about how much water for 4lbs of red beans?

24 cups

I usually add water until it is covered. If it is too think to your liking, you can always add a little more.

you will most likely just need to keep watching and add some water as you go along.

I don't soak my beans and use two quarts (8 cups) per pound. Might need to add a little depending on what else you put in your beans.

The guy I learned RB&R from boiled his beans in salted water for an hour, then drained the beans and replaced with fresh water or chicken stock.

Then garlic / trinity are sauteed in a separate pan) and added, along with remaining seasonings.

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boiled his beans in salted water for an hour

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Sounds like a "quick soak", which I've done before. Works fine.

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Buy some ham base and add a tablespoon or so of that

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What is this ham base you speak of?

I just made cornbread over the weekend. I followed the recipe on the bag of cornmeal. Came out good. Really basic and super crumbly, which some may not like.

This looks good and pretty close to what I did.


1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt


Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8 inch square pan.
Melt butter in large skillet. Remove from heat and stir in sugar. Quickly add eggs and beat until well blended. Combine buttermilk with baking soda and stir into mixture in pan. Stir in cornmeal, flour, and salt until well blended and few lumps remain. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean


Mine did not have the butter which may be why it was so crumbly.

Why? I don't know why. It didn't have it in it. I don't have a problem with it though. I also used regular milk instead of buttermilk.

Don't just add all the water at first and think it's all good. You must put enough water to cover the beans and continue adding water as they cook. Also, I use ham stock (ham base and water) instead of just plain water. BTW, 24 cups doesn't sound too far off. Start slowing down towards the end because beans generally don't know when to stop soaking up water. They will burst if you keep adding. Not good, unless you really like split beans.