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BOSTON BAKED BEANS Makes 6 servings

In a small bowl, mix together the molasses, dry mustard and black pepper. Pour this mixture over the beans in the pot. Add enough boiling water to cover the beans, then cover the pot with the lid. Transfer to the preheated oven and bake, occasionally checking and adding more boiling water as needed to keep the beans covered, until they are tender but not falling apart, about 4 to 5 hours. Remove the pot from the oven and uncover. Stir the beans and season with additional salt if needed. Return the pot to the oven, uncovered, and continue baking until the sauce has thickened and the top is deeply crusty, about 45 minutes more. Serve beans hot.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED: 1 (16-ounce) pack Rouses dried Navy Beans 2 tablespoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon salt ½ pound salt pork or slab bacon, cut into ½-inch chunks

1 medium onion, peeled and chopped ½ cup dark molasses (not blackstrap) 2 teaspoons dry mustard 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

HOW TO PREP: In a large bowl, cover the navy beans with 2 quarts of water and stir in 2 tablespoons of kosher salt. Allow the beans to soak for 6 hours or up to overnight. Drain the soaked beans and transfer them to a large oven-safe pot with a heavy bottom and an oven-safe tight-fitting lid. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and enough cool water to cover the beans by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are just barely tender, about 30 to 40 minutes. Drain and remove the beans from the pot. Preheat the oven to 250°F. Meanwhile, bring a kettle full of water to a boil on the stove. Return the heavy-bottomed pot to the stove over medium high heat. Cook the salt pork in the bottom of the pot until it begins to brown. Turn off the heat and add the chopped onion, followed by the drained beans.

ARROW-CIRCLE-RIGHT H.J. Heinz Company sold the first commercially canned baked beans in 1895.

BEANTOWN ARROW-CIRCLE-RIGHT What’s the difference between Boston baked beans and other baked beans? Boston baked beans are cooked in a sauce predominantly flavored with molasses, a tradition dating back to colonial times in the region. Salt pork is another important ingredient in Boston baked beans; similar to a non-smoked version of bacon, salt pork is essentially cured pork belly.

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