Red Beans and Rice

Rinse beans. In a 4- to 6-quart Dutch oven, combine beans and 8 cups water. Cover and let soak in a cool place for 8 hours or overnight. (Or, bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand for 1 hour.) Drain and rinse beans. Set aside.

In the same Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook and stir until onion is tender but not brown. Sprinkle flour over onion mixture; stir to combine. Carefully stir in drained beans, sausage, ham shank, black pepper and 6 cups fresh water. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until beans are tender, stirring occasionally.

Remove ham shank. When cool enough to handle, cut meat off bone; coarsely chop meat. Discard bone. Return chopped meat to Dutch oven. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, about 20 minutes more or until heated through and a thick gravy forms, stirring occasionally. Season with salt. Serve the bean mixture over hot cooked rice.