Lorraine's Baked Beans

When Lorraine had us over for dinner on the 4^th of July, her incredible menu included a fabulous pot of baked beans (actually she had 2 pots). Loaded with “secret ingredients”, it was the most addictively delicious explosion of flavors I’d had all summer …that is, until she had us over for curry the other night but that’s a whole other story.

Had I not been trying to be so polite, I’d have taken a shovel and finished the whole darn thing but those old lessons from Emily Post’s book of etiquette prevailed so I just had to make them at home so we could gorge ourselves on the sly. There was only one slight problem – I needed a bean pot because that’s how Lorraine cooked hers. Thankfully during a quick foraging trip to the Waldport second hand shop Big Guy spotted one and we were off to the races. Now, we’re the proud owners of an official made in the USA Hull bean pot that didn’t look like it had ever been used. It’s a beauty, isn’t it?

Anyway, to cut to the chase - here’s the link to Fig’s & Artichokes for Lorraine’s recipe…I don’t know about you, but I was kinda’ surprised at a few of the ingredients but there’s no surprises with the final outcome. They’re the best!

By the way, I cut the quantities in half so we wouldn’t be total gluttons, reduced the sugar slightly and added a can of drained black beans to the mix, just because I had them and I’m ornery.  I’m also impatient so the beans cooked for exactly 1 hour less than the recipe called for, which means they’re not quite as dark and rich in color as Lorraine’s were, but they’re still delicious.

We had ‘em along with some gi-normous foot long hot dogs Big Guy cooked on the grill outside …that’s his plate you’re looking at. Mine had more beans and less dawg. Just sayin’. 

 

Comments

[Big guy]

Your forgot to mention the whining on the way home from Lorraine's that she had a bean pot and you didn't. :-)

LU

[Lea]

Score on the Bean Pot and such a fabulous recipe to cook in it the first go! Franks & Beans - Perfect!

[June]

Big Guy .... and you're point?

Lea - it's a super recipe for sure!

[Lorraine]

Thanks for the compliments my friend. I got my bean pots from my mom after she passed away, and I am almost thinking she had them from at least when she and dad got married,if not from before, so old. Great score on the pot from the second hand store. Looks like a real beauty...just the right shape.

[pam]

I made baked beans for the 4th too. I was surprised at how easy they were. I'll have to go check her recipe, mine was super simple from Martha.

[June]

Lorraine, your pots remind of the one my Mother had so for certain, they're something to treasure. As for the recipe, it's the bomb and I can't wait to make 'em again.

Pam - Lorraine's version are adapted from Saveur, easy and delicious too.