans and Rice Recipe above is my vegan version of the old New Orleans style "Red Beans and Rice" recipe that I used to make. Except I forgot the bay leaf.