1. Cook sausage with 1/2 cup water in large heavy bottomed pot that the beans will be cooked in, allow water to dissipate and sausage to brown until you have a good fond going on in the pan. Once you have a good caramelized pan, remove the sausage allow to cool and fridge them. 2. Drain grease and replace with tablespoon of a light flavored oil and saute/brown your onion - salt, add celery - salt, all spices and saute till translucent - avoid burning your fond! Add stock to deglaze pan. 3. Add ham hocks (note: These tend to shed bone shards, avoid stirring once these are in the mix. Remove them after cooking is complete and pull the meat off the bone on a separate plate. Add the meat back into the mix). 4. Add beans. 5. Add enough water to just cover beans/ham hocks bring the party to a boil then reduce heat and cook until beans are soft. I used a pressure cooker, the whole meal was done in 30 minutes -- with that said, only allow pressure to get it's initial burst of steam then bring down the heat to a low simmer -- beans can foam up and clog your cooker - always monitor this process.). 6. While awaiting the beans to soften, prep lime and the lime rind, cut sausage into bite size chunks - taste sausage for heat and adjust to your preference. consider some cayenne to the mix. The Chipotle pepper does provide a subtle heat that will make your forhead sweat but no significant affect to the tongue. 7. Once the beans are cooked, add remaining ingredients and simmer another 10 minutes. I like my beans a bit soupy so I choose not to thicken it. To help thicken the dish, food process 1/3 of the beans into a paste then reincorperate them. 8. Serve over rice, perhaps corn bread or fried plantains. 9. Garnish 10. chopped red bell pepper & Scallions. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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