Sunday, July 11, 2010

Baked beans....from scratch!

 
Summer picnic + baked beans = delicious!

Nothing tastes better with barbecued chicken, grilled hamburgers and hot dogs,
or a juicy steak than good old
baked beans.
There is even something about the color and texture of them that makes your mouth water.
( And don't images of rugged cowboys come to mind?)
Yet, as much as I look forward to eating them, the ones in the can from the store always leave me a little disappointed.  Yes, I've tried doctoring them with brown sugar and some onion.  I've added bacon or ham.  Even some mustard.  But still, they are only so-so.

My mother knew how to make REAL baked beans.
They are not hard to make, but do require planning ahead.

I'm sure you could "doctor" them up to your own liking if you want them more spicy, but we love this recipe just how it is.

Mid's Homemade Baked Beans
2 cups white beans  (dry uncooked beans)
2 cups tomato juice
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 pound salt pork (cut into small pieces)
3/4 cup brown sugar 


First, rinse the beans in cold water and then cover with water and let them soak overnight.  Add plenty of water because they will expand.)
The next day, boil them on top of the stove for about one hour.  Make sure the water doesn't all evaporate.  Add more if necessary.


Leave just enough water to slightly cover the beans and then add the rest of the ingredients.  I usually spoon off the foam first.  
(Salt pork is found in small packages in the meat department.  Cut it up into bite sized pieces.  
I don't use the thick outer skin layer.)

Add the rest of the ingredients.
Cover and bake at 300 degrees for 5 hours.

They do take a long time to make, but mostly it is slow cooking (while you are doing something else), but the smell that fills your house is heavenly.

I usually double the recipe and add the remaining extra tomato juice left in the can.  It makes them a little more juicy and then I'm not feeling wasteful. 


We enjoyed eating them today at our birthday party for my father-in-law.
He turns 92 on Tuesday!
Happy Birthday!



JoAnn

4 comments:

Marcia said...

The beans look heavenly. Now, I know what I am going to make at our next outdoor meal.

Do you think I could crockpot them instead of baking them?

I'm sure that Dad loved celebrating his birthday with you.

The Gathering Place said...

I think you could do it in a crock pot. I'm not sure how long you would cook them, but it should work. Let me know if you figure it out.

Liz, Karl, Madison, Brooklyn, Aubrey and Zachary said...

I do like your baked beans. mmmmm.... yummy. So we could make a trade. You give me some beans and I will give you some tarts :)

linda said...

He is a very young looking 92! Your beans look heavenly. I had forgottn all about them. Do you have all of moms rcipes? I would love to be able to go through them sometime. Yum..