Backyard Baked Beans

INGREDIENTS

• 2 bratwurst – casings removed
• 4 slices bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 3/4 cup chopped onion (diced)
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons Jim Beam whiskey
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 C TBL BBQ sauce
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 1/4 C Heinz or Sir Kensington’s ketchup
• 2 TBL Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon dry mustard
• 1 tsp Liquid Smoke
• 1 (16 ounce) can small white beans, drained (See note)
• 1 can Pinto beans
• 1 can B&M Baked Beans or Bush’s Baked Beans
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp Grandpa’s Thunder Powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

STEP BY STEP

1. In a heavy, medium size saucepan, cook the bratwurst over medium heat until it begins to brown, about 5-6 minutes.
2. Add the sugar and stir for about 2 minutes.
3. Add the chopped onion, stir well and continue to cook, stirring occasionally until the onion is tender, 5 minutes more.
4. Add the tomato paste until it starts to break down, about 2 minutes.
5. Deglaze the pan with the vinegar and whisky, then add the molasses, BBQ sauce, Dijon mustard, and ketchup.
6. Add 1/4 C water at this point if it seems too thick.
7. Add the beans and tomatoes, and season with the dry mustard, salt, pepper and Thunder Powder.
8. Stir to mix and reduce heat to low and cook 15 minutes.
9. Put into 9×13 glass baking pan and “shingle” the bacon over top of the beans.
10. Sprinkle lightly with brown sugar and bake at 350º for 90 minutes.
11. Cool 10-15 minutes before serving.
12. Total time about 2 hours.

SHORTCUT RECIPE

1. Brown your bratwurst and your bacon together.  About 5 minutes
2. Add sugar, onion and tomato paste all at one time.  Cook 5 minutes.
3. Add to the pan, all at once, vinegar, whisky, molasses, BBQ sauce, Dijon mustard, and ketchup to deglaze.
4. Add 1/4 C water at this point if it seems too thick.
5. Add 48 ounces of B&M Baked Beans or Bush’s Baked Beans.
6. Add tomatoes, and season with the dry mustard, salt, pepper and Thunder Powder.
7. Stir to mix and cook 10 for minutes, and you are ready to serve.
8. Total time about 30 minutes.

NOTE

• There are recipes around about cooking your beans from scratch, but there are so many things that can go wrong, we’ve found that the canned beans give a consistent result.  Just make sure to get a quality can of canned beans.  This is your main ingredient.  Don’t cut corners.