1 lb. red beans (dry; uncooked)
1 large onion
5 cloves garlic
2 tbsp. dried parsley flakes
2 bay leaves
2 tbsp. bacon drippings

Wash red beans. Discard any bad beans. Cover beans with cold water (use medium Dutch oven or pot); put on simmer and let them get hot gradually. This will keep them from foaming. When hot, bring to a boil and add bay leaves. Add a ham bone, slab bacon or ham hocks to beans. Mince onion and garlic. Sauté in bacon drippings along with the parsley flakes. Add sautéed ingredients to beans. Cook, covered, over low heat for 2 hours or until beans are tender. Add ham chunks, wieners or cooked smoked sausages to beans. Serve with rice and French bread. Best cooked a day ahead of time. Serve with hot Tabasco sauce, if desired.