B-B-B-BAKED BEANS!

here is the best recipe for baked beans on the planet. it makes me feel like i'm 8 years old again because it tastes just like these beans from a deli in toronto that i would order with a side of tiny hot dogs. (in this case, side serving of hot dogs optional).

you need:
1 pound dried great northern beans
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup tomato sauce
2 tbsp dijon mustard
2 tbsp molasses
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp salt
1 tsp cracked black pepper
2 slices of thick cut bacon, sliced into chunks
1/2 dried chipotle pepper (optional)

this takes pretty much all day, so best to do it when you are sitting at home. for instance, i am spending this entire day learning property law / the most boring things in the universe. but i take comfort in knowing that a tasty treat is baking in my oven for later.

first things first. rinse the beans. put them in a large pot (one that is oven-safe, for later. either a dutch oven or cast iron pot or something all metal) and add enough water to cover them. bring to a boil, lower the heat, and cook until they are softened (about an hour).

then, mix up all the ingredients except the bacon in a bowl. add to the beans. it is okay to have leftover water in the pot, since you will be adding water anyway. then, add the bacon, stir it all up, and add enough water to cover everything. cover the top of the pot with aluminum foil and place the lid on top.

bake in the oven at 300F. check on the beans every hour and a half or so to make sure that the beans haven't dried out. if they are dry but not done, add more water as you go. it will take 6 hours for these to cook down into the most perfect, sauciest, tastiest beans in the world.

easy!

in conclusion, after you have made these beans, if someone says to you - 'how you livin???', you will now be able to respond with.....'LARGE!'

mm-hm.