Baked Beans

READY IN: 4hrs 15mins UNITS: US  SERVES: 10-12

INGREDIENTSNutrition

·         1lb dried navy beansor 1 lb great northern bean

·         8ounces slab smoked bacon, cut into 1/4-inch cubes

·         1cup onion, chopped

·         2garlic cloves, chopped

·         1 ¹⁄₂cups dark brown sugar, packed

·         2cups ketchup

·         6tablespoons maple syrup

·         6tablespoons dark molasses

·         ¹⁄₄cup Worcestershire sauce

·         ¹⁄₂teaspoon salt

·         ¹⁄₄teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

1.    Rinse and pick through beans; soak them overnight in large pot of water.

2.    Place the beans in a colander and rinse well under cold running water. Transfer beans to a heavy saucepan. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Drain, reserving the liquid.

3.    Preheat the oven to 300 degrees farenheit.

4.    Heat a 2-quart ovenproof casserole or dutch oven over medium heat; saute the bacon until it is slightly crisp and fat is rendered, 5 minutes. Add the onions and garlic, and cook until wilted, 5 to 10 minutes.

5.    Add the brown sugar and stir over medium-low heat until dissolved, about 5 minutes. Stir in the ketchup, syrup, molasses, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper. Add the drained beans and mix well.

6.    Cover casserole and transfer to oven. Bake, stirring occasionally (making sure you scrap the bottom of the casserole), for 2/12 hours.

7.    Add 3/4 cup of the reserved bean liquid, recover, and bake 30 minutes. Then remove the cover and bake until the sauce is thick and syrupy, another 10 to 15 minutes, stirring once. Serve hot.