I’ve been craving beans and rice for quite some time. On my birthday, we were going to go to our favorite restaurant and have their signature dish, but alas, they had closed, permanently. My craving would go unabated for quite a while.

Fast forward and a friend’s birthday is coming up and I invited her over for dinner and she requested beans and rice and buttermilk cornbread.

Who am I to deny a request?

On the board tonight:

1. Washday Beans & Rice
2. Sliced Steamed Zucchini
3. Corn Bread
4. Blueberries & Raspberries w/whip cream

Washday Beans & Rice

• 1 cup rice
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 14oz can red kidney bean
• 4 links Italian or Andouille sausage (sweet or spicy) – slice each link into 4 pieces
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp to 1 tbsp Cajun Creole Seasoning (start with teaspoon and work your way up to taste)
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 large green pepper, chopped
• 1 large tomato diced (or 14 oz can)

2-quart saucepan and skillet

Combine rice with water & chicken broth in a saucepan, cover. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer, cook until all the liquid is absorbed (about 20 minutes).  Over medium-high, heat oil in skillet; add onions, celery, green pepper & sausage, cook until sausage is done in the center.  Add sausage, beans, seasoning and tomatoes together into the saucepan. Keep the heat low and let cook 10 minutes to let flavors blend.  You can add shredded, cooked pork to the beans if desired.

Cornbread

There are many variations on cornbread, this one is pretty basic.

• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup sugar
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• ¼ cup butter or oil
• 1 large bowl

9×9 baking dish, greased

Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt, add cornmeal, mix well. Add eggs, milk and oil. Beat with mixer until smooth (do not over beat). Pour into baking dish and bake at 425° for 20-25 minutes. Light brown on top, toothpick should come out clean.

Shopping List:

• 1 cup rice
• 8 oz chicken broth
• 14 oz can red kidney beans
• 4 links Italian or Andouille sausage (sweet or spicy)
• Cajun Creole Seasoning (start with a teaspoon and work your way up to taste)
• 4 green onions
• 2 celery stalks
• 1 large green pepper
• 1 large tomato (or 14 oz can diced tomatoes)
• 2 zucchini
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 2 eggs
• 8 oz buttermilk
• 1 pint Blueberries
• 1 pint Raspberries
• 8 oz Whipped Cream

Also: olive oil, butter, flour, sugar, baking powder