Best Baked Beans

Name: Best Baked Beans
Prep time: 1 h 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 2 h 15 min
Yield: 8 servings.
Ingredients: 1 pound dried great northern beans; 1 quart water; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 medium onion, chopped; 2 tablespoons prepared mustard; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 2 tablespoons dark molasses; 1/2 pound sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled

THESE savory beans were a specialty my dear grandma frequently prepared. When I even think of this dish, I can smell the enticing aroma that met us at the door when we went over to Grandma's for Sunday dinner. Every dish she made was a labor of love. -Marjorie Thompson, West Sacramento, California

Ingredients

1 pound dried great northern beans
1 quart water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons dark molasses
1/2 pound sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled

Directions

Place beans in a Dutch oven or kettle; add enough water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 1 hour.
Drain and rinse beans, discarding liquid. Return beans to pan. Add water and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 to 1-1/4 hours or until beans are tender. Drain, reserving 2 cups cooking liquid.
In a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish, combine the beans, onion, mustard, brown sugar, molasses, bacon and 1 cup reserved cooking liquid. Cover and bake at 400° for 45 minutes or until beans have reached desired thickness, stirring occasionally (add additional reserved cooking liquid if needed).