Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   1      pound         red kidney beans
   1                    meaty ham bone
   2      large         onions -- chopped
   1                    bell pepper -- chopped
   2      ribs          celery -- chopped
   2      cloves        garlic -- finely chopped
                        salt and pepper to taste
   1      pinch         sugar
   1                    bay leaf -- ( optional )
   2      pounds        spicy sausage links
     1/4  cup           parsley -- chopped
                        cooked rice

Preparation:

Soak beans overnight, rinse. Cover with water and cook with ham bone ( fat trimmed off ), onion, bell pepper, celery, salt, pepper, sugar, and bay leaf. While beans are cooking, boil sausage in skillet. Drain, fry until crisp, and set aside. Cook beans until fork tender ( 1 - 2 Hrs ); then add fried sausage. JUST before serving, remove bay leaf and add parsley. Serves 8 ( small servings ) and freezes well. Serve with corn bread and mustard greens to complete the mood.