Using canned beans instead of dried greatly reduces the cooking time for this New England specialty, but you can use dried beans instead (see page 365 for soaking instructions).
Recipe information
Yield
serves 6
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat oven to 375°F. Combine molasses, ketchup, and mustard. Add beans, and season with salt and pepper; mix to combine.
Step 2
Transfer to a 2- to 3-quart covered baking dish. Scatter sliced onion over beans; lay bacon slices on top, in a single layer.
Step 3
Cover dish, and bake 30 minutes. Uncover; cook until bacon is crisp, 30 to 40 minutes more. Let cool 5 minutes, and stir well before serving.
About Molasses
Step 4
Molasses is the syrup left over after sugar crystals are extracted from the juice of sugar cane or sugar beets. Sometimes sulfur is used in the refining process, which can alter the flavor. Unsulfured molasses tends to have a cleaner flavor and is generally lighter in color.
