Boston Baked Beans

Every day for the last week the news has been centered in Massachusetts.. This has me thinking about recipes and restaurants that I have experienced in that area. I would pay more attention if the news included a great recipe from the area. I don’t know how to make that happen but I think that there would be broader appeal if there was an excellent recipe for Boston Baked Beans attached. Here is a recipe that will please, however you feel about the news..

Boston Baked Beans

Ingredients:
3 cups dried navy beans
½ lb sliced bacon
1 teaspoon salt
1 clove garlic finely minced.
¼ cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 cup dark molasses
Several cups of boiling water

Preparation:
Step 1. Cover beans with cold water, cover & refrigerate overnight
Step 2. Next day drain, then put beans into a 6 quart kettle-cover with 2 quarts water
Step 3. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer covered for 30 minutes
Step 4. Preheat oven to 300 degrees
Step 5. Cut bacon into chunks & place into 3 quart bean pot or casserole Add beans –stir
Step 6. Mix other ingredients without the water and pour over beans
Step 7. Add enough boiling water to cover the beans( about 1 cup)& stir briefly
Step 8. Bake covered for 6 hours stirring once every hour(add a little water if they start to dry)
Step 9. Remove cover for final 30 minutes to brown top of beans

Service: I think this recipe can(should) be served in it’s own small side dish. Relegating it to a paper plate next to a hamburger or hot dog at a picnic always leaves me thinking that it deserves a better final resting place.