4/20/07

Birdy's Famouz Baked Beans

I've been promising this recipe, I know. I made it again today for the gals at my Knitting Retreat this weekend.

This recipe is based on the one from America's Test Kitchen, BUT it ceased to be Boston baked beans after all the things I did to it.

Birdy's Famouz Baked Beans
Serves 6 and like all beans taste great the next day or the next or the NEXT. It takes about 6 hours to make.

4 ounces salt pork, trim the rind and cut into 1/4 inch pieces
2 ounces bacon (2 slices), cut into 1/4 inch pieces
1 onion, chopped fine
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup mild molasses, plus one tablespoon
1 1/2 tablespoons brown mustard, plus a little extra
1 pound dried navy beans (about 2 cups), rinsed and picked over
1 1/4 teaspoons salt, plus a bit extra
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
ground black pepper
brown sugar
ground nutmeg
ground cinnamon
ground clove
cumin
cayenne Pepper
and what ever else you have in your cupboard that suits your fancy.

In a 300 degree oven, adjust the oven rack to the lower middle position. Add salt pork, and bacon to 5 quart dutch oven (stock pot works well too); cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and most of fat is rendered. Add onion and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, then add garlic, cook until you can smell garlic. Add 1/2 cup molasses, mustard, beans, salt, and 9 cups of water; increase heat to medium high and bring to a boil. Cover pot and set in oven. Bake until beans are tender, about 4 hours, stirring once after 2 hours. Remove lid and continue to bake until liquid has thickened to syrupy consistency, 1 to 1 1/2 hours longer. Remove beans from oven, stir in remaining molasses, vinegar. This is where it gets tricky....taste it and then add spices as needed....to suit your taste.I typically add 3 heaping tablespoons of sugar, and dashes of the rest of the spices--till it tastes just right.

And there it is. I also have a a special pepper and spices mix I got from dearest Q and her hubby that I always add. Scrumptious. I have made this for people who don't even like baked beans--and they LOVED these beans.

Enjoy! I 'll see you Monday.

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