re: Soaking red beans...

the boiling deal works.I boil them for about 5-8 minutes and let them soak while cooking my veggies and browning the sausage but while they soak drop a bay leaf or two in the hot water with some celery stalks. Yu can either cook the veggies or just chop the onions and bellpepper and garlic down a little or just drop them in the hot water and let them soak with the beans.Watch your water level b4 fireing them up again and don't forget the cumin,marjoram and thyme:)