Summer Picnic Baked Beans

I should have posted this prior to the holiday weekend, but hopefully there will be lots of opportunities for summer picnics. This recipe comes out of my mother’s recipe box. She was never much of a cook, but had a few favorites we’d always call for. I think she got this recipe from our neighbor. The original called for two cans of baked beans (now isn’t that what we’re making??). Maybe the extra ingredients were to enhance the pre-made, processed stuff. Anyway, I use four different kinds of beans then double up on the recipes ingredients. I then kept tweaking it (and tasting) until the family agreed it was perfectly yummy. It’s very, very easy; just dump and bake. The long baking time is the key. 

1 can (15oz) Great Northern Beans

1 can (15oz) Pinto Beans

1 can (15oz) Black Beans

1 can (15oz) Garbanzo Beans

1/3 cup molasses

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 tsp. salt

dash pepper

splash of liquid smoke

1 tsp. mustard

4 slices bacon, diced

zest from 1/2 a small orange (about 1 Tbl)

2 Tbl. juice from orange

1/4 cup dark brown sugar

 

Combine all ingredients. Pour into bean pot or casserole. Sprinkle with a tablespoon more of brown sugar. Cover. Bake at 350 for 2 hours. Uncover last 15 minutes.  Enjoy!

Comments

[Morgan brown]

Yum! This is one of my favorites :)

[Sheryl]

..Your mom wasn't much of a cook???? Wow She and Margie had more in common that I realized. When dad worked nights, I ate Swanson TV dinners or pot pies! he he

[Janets House]

Same here. They had that weird plastic flavor but I kind of grew used to it. Sometimes we had cereal. I still kinda like breakfast for dinner though.