Wacky Rice and Beans

1. Use a stock pot (one with a cover). Put the bacon into the pot over medium heat and cook until bacon is crispy. Remove the bacon from the pot to cool.

2. If necessary (if there isn’t enough bacon grease), add a bit of olive oil to the pan and sauté onion, garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Saute until onion is translucent.

3. Add the wine to deglaze the pot, scraping up all those yummy brown bits from the bottom of the pot.

4. Chop up the bacon into coarse bits and throw it in the pot.

5. Add all of the remaining ingredients.

6. If you like sticky rice, give it all a good stir.

7. Once the soup begins simmering, turn heat down very low and cook it with the lid on until all of the liquid is absorbed and rice is tender (use the timing on the rice package as a guideline).

8. Troubleshooting: If the rice isn’t tender but the liquid is all absorbed, add a bit more water and continue cooking until rice softens.