We are the Friesen's: Baked Beans....

Welcome....Here's a glimpse of our happenings!

The verses that have REALLY spoken to me (Sarah) lately....

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." Matthew 7:24-25

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. I Peter 5:8-9

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' Acts 17:26-28

May the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. Deuteronomy 5:32-33

God, our God, will take care of the hidden things but the revealed things are our business. It's up to us and our children to attend to all the terms in this Revelation. Deuteronomy 29:29 (The Message)

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Baked Beans....

I know that, at some point awhile back, I did post a recipe for my baked beans. BUT, I did not include photos. I do not remember exactly when that was, and I didn't take the time to find it.

So, I'm posting again, AND I'm including photos. Understand that my recipe is not a specific recipe for baked beans that I found. It's my own recipe. Remember, I'm a "dumper" when it comes to cooking. I don't measure much out. So, these ingredient amounts are estimated, and they will probably be different than what I last posted.

I don't want to "toot my own horn" or anything, but I typically do get quite a few compliments on my baked beans. I made them this past weekend for our Community Life Group (we met at our home for dinner and a Bible Study this past Sunday evening), and they were a hit with Marc's grilled burgers.

Sarah's Baked Beans

5 cans Pork and Beans
Pepper
2 tsp. minced garlic (I typically do not use fresh)
1/3 C. Molasses
1/3 C. Brown Sugar
1/4 C. Ketchup
2 Tbsp. Mustard
2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
5 Strips Bacon
1 C. Chopped Onion

So first, my usual collage of ingredients....

Next, chop the onion (if you haven't already) AND the bacon. **NOTE: The bacon does need to be cut BEFORE cooking. It will be better in the beans (at least in our opinion in this household).

Then, brown the bacon and onion together.

While the bacon and onion are browning, open the cans of pork and beans. Drain each of them. Pick out the pieces of pork that are easy to see. Pour each can into a large bowl. Then, add the molasses. It's a bit difficult to see in this photo because it soaks into the beans. Also, at this time, add the pepper and garlic (remember -- we're pepper people).

Then, add the brown sugar.

Now, add your ketchup and mustard. You're not burning the bacon and onion in this process, are you? Remember to watch the stove.

Then, add the....worcestershire sauce.

Lastly, add the browned bacon and onion.

Stir together all ingredients.

At this point, you can put these beans into a sprayed 9 X 13 baking dish, and cover it with aluminum foil. Bake for 60-90 minutes on 350 degrees. OR, you can do what I do. I put these beans in the refrigerator overnight. Then, I put them in the crockpot for 3-5 hours the next day. MUCH BETTER!

Then, after your guests arrive, they can eat them all up -- just like our guests did the other night.

For your reference -- 8 adults cleaned out these beans. That's about how many this recipe yields. Adjust as needed.

The other thing is (and you might have noticed this in the last photo) that baked beans aren't exactly fun to clean up. I soaked this crockpot overnight for MUCH easier cleaning in the morning.

One other tip I have is one I didn't demonstrate when I made these beans. If you're going to use the crockpot (remember -- highly recommended), mix the beans in the crockpot if you have a crockpot with a removeable pot. Cover in the refrigerator. Then, you can "dirty" one less mixing bowl. I'm not sure why I didn't do that. Usually, I'm all over less dishes.