Posted on 07/07/2012 11:06:20 PM PDT by nickcarraway
To the rest of the country, red beans and rice is a New Orleans tradition. In New Orleans, it is a Monday tradition.
Growing up in Louisiana, I remember seeing Monday specials for red beans and hearing people say they wanted the dish solely because it was Monday. Red beans on Monday was a generally accepted fact. It wasn’t until recently that I stopped and thought, “Why Monday?”
The answer came out in the wash.
Before washing machines, women in New Orleans would do laundry by hand — using a crank and wringer, sometimes boiling the clothes. And on laundry day, they needed to prepare a dinner that didn’t need a lot of TLC. Thus the tradition of making red beans on washday, Monday. My aunt once described the facility of cooking the soft, spicy beans by explaining that they cook themselves when left on a simmer.
I know this practice may sound like a myth. But, in my 20 some interviews with Ninth Ward residents, the majority has recalled making, eating or smelling red beans on a Monday — without a question prompting them.
Former Ninth Warders Joan Lee, her husband Jefferson Lee and sister Jane Miceli spilled the beans on the custom, whimsically describing the aroma of red beans drifting through the old neighborhood on Mondays.
Feeling inspired to whip up this New Orleans staple? I previously posted my family’s recipe here on my cooking and lore blog, The Old Country Blog.
Considering it’s beans, they didn’t have to do a small laundry job later in the day?
We enjoyed some wonderful red beans and rice on Monday January 9 of this year. They were made all the better by Bama’s crushing defeat of the Bengal Tigers.
What is your blog address? I will do a summary and link to the recipe on my site Area Local News. We are in Houston, but will be covering the Texas city markets and we can’t ignore our neighbors to the East! le se bon ton roulet!
You could not get go sausage at you school!
dang, good. It is late. Good night. WDE!
Go figure. 
--H.L. Mencken, The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920
LOL
What’s a few typos for an Aubie? We live in Arizona, so we had to make due with Hillshire Farms or some such. But they were good, and we did not have a lick of leftovers. Good stuff! You have a wonderful night and a great Sunday! RTR
Probably the strongest, most physically impressive man I ever met worked for a moving company that I used once in Corpus Christi. This young black man didn’t speak much, didn’t have to. When his arms flexed they were as thick as my leg.
I asked him what he ate to stay in such good shape. In a quiet N’Oleans drawl he said, “Just red beans and rice.”
Pork jowl and black-eyed peas on Jan. 1st is an example.
There's generally a reason for what folks cook and eat and do, if you can ferret it out.
/johnny
Not just a New Orleans tradition, they did it, and still do in Mobile, AL. which used to be the Capitol of Louisiana at one time.
Wednesday is Prince Spaghetti Day.
I put Pinto beans in a crock pot.
When they are well cooked I add the tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes, cooked beef and spices for a nice chile....yum :-)
Lard is healthier than margarine! IMO
Our spaghetti day is Thursday. What is “prince” spaghetti?
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