Best Baked Beans

219. Summer and Baked Beans seem to always go together. Whether they are accompanied by grilled meats or on the picnic table next to hot dogs and potato salad. Baked Beans seem to complete the flavor profile for summer. Unless, you try "bad" baked beans. You know, as you are walking along the buffet or picnic table. You try a scoop of salad, hamburger dressed or hotdog slathered with toppings, and then you take a large dollop of hot baked beans. You sit down, drape your napkin across your lap and dive into this plethora of pleasure. You thrust your fork into the beans, lift them to your mouth and wait for that delicious flavor. Instead of satisfaction, you want to spit them out and fast. Flavorless, bland, bitter beans. Beans poured out of a can and just heated up. Not pleasant in the least.

I think baked beans have gotten a bad rap because of those mistakes. But not this recipe! It is one you will pass on to friends.

Best Baked Beans

1 can Cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 can butter beans, drained and rinsed

1 can borlotti beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup butter

1 small onion, chopped fine

1 teaspoon mustard, yellow or brown

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 Tablespoon maple syrup

kosher salt & pepper

pinch of baking soda (removes the snappers ;o)

2 teaspoons white vinegar

1 Tablespoon ketchup

In a small pan melt butter and add onion. Saute' for approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Add mustard, sugar, syrup, salt and pepper, vinegar and ketchup. Blend together. Place drained and rinsed beans into an oiled baking crock, dish or casserole with high sides.

Pour seasoned mixture into beans and stir to cover all. Taste to adjust seasoning.

Cover with lid or tinfoil. Bake 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Serve hot but make a double batch, these beans will disappear fast!

Check out this recipe by Kevin and Amanda for their "Ultimate Baked Beans".

"If you are a dreamer, come in. If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar, a hoper, a prayer, a magic-bean-buyer. If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire, for we have some flax-golden tales to spin. Come in! Come in!"

~ Shel Silverstein