Author Notes: Every year for my birthday, I would ask for my mom's red beans and rice. They're comforting, creamy and so well flavored. Everyone who tries them loves them. My mom swears the secret is a cup of pickle juice. 

New Orleans Red Beans & Rice

Serves: 9 to 12 
Prep time: 1 hrs 
Cook time: 4 hrs

For the red beans:

• 1pound red kidney beans (my mom uses Camellia brand)
• 1large onion chopped
• 1/2bell pepper
• 2tablespoons minced garlic, more to taste
• 3stalks celery, chopped
• 1cup pickle juice (dill or sweet)
• 5to 8 whole bay leaves
• 1pound smoked sausage, sliced in 1/2 in sections
• 1smoked ham bone with meat (many stores will sell ham bones with some meat on them; ham bone will greatly improve the taste of red beans)
• 1pound smoked ham cut in cubes (Look for this in meat section, sometimes called "pickled pork" but it won't have a bone with it)
• 1tablespoon Cavender's Greek Seasoning

1. In a large heavy pot, empty bag of red kidney beans; remove any dirt if there.
2. Wash beans by rinsing in water and discard water. Add fresh tap water to cleaned beans so that water covers them by 2 inches.
3. Put lid on and bring to a boil, then lower temperature to simmer for 1 hour and then turn off. Beans should be softened.
4. Add all above remaining ingredients and add enough water to cover all ingredients by an inch.
5. Bring back to a boil then immediately to a low simmer. It may take 3-4 hours on simmer for the beans to be ready to eat. The longer you keep them on a low simmer, the creamier they will get. You must stir the beans regularly so they don't burn.
6. If you soften the beans first you could then put them in a crock pot with all other ingredients and kept on low simmer for about 8 hours and it should not burn. (I would still stir it every few hours).
7. Freeze any leftovers and they are good for at least 4 months in the freezer.

For the rice:

• 1cup long grain brown rice
• 2cups water
• 1pinch sea salt
• 1splash olive oil

1. Prepare 1 cup of long grain brown rice. (2 cups water to each 1 cup rice plus good shake of sea salt and 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil), bring to boil then put on simmer for 15 mins or until done.

https://food52.com/recipes/77016-mom-s-new-orleans-red-beans-rice