Vegan MoFo, Day 19: Cajun Red Beans and Rice

Cajun Red Beans and Rice Mix form Vegan Food Gifts (page 105)

Today's recipe is from Vegan Food Gifts: More Than 100 Inspired Recipes for Homemade Baked Goods, Preserves, and Other Edible Gifts Everyone Will Love. And while it's true that this jar of goodness makes a yummy gift, it's also true that these types of mixes also make for great pantry staples.
 Whole food convenience foods, if you will.  Keep the jars in your pantry, and when you are ready to cook, pretty much all you have to do is add water!

Cajun Red Beans and Rice
Mixes like this not only make great gifts, but they are super nice to have on hand at home for easy dinner times during a busy week.

2 cups (360 g) dry uncooked white rice
1 tablespoon (1 g) parsley flakes
1 tablespoon (2 g) dried chives
2 teaspoons sea salt
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1 cup (185 g) dry uncooked small red beans

Place rice in the bottom of a quart sized mason jar.
Mix together spices and bay leaf, and place in a small resealable plastic bag.
Place seasoning bag on top of rice in the jar.
Top with red beans and seal.

Using a pretty ribbon or twine tie on the recipe card below:

To Prepare the Mix:
As written, this dish has no added fat! If you are not concerned about the added calories from fat, feel free to add a bit of nondairy butter to your final dish before serving.

Remove beans from jar.
Remove seasoning packet and set aside.
Rinse the beans.
Add beans and 4 cups (940 ml) water to a large stock pot or Dutch oven with a tight fitting lid.
Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Simmer, uncovered, for two minutes.
Remove from heat, cover and let stand for 1 hour.
Drain and rinse beans. Return beans to the pot.
Add 8 cups (1.88 l) fresh water and seasoning packet.
Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Simmer, covered, for 60 minutes, stirring about every 20 minutes.
Add rice. Stir to combine.
Simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes, stirring often, until rice and beans are tender and almost all of the moisture has been absorbed.
Discard bay leaf before serving.

Yield: 8 servings