Cajun Red Beans and Rice
pages 154-155 in the book

1 soak beans for 2 hours. Drain off liquid and rinse.
2 sauté onion and bell pepper in a little water until tender. Add meatless sausage and continue to sauté for 1 to 2 minutes more.
3 add all other ingredients, including a generous amount of black pepper, except salt and cooked rice. Simmer 4 to 5 hours, seasoning to taste with salt at the end of cooking time. Serve in bowls over rice.

note - meatless breakfast links are found in the frozen food section of the supermarket next to egg substitutes, frozen waffles, and like produces.

- 1 pound red beans
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 package (8 ounces) meatless breakfast links, sliced (see note)
- 2 to 3 tablespoons imitation bacon bits
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground oregano, or 2 teaspoons fresh, crushed oregano
- 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoons dried ground thyme (or 1 tablespoon fresh crushed thyme)
- Cayenne
- Pepper
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt
- 4 to 6 cups cooked rice