Aunt Nancys Cajun Rice And Beans Food

ONE-POT CAJUN RICE AND BEANS

Steps:

• Heat a large 12-inch skillet (you need a lid) on medium-high heat and add in the olive oil. Add in the sausage and saute for about 5 minutes, remove sausages to a plate, and set aside.
• Add in the diced onion and cook 3-5 minutes just until soft. Add in the minced garlic and cook another minute.
• Add back in the sausages and sprinkle in the Cajun seasoning,, paprika, chili powder, onion and garlic powder, and red pepper flakes and mix until coated.
• Add in the chicken broth, tomatoes, and rice, Turn up the heat a bit and bring it to a simmer and stir scraping the bottom from any browned bits.
• Move the skillet to the smallest burner and reduce the heat to the lowest temp. Place the lid on the skillet and cook for 20 minutes ( do NOT remove the lid to peek) then turn the heat off and let it sit for 5-10 minutes without lifting the lid.
• Remove the lid and stir in the drained beans and garnish with fresh chopped parsley.

BAKED BEANS

Steps:

• Look through the beans for any rocks or irregular looking beans and discard those. Put beans in large pot and rinse with cold water, then cover with cold water and cook till done. Drain.
• Preheat oven to 325.
• In medium sized bowl combine tomato paste and juice from the canned tomatoes. Set aside.
• In bottom of greased Dutch oven layer half the cooked beans. Next cover that with half the onions and bacon. Sprinkle brown sugar over this generously. Repeat the layers ending with another generous sprinkling of brown sugar.
• Top this with canned tomatoes that you have cut up or squished with your hand. Then top this with the reserved tomato paste mixture.
• Cover the beans and bake for 2 to 3 hours.
• Before you bake it the original recipe states that you can add a little syrup to the mixture but I never do this.

CAJUN RICE

Steps:

• In fry pan stir in ground beef, bell pepper and cook on medium-high heat until beef looses its pink color and bell pepper is soft. Remove excess grease.
• Turn temperature down to medium or medium-low. Add remaining ingredients, stir and cook together until ground beef is completely cooked and liquid is gone about 25 to 35 minutes.
• More Creole seasoning and red pepper may be added for that Cajun at Heart. I like to use Tony Chacheres's.

CAJUN RED BEANS AND RICE

Steps:

• Place kidney beans in large pot. Add enough water to pot to cover beans by 2 inches. Bring to boil. Remove pot from heat. Cover and let beans stand 1 hour to soften. Drain. Return beans to same pot. Add 7 cups water and chicken broth. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until beans are tender, about 1 hour. Drain beans, reserving 2 cups of cooking liquid.
• Heat vegetable oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 cups onions and saute' until beginning to soften, about 4 minutes. Add sausage, bell pepper, celery, and garlic. Reduce heat to medium and saute' until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in beans, reserved 2 cups cooking liquid, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, paprika, and cayenne. Reduce heat to low; simmer until liquid thickens slightly, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine remaining 2 3/4 cups water, rice, butter, bay leaf, thyme, and remaining 1/2 cup chopped onion, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper in a large saucepan. Bring to simmer over high heat. Cover, reduce heat to low and cook until rice is tender and water is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand covered 10 minutes.
• Spoon kidney beans into bowls. Top with rice and serve.

AUNT NANCY'S BLUE CHEESE BALL (KICKED UP )

Steps:

• In a large bowl add cream cheese,cheddar cheese and blu cheese and mix together well.
• Add cheese whiz,Accent,onion, red and green pepper.
• Mix all up real good and place in refrigerator for 10 minutes or just enough time to harden alittle. This is to help with rolling in pecans.
• Remove from refrigerator and form into 1 large cheese ball or 2 medium size cheese balls.
• On wax paper, place chopped pecans and roll each ball.
• Place on a glass plate or cheese ball plate and pat around to secure the pecans.
• Chill for 1 to 2 hours or overnight.
• Serve with your choice of crackers.