COOK SIMPLY

BY SUSAN MYKRANTZ 

Baked beans are a popular item on the menu for church suppers, picnics and BBQ as well as a stand-alone dish with a side of salad and crusty bread. They are also a popular English breakfast food served on a slice of hot buttered toast.

Baked beans are typically made with small, white navy beans, but kidney beans, pinto and white beans can also be used. Some recipes even use lima beans. Beans are baked in a sauce of sugar, herbs and spices, typically a tomato sauce, with vinegar, molasses and mustard. Baked beans can be a good source of protein and other nutrients in vegetarian diets, or you can add bacon, hamburger, or salt cured pork for flavor and more protein.

Baked beans are tasty and convenient. They can support gut health and may lower cholesterol. But they can also be high in sugar and salt, and may contain artificial colors and flavoring unless they are made from scratch. They can also give you gas. This week, Cook Simply features easy, tasty baked bean recipes. They do include meat, but it can be left out if you desire. No matter how you eat them, baked beans can be a tasty addition to any menu.

Easy Baked Beans

2 large cans pork and beans

1 medium onion, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic minced

¼ cup BBQ sauce

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

½ pound bacon, cooked, drained, and chopped

¼ cup brown sugar

In an oven-proof Dutch oven, mix all ingredients except brown sugar and heat over low heat. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Sprinkle the brown sugar over the beans and place in the oven. Bake uncovered for 2 hours. Serve hot.

Tasty Baked Beans

1 pound hamburger

½ pound bacon

2 teaspoons vinegar

½ cup catsup

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon prepared mustard

¾ cup brown sugar

Scant ½ cup white sugar

1 can lima beans

1 can kidney beans

1 large can pork and beans

In a large skillet, brown hamburger, onion and bacon. Drain and set aside. Combine the next five ingredients, draining some of the liquid off the beans. Combine the ingredients in an oven-proof baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Picnic Baked Beans

2 large cans pork and beans 

1 large can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 large can kidney or butter beans, drained and rinsed

1 medium onion, finely chopped, and softened in the microwave

½ cup packed brown sugar

½ cup ketchup or BBQ sauce

4 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled

Combine beans, onion, brown sugar, and catsup or BBQ. Place in a greased 2 ½ quart casserole, cover, and bake at 350 for 1 hour, uncover and bake for 30 minutes longer.

Baked Beans with Ham and Apples

1 medium tart apple, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped

8 ounces cooked diced ham (can also use bacon)

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

2 tablespoons butter

2 18-ounce jars of baked beans

¼ cup molasses

2 tablespoons of catsup

1 teaspoon dry mustard

Saute apple and onion in a medium-sized skillet until tender. Turn into a large bowl and add meat, baked beans, molasses, catsup and dry mustard. Mix well. Pour into a 1 ½ quart casserole. Bake in a preheated 400-degree oven for 45 minutes or until bubbly. 

Until next time, simply cook.