Red Beans and Rice New Orleans Style

Ingredients

• 3 Bay leaves
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1 pound of red kidney beans, rinsed, picked over, and soaked for at least 8 hours or overnight. (To soak, put beans in a large bowl and add water until it's 2 inches above the beans. Or use the quick soaking method).
• 3 tablespoons cooking oil such as canola or light olive oil
• 2 cups finely chopped yellow or red onion (2 medium onions)
• 1 cup finely chopped celery (2-3 stalks)
• 1 cup finely chopped green pepper (1 medium pepper)
• 1 pound, packaged boneless ham steak, diced into 1/2-inch cubes (see notes)
• 12-16 ounces smoked Andouille sausage, thinly sliced (see notes for subsitutions)
• 6 large garlic cloves, minced or squeezed through a garlic press
• 9-10 cups low salt chicken broth or water (I recommend Swanson's)
• 6 cups cooked white rice (from 3 cups raw rice)
• 1 bunch scallions, sliced, to sprinkle on top