Black Beans And Ham Soup

Black Beans and Ham Soup
2 ham hocks
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained
2 carrots, chopped
2 stalks celery; chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
2 quarts water
1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
1 (46 ounce) can V-8 juice
Sour cream

Combine all ingredients except beans and sour cream in crockpot. Cover; cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours.

Remove ham hocks and cut off meat; return meat to crockpot. Add the beans and cook for 1 hour or until beans are heated.

Serve with dollops of sour cream.

Bayou Gumbo

Source: Pillsbury's Recipes

3 tablespoons Pillsbury Best All Purpose Flour
3 tablespoons oil
1/2 pound smoked sausage, cut into 1/2 inch slices
2 cups frozen cut okra
1 large onion, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (12 ounce) package frozen shelled deveined cooked
medium shrimp, rinsed
1 1/2 cups uncooked regular long-grain white rice
3 cups water

In small saucepan, combine flour and oil; mix well. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium-high heat for 5 minutes.

Reduce heat to medium; cook, stirring constantly, about 10 minutes or until mixture turns reddish brown.

Place flour-oil mixture in 3 1/2- to 4-quart crockpot. Stir in all remaining ingredients except shrimp, rice and water. Cover; cook on LOW setting for 7 to 9 hours.

When ready to serve, cook rice in water as directed on package.

Meanwhile, add shrimp to gumbo mixture in crockpot; mix well. Cover; cook on LOW setting for additional 20 minutes.

Serve gumbo over rice.