Cooking Louisiana  -  Country Lima's
I'm not advertising for Camellia Beans, but I was raised on Camellia Beans. I love BEANS! ...and cook most of them, pretty dang good. This is a favorite lima bean recipe passed downed (sort'a) from my Dad and Mom. Of course I took away and added a couple of ingredients and spices and I expect my Kids to do the same to make it one of their favorite dishes.


Ingredients:

1 lb. package of large dry lima beans (pre-soak over night then drain)
1/2 cup chopped yellow onions
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped green onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
one diced jalapeno
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/2 lb. cooked diced ham
1/2 lb. diced smoked sausage
2 or 3 smoked ham hocks
1 can of your favorite beer
1/4 cup of olive oil
1/4 cup of self rising flour
* seasoning: salt, black pepper, white pepper, red pepper, Worcestershire and basil flakes. Use your seasoning skills!


In a large iron pot; boil, cut, and, simmer the hocks in 6 cups of water. Season with a little salt, black pepper, white pepper and red pepper and simmer for at least two hours.

Make a light chocolate colored roux in a large skillet with the olive oil and flour. Carefully add the chopped vegetables, parsley, jalapeno and garlic to the cooked roux and sauté until the vegetables are wilted. Spoon-in the roux into the pot. Add the beans, ham, sausage, beer and enough water to cover if needed after your stock has cooked down and a couple more dashes of your seasonings.

Bring to a slow boil then cut heat to simmer for at least 2 hours. Skim fat from the top as the pot cooks and add a little more liquid (water, chicken broth) if needed. When the beans are tender, taste in case you need a little more seasoning.

That's it. Maybe sounded a little complicated, but it's not, and, the taste is real rustic, Cajun eats.
"Lagniappe: Serve over a mound of Rice with a little Gumbo Fillet sprinkled over-top. Pop's always made Cornbread with this. Momma made Biscuits. Granny would have both, plus Rabbit Dumplin's, Fried Chicken and a bunch of cookies and cakes for us kids!

D. Bass