Here's a simple recipe that won't break the bank and is delicious, just like Kadesma's, just another variation.
Ingredients:
1 lb. bag dried pinto beans (or pre-cooked and bottled, saves time)
1 onion, coarsely chopped (good sized chunks)
2 tbs. dark molasses
6 oz. tomato paste
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
2 tbs. prepared yellow mustard
1 cup diced pork steak
pork bones (I always save my pork bones for just such a recipe)
salt
1 tbs. mild chili powder
Clean and rinse the beans. Place in boiling water for 20 minutes and remove from heat. Let cool. Place again in boiling water, with 2 tsp. salt, and cook until tender. Drain, and transfer to the dutch oven. Add remaining ingredients, cover, and bake at 190 F. for three hours. Serve.
Of course if you like your beans more savory, decrease the brown sugar by half. You can also omit the molasses and substitute with grade-b maple syrup.
Personally, I love the flavor of pork with baked beans. I've also used ground beef or ham instead of the fresh pork, and it's really good too. But my favorite is the pork.
My wife doesn't care for the chili powder addition, but I think it makes the beans special. It just depends on your personal taste. If you don't make this recipe this time, try it the next time you make beans. Give yourself options. That way, your food will never become boring to you.
Seeeeeya; Goodweed of the North
