Red Beans And Rice - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 whole onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 stem celery, chopped
2 Tbsp. parsley flakes
1 (1 lb.) pkg. red kidney beans
cooked rice
ham bone or bacon or sausage
salt and pepper to taste (be generous)

Preparation

Rinse and sort beans in cold water.
Pull out all rocks and bad beans.
Drain.
Put about 2 quarts cold water into pot.
Be sure beans are well covered and have enough liquid.
Cover and heat for about 1 minute.
Remove from heat and let soak for at least one hour (the longer, the better).
Bring beans to full boil.
Add ham bone, onion, garlic, parsley flakes and celery. Simmer for about 2 hours.
Add salt and pepper (never before because salt will harden the beans).
Mash a few beans in a spoon and stir in to thicken the gravy.
Let simmer for 15 minutes more. Serve over rice with French bread and cold beer.