Slow Cooker Beans

• 1 pound dry red kidney beans, sorted and rinsed
• 1 onion, peeled and halved
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
• 1 bay leaf
• 8 cups water

Aromatics and Seasonings

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 16oz Andouille sausage, diced (optional, substitute Kielbasa if you can't find Andouille)
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 green pepper, diced
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasonings
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 sprig fresh thyme)
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional, Frank's Red hot for mild, Tabasco is hotter, and traditional)
• salt and pepper to taste

Serve with

• Basic White Rice
• Tabasco sauce (or another Louisiana style hot sauce)