Red Beans And Rice - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb. dried red beans
1 meaty ham bone
2 large onions, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 rib celery (with leaves), chopped
1/2 c. chopped parsley
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/4 tsp. thyme
2 lb. spicy smoked sausage, cut in 1-inch pieces
1 tsp. Tabasco sauce
1/2 tsp. sugar
1 bay leaf (optional)
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 c. catsup or tomato sauce
water (to cover cooked rice)
1/2 tsp. salt

Preparation

Soak beans in water to cover overnight. Rinse. Cover with water in heavy pot. Add ham bone (fat trimmed off) and remaining ingredients, except sausage and rice.
Bring to a boil and simmer 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Add sausage (which has been steamed in skillet, drained and fried).
Just before serving, remove bay leaf and add a little more fresh parsley. For added thickness, remove about a cup of beans from the pot, mash thoroughly and return to mixture.
Serve with boiled rice and garnish with scallions. Serves 8.