Treebeard's Red Beans (and rice)

I got this recipe from Recipezaar.. It was very tasty & Spicey so if you don't want the spicey omit the hot stuff.. LOL!!

Treebeard's Red Beans (And Rice)

This recipe is quite a favorite at Treebeards' restaurant in Houston.

6 servings

2½ hours 20 min prep

1 lb dried red kidney beans

2 quarts water

2 medium onions, chopped

2 stalks celery, with leaves, chopped

1/2 large bell pepper, choppped

2 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 1/2 teaspoons thyme

1 1/2 teaspoons oregano

1 1/4 teaspoons garlic powder

3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (hot stuff)

2 bay leaves

1 lb smoked sausage, cut in 1/2 " slices

Sort and wash red beans. In a large soup pot, add 2 qrts cold water and red beans. Let soak overnight. (To speed up the process, you can bring them to a boil, simmer 2 minutes, remove from heat and let stand 1 hour before the next step.) DO NOT DRAIN WATER!

Add onions, celery, and bell pepper to beans and bring to a boil. Cover, and reduce heat to simmer about 1 1/2 hours, or until beans are soft. DO NOT STIR MORE THAN NECESSARY.
Stir in seasonings and sausage. Simmer 30 minutes more. Meanwhile cook a pot of rice, and serve the beans over the hot cooked rice, garnished with shredded cheddar cheese and chopped green onion.

Note: Don't stir more than necessary - you don't want mushy beans. If you want thicker beans, remove the lid during the last 30 minutes of cooking time, or remove 1/2 cups of the beans and mash them before returning to the pot.