New Orleans-Style Red Beans and Rice

In a heavy soup pot over medium high heat, sweat the onions, bell peppers, celery, garlic, and oregano in the rendered bacon fat.

Once the onions become translucent, add the kidney beans, ham hocks, pickled pork, bay leaves and cayenne pepper, then add water to cover the mixture by 2 inches.

Raise the heat and bring the water to a boil, then cover the pot with a lid, lowering the flame. Allow the beans to slowly simmer for 2 hours.

Periodically stir the beans to make sure that they don’t begin to scorch and add water if necessary, always keeping the beans covered by an inch or more of liquid.

Continue cooking the beans until they are tender to the point that they begin to fall apart and get creamy when stirred.

Remove the meat of the ham hocks from the bones, rough chop it and add it back to thepot of beans.

Add the cane syrup and Worcestershire.

Stir in the green onions and season with salt, pepper and Tabasco. Serve with white rice