Creole Red Beans and Rice

An old co-worker of mine from Louisiana gave me this recipe. It is not only yummy but an inexpensive meal to make!

Servings per recipe: 6
Calories per serving: 621
Preparation time: 25m
Total cooking time: 13h 10m

1 Pick over kidney beans, place into a large bowl, and pour in enough water to cover by several inches. Soak kidney beans overnight.
2 Drain kidney beans, transfer to a large soup pot, and cover with 3 quarts fresh water.
3 Stir in green bell pepper, onion, celery, salt, black pepper, Creole seasoning, and garlic.
4 Cover the pot, place over medium heat, and bring to a boil.
5 Reduce heat to low and simmer until beans are tender, about 4 hours.
6 Mix smoked sausage into the beans; cook an additional 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7 About 30 minutes before serving time, place 2 cups water and margarine into a saucepan and bring to a boil.
8 Stir in rice, return to a boil, and reduce heat to medium-low. Cover the pan and simmer until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to stand covered for 5 minutes.
9 Serve red beans over cooked rice.