Red Beans and Rice

I made this with Fiesta Chicken with Avocado Salsa, and everyone LOVED it. Mom said it was the best beans & rice she had ever had. I have to say it turned out pretty darn good!! And it goes perfectly with the fiesta chicken. I couldn't find the original recipe online, and I made a few alterations. So I will post MY version.

Red Beans and Rice

From Betty Crocker Cookbook

1 cup dried kidney beans, rinsed
1 package smoked bacon
1 medium onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 cup brown rice
1 tsp salt

First I cooked rice according to package. I did not use instant, but you can use whatever rice you like. I used organic brown rice from a local farm.

In 3 quart sauce pan heat 3 cups of water to boiling then add beans. Boil uncovered for 2 minutes in salted water, reduce heat. Cover and simmer 1 hour or until tender (so not boil beans, they will fall apart) Drain beans, set aside.

In 10 in ch skillet, fry bacon and crumble. remove bacon crumbles and add diced onion and bell pepper to oil. salt to taste. Cook until onion is tender. do not drain bacon grease unless you have an excess amount. mix the bacon crumbles back in, then the rice, then the beans. Mix all gently until combined well. Serve while hot.

I know it isn't HEALTHY but I left all my bacon grease in the pan and let the rice soak it all up when I mixed it in. I think that helped the taste, because it isn't healthy but boy it tastes good. Of course it wasn't a LOT of grease- too much would just make it too greasy and that's just nasty. But a little for flavor is gooood!