Molasses Baked Beans
Ingredients
  • 1 pound dried small white beans
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 large onion cut into wedges
  • 3 1/2 ounces salt pork cut into 1/4-inch slices
  • 3/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1/4 cup light molasses
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Place beans in a large pot. Cover with water by about 4 inches; soak overnight.
  2. Drain beans, and combine with bay leaves. Add water to cover the beans by 3 inches. Boil softly until just tender, about 45 minutes. Drain liquid, reserving 1 quart for cooking.
  3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  4. Place beans in a large oven-proof pot or Dutch oven. Mix together the onion, salt pork, ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, and seasonings, and add this along with 3 cups of reserved liquid to the beans. Stir well. Cover the pot with aluminum foil tightly, then cover with the pot lid.
  5. Bake until the beans are very tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 2 1/2 hours, checking on them a couple of times during baking and adding in more liquid if needed if they get too dry.
  6. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed; serve.