Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pound black beans, dried
  • 1 each sweet red bell peppers diced, any color
  • 1 each hot chili peppers optional
  • 2 teaspoons red hot pepper sauce optional
  • 4 each onions diced
  • 6 cloves garlic minced
  • 3/4 cups celery diced
  • 1/4 cup parsley leaves fresh, minced
  • 2 tablespoons oregano minced
  • 2 tablespoons basil minced
  • 2 each bay leaves
  • 2-3 each cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin ground
  • 4 each beef bouillon cubes
  • 2 tablespoons vinegar add last
  • 1 pound sausage lean
  • 1 pound pork boneless, cubed
  • 1 pound stewing beef
  • 1/2 pound ham smoked, 1/2 inch cubes
  • 1 1/2 pound smoked link sausage cut into 1 inch lengths
  • 1 x salt to taste
  • 1 x black pepper to taste

Method

  • Beans: Wash and look for gravel then soak overnight in a bowl being sure beans are well covered with water.
  • For cooking use a large crock pot.
  • Meats: First, brown bulk sausage in a skillet and pour off excess grease.
  • Add other meats and stir to brown.
  • Add bell pepper, onion, garlic, celery, and spices.
  • Salt and pepper moderately, taste after cooking several hours and add more if needed.
  • Add beans and soak water.
  • If necessary add more water to cover entire ingredients by at least two inches.
  • Stir in four bouillon cubes.
  • Cover and cook in crockpot high for three hours then turn to low for at least six hours.
  • Can cook on low overnight.
  • Stir it twice and sometimes you may find it necessary to add water.
  • If it gets too thin, take about 1/2 cup of beans and mash with a fork until pasty to add back as a thickener.
  • About an hour before serving stir in vinegar.
  • If you enjoy hot and spicy foods add the hot peppers (jalapeno, habanero or whatever you like) and Tabasco.
  • If you don't like it hot, then leave them out or serve the Tabasco at the table.
  • Serve beans and meat over rice.
  • Brown rice is quite tasty but white rice is fine too.
  • Serve in a soup bowl and top with fresh chopped onion.