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White Beans and Rice

White Beans & Rice: It’s Not All Red Beans Down Here

I know. I know. Red Beans & Rice is like a staple down here. Believe me, I know.

I also know that I really like Red Beans & Rice. Especially if it is seasoned with some spicy sausage.

But here’s the deal… I love White Beans. Sure, Red Beans are cool, but they ain’t got nothing on White Beans. 😉

The #SundaySupper Connection

#SundaySupper. I’m sure you’ve heard me talk about it before.

It is so important for families to gather together around the family table as often as possible. And #SundaySupper is the perfect place to start.

We are all too busy today. And family pays the price. The one thing that can really last… the one thing that can really bring meaning and purpose in life… that is the thing that suffers from our hectic modern lifestyles. #SundaySupper is a way to recapture some semblance of control, some way to grab ahold of what is most important in life.

Red Beans… White Beans… It’s All New Orleans, Baby!

Navy Peas are small. I think that’s why I like them. I like small beans.

Red Beans & Rice is such a staple down here. It’s ingrained in our culture.

All across South Louisiana, Mondays are considered Red Beans & Rice days. Legend has it that Mondays were wash days. Back before electric washers and dryers, clothes had to be washed by hand. It was work. And it took time. Lots of time. That meant there wasn’t much time for cooking on Mondays. So, folks would put a pot of red beans on the stove on low heat and let them cook down while they did the wash.

Red beans are pretty simple, so folks would throw a ham bone or some sausage into the pot to add a bit of flavor.

But here’s my little secret… I really prefer White Beans.

And guess what. White Beans are real New Orleans too!

This week we were asked to pick a #SundaySupper recipe that has been posted some time in the last year and to make it our own. I chose Red Beans & Rice. But, from the start I knew I wanted to do White Beans.

The Red Beans & Rice recipe at TheHandThatRocksTheLadle.WordPress.com was originally inspired by Emeril Lagasse.

I have always wanted to share my White Beans recipe, and I was quite shocked to realize that I had never posted my White Beans recipe on CatholicFoodie.com.

My bad.

But without any further ado, here is the recipe for White Beans & Rice…

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 lb dried white Navy Peas (I prefer Camellia brand)
  • 2 lb pork sausage (smoked or andouille)
  • 2 yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 stalk of celery, chopped
  • 4 cloves of garlic, crushed with a mortar & pestle
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 bunch parsley, chopped
  • 1 bunch green onions, chopped
  • Long grain rice (prepared according to package directions)
  • Hot sauce for serving (Crystal, Tabasco, or Louisiana Hot Sauce)

DIRECTIONS

  1. Soak the beans overnight in a large bowl. Make sure the beans are covered by at least 3 inches of water.
  2. Drain the water, rinse the beans, and set aside.
  3. Degrease the sausage in a large Dutch oven or stock pot. Remove sausage, slice into half-moons, and set aside.
  4. Sauté the onions, bell pepper, celery and garlic in the sausage grease until softened. Add a little oil (preferably coconut oil or regular olive oil… not extra-virgin), if needed.
  5. Add the beans to the pot along with the sausage.
  6. Pour 16 to 2o cups of water over the beans. Make sure you cover the beans by at least a couple of inches.
  7. Bring to a boil and add the salt, cayenne, and bay leaves.
  8. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 1.5 to 2 hours, until the beans are tender. Stir occasionally. Add water during simmer, if necessary.
  9. To make the beans creamier, mash some of the beans against the sides of the pot toward the end of the cook time.
  10. Check seasoning and adjust, adding salt, cayenne, black pepper to taste.
  11. A couple of minutes before serving, stir in a handful of the parsley and a handful of the green onions. Provide the remaining parsley and green onions as garnish for individual plates or bowls.
  12. Serve over white rice. Have hot sauce on hand for those who would like to add a little kick to it.

Happy Anniversary to #SundaySupper!!!

A year ago a friend of mine invited me to participate in something called a “progressive dinner.” I had no idea what that was, but I was game. I mean, I do love a party.

It’s hard to believe all that has happened since then.

All I can say is that the importance of #SundaySupper, of families eating together, has been hammered home to me this past year.

Here’s what Isabel, Foundress of the Sunday Supper Movement, had to say about this one year anniversary:

“I have always known that eating Supper Around the Family Table is the best nourishment we can give our families. It is about so much more than just the food that is served.  It is something that the entire family looks forward to. It is about commitment to each other, positive communication and time together. In my heart I know that this is the most important thing I have done for my family.

What I did not realize until recently is how powerful food can be. I have met, connected and shared recipes with an amazing group of people who were brought together by our love for food, family, friendship and mutual respect for each other.

When I wrote these words, one year ago, I had no idea the power they would have and the journey I would embark.  I have chills as I write this post.

…Our first Sunday Supper with bloggers Around the Family Table was the start of that journey.  The first step was a Progressive Dinner featuring fabulous Sunday Supper Recipes by seven talented bloggers; Jeff, Catholic Foodie  | Val, Val’s Food and or Art  | Eileen, Wine Everyday | Sunithi, Sue’s Nutrition Buzz |Renee, Magnolia Days | Donna, Cookistry |Erin, Big Fat Baker.

Beyond our wildest dreams, I don’t think any of us could ever have imagined how Sunday Supper would grow in 2012.  It has truly been one of the most memorable experiences of my life.  I am so thankful for the support from these seven individuals and ALL the contributors.   Week after week, they inspire families to spend time Around the Family Table with amazing  Sunday Supper Recipes.

Together, we have created a movement that has grown in leaps in bounds and is making a difference in the lives of families.  The Sunday Supper Movement took off and received so much recognition, that we have launched our #WeekdaySupper initiative.  It starts off as one day a week and soon becomes a way of life.  This year, we will feature easy Weekday Supper Recipes every day of the week!

It is so true that Food Brings People Together and I couldn’t imagine hand-picking a better group of individuals to break bread with every week!  The friendships, support and memories that have been made are unforgettable.  Thank you for a year of delicious memories.

We are celebrating this week’s birthday event by choosing recipes from contributors that have inspired us in the past year.  Boy was this a tough week… how do you choose just one recipe from 52 weeks of fabulous Sunday Supper Recipes?”

Sunday Supper Appetizers:

 Sunday Supper Soups and Breads:

 Sunday Supper Main Dishes: 

Sunday Supper Veggies: 

SundaySupper Desserts and Snacks: 

 Sunday Supper Breakfast Faves:

Sunday Supper Wine Pairings by ENOFYLZ Wine Blog 

“I am excited to announce a New Addition:  Tablescape by An Appealing Plan, Anniversay Dinner featuring Cheesecake with Fresh Berries orginally posted by The Messy Baker Blog

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter each Sunday. We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET and you do not want to miss out on the fun. Follow the#SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here → Sunday Supper Movement.”

What Do You Think?

You are part of this #SundaySupper movement. You are part of the Catholic Foodie. So, what do you think? I want to hear about it in the comments below.