Great northern beans in crockpot

[Dina]

I know I've posted and requested white bean recipes in the past but I'm looking for something different. Just starting cooking the beans with onions, garlic, bacon, brown sugar, molasses, ketchup and some spices (chili powder and habanero powder) and of course, salt and pepper. The recipe asks for celery and sweet relish which I know my family won't care for. What other ingredients would you suggest I add? I'd like them to go well with bbq baby back ribs. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you can provide.

[bethzaring]

that looks good to me

I always add a bay leaf or two to beans. Really your ingredients look great, but how about nutmeg or cinnamon or fresh parsley, red wine vinegar at the end of cooking?

[Barb L.]

I think what you have posted, sounds so good, I would stop right there !!!

[Dina]

Great! I'll add a dash of red wine vinegar too. The kitchen smells amazing. I checked the beans and the flavor is wonderful. I'm getting the ribs ready and throw in a salad for dinner. Thanks Beth and Barb!

[Nancy Jane]

I like to use rice vinegar as it is mild. I have also added sliced, smoked Cajun sausage with the bacon. Oh and Tabasco sauce.

[mcnerd]

I would hold off on the Salt until the end of the cooking. I've learned salt stops beans from cooking completely.

[jennyema]

Originally Posted by mcnerd

I would hold off on the Salt until the end of the cooking. I've learned salt stops beans from cooking completely.

That's actually not true. Acid inhibits beans from softening, but not salt.

IMO you should always add some salt to the cooking liquid lest you end up with really bland beans.

[Nancy Jane]

I'm careful about adding much salt when cooking. You can always add more, but you can't take it out.

[jennyema]

Originally Posted by Nancy Jane

I'm careful about adding much salt when cooking. You can always add more, but you can't take it out.

I'm not advocating adding tons of salt, but properly seasoning your food with salt during cooking, as opposed to after something is cookied, is extremely important to flavor development. You make a good point that you can always add more, which is why you should taste your food frequently as you cook it.

Beans cooked with little or no salt will be bland and won't improve much even if salt is added after they cook.

[Jeff G.]

actually for beans..
Ham or bacon, salt, that's about it.

When its done, serve over corn bread with onions, relish, ketchup on the side.

Now if you are going for a baked bean flavor, then you have the molasses, ketchup etc....

but then again, for baked beans..... I like them baked so they candy up real nice.....