CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

This month I will share a few Soul Food recipes, that's been in my family for over a 100 years. I don't want anyone to say I'm not sure what to prepare for Black History Month or what to take to a Black History Month Celebration. Okay for you and me who are cutting out pork and fat from our diet just prepare the dish with smoke turkey parts, and just take a little sample of each dish. Let get started with something quick and easy we are turning the clock back in time.

RED BEANS AND RICE

Ingredients:
2 cups dried red beans
1/2 teaspoon dried minced garlic
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 pound Andouille or Kielbasa sausage, thinly sliced
*2 teaspoon salt
3 cups hot cooked long-grain rice

Direction:
1. Pick over the dried beans, and soak them in water overnight.
2. The next day, drain off the soaking water, and place the bean in a covered pot, cover the beans with cold water and stir in first 7 ingredients.
3. Simmer for 2 hours stirring occasionally, check your water level adding more hot water to keep beans from burning.
4. Discard bay leaf stir in sausage, *salt and season to taste and simmer for an addition hour or until beans are soft.
5. Mash some of the beans (1/2 cup) against the side of the pot to make a creamy sauce and serve over rice.
*Add salt only after the beans our fully cooked