BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Over medium heat, In a heavy kettle or dutch oven, sauté onions in oil till soft and transparent.
• Add garlic and sauté till fragrant and lightly browned.
• Add more oil as necessary.
• Add water, beans, ham hock (or bone) bay leaves, parsley, salt and cumin.
• Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Skim surface as required.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer, partially covered for about two hours, or until several beans test tender (add more water if cooking liquid reduces to level of beans).
• Remove ham hock from beans.
• If beans are still watery you can continue to simmer or use an immersion blender or the back of a large spoon to puree some of the beans.
• Dice optional meat and put into beans.
• (If using country ham leave salt out of beans) Adjust seasoning.
• Prepare rice as directed.
• When cool enough to handle, remove ham from hock, discard bone and skin, and cut meat into bite-size pieces; set aside.
• Serve beans over rice with a couple chunks of the hock meat on top.
• Garnish with more chopped parsley.
• Note, I have cilantro as an option as it does have a very strong, distinct, taste that some people do not like.