Red Beans and Rice

Again from You Can Make This!

4 slices bacon, chopped
1 onion, chopped
4 ribs celery, peeled and chopped
1 bell pepper
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 ham hock, or some leftover ham
1 pound smoked sausage (andouille, keilbasa, anything you like. You could even use some chicken or turkey sausage, as long as it doesn't contain fruit).
8-10 cups chicken stock or broth
Green onions, chopped, for garnish
2 cans red beans, drained and rinsed
2-4 bay leaves
4 sprigs fresh thyme, tied in a bundle
Kosher salt
Fresh cracked pepper
red pepper flakes
white rice

Brown bacon pieces in a dutch oven until crispy.
Remove to a paper towel.
Brown sausage, the remove from pot.
In bacon drippings, cook onion, celery, and peppers until slightly tender.
Add chopped garlic to veg and cook for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
Add sausage back to pot.
Throw in a ham hock, bay leaves,thyme bundle & season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Cover with chicken stock, bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer.
When veggies are tender to bite, add the beans to the pot and heat through.
Adjust seasonings to taste.
Fish out bay leaves and thyme bundle.
Add bacon to pot.
Serve over hot white rice and garnish with green onions.