Old-Fashioned Baked Beans

My Mom baked beans often

 when we were growing up, 

to feed our large family.

I remember helping to shell the different 

types of beans that grew in our garden.

Another favourite were kidney beans.

Beans are full of protein and fibre.

I use Thompson's pea beans for my recipe.

I bake them in bulk and they freeze well.

I freeze them in small containers and

have them for months. 

I have tried many recipes over the years,
and this recipe is my favorite.

I use the recipe on the package above,

omitting the brown sugar and salt,
and adding more molasses.

The recipe on the package is for 1 lb.
 of beans. I use the whole bag,
which contains 2 lbs., doubling the recipe.

Ingredients:

2 lbs. white pea beans

1 large sliced onion

4 tsp. vinegar

2 tsp  prepared mustard

3/4 cup molasses

1 cup low-salt ketchup

Pinch black pepper

1/4lb. bacon chopped

Instructions

The night before.

Rinse the beans.

Soak overnight or at lease 12 hrs.

Drain. 

Boil beans, on medium heat  
 in a large pot, covered with water,

 for 30 minutes, or until nearly tender.

(Beans will not become any

 softer when placed in the oven)

I like the bitter aroma in the kitchen,
 during beans boiling.
It bring back childhood memories.
My Mom made these often,
 to feed her large family.

While the beans are boiling 

I prepare my other ingredients.

Chop up an onion and bacon.

Preheat oven to 250 deg.F.

In a large measuring cup

add the vinegar, mustard, molasses,

ketchup, and pepper.
Before dumping this on the beans,
I add hot water to the top of the measuring cup, 

which thins and makes pouring out easier.

 

Drain the beans after 30 minutes of boiling.

Place the chopped onion in the bottom

of a roaster pan, a large bean crock, 
or a 12 cup casserole pan.

Place beans on top of the onions.

Add the measuring cup mixture

  over beans.

Place chopped bacon on top.

Add enough hot water to cover mixture.

Add any other spices you like,

I add some parsley.

Cover with lid and bake at 250 deg.F. for 7 hrs.

Check after 6 hrs., they could be done.

Stir the beans 1/2 way through.

Add more water is not enough.

After 7 (or 6hrs.) hrs.,

 I remove the cover

 and let bake 1/2 hr. longer.

they are soo good.....

Social-distancing,
self-isolation, 
new vocabulary, 
which is so important,
to "flatten the curve".

As the world is still,
stay positive, 
nothing lasts forever.

(I did this blog post in 2020.

Thankfully the Covid has eased)

Thanks for your visit xo

💚💚💚

Cookies with Baileys Irish Creme Icing

In this pandemic, here in Quebec,

 mostly everything is closed , 
except the pharmacies

 and grocery stores. (2020)
Our Prime Minister announced
today, the U.S. Canada border
will be closed for nonessential travel.
but not for trucks transporting food,
medications etc.
A lot of our food comes from U.S.

I made these cookies
 yesterday, St. Patrick's Day.
The recipe called for buttermilk.
 I didn't have any on hand.
 I didn't want to use my milk supply,
in this pandemic, stay at home, 
 so I substituted for condensed sweet milk
 that I had in the pantry, 
and I didn't add any sugar in the recipe.
The cookies are delicious.

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

3 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup unsalted cold butter cubed

1/2 dried cranberries

Grated rind of one orange

Approx. 3/4 cup condensed sweet milk 

1 egg lightly beaten

Heat oven to 425 deg. F

In a large bowl, whist together the flour, 
baking powder and salt.

Cut in butter until it resembles coarse crumbs.

Mix in the orange rind and cranberries with a fork

Beat the egg in a measuring cup and 

 add the sweetened condensed milk, 
 to make 1 cup.

Pour the sweetened condensed milk 

 and egg mixture into the flour mixture.

Keep a little to brush on the top of the cookies.

Roll out with a rolling pin
 approx. 1/4 to 1/2  inch thick

 on a floured surface

Using a 2" floured cookie cutter, cut out biscuits.

Place on a cookie sheet

Brush tops with reserved milk mixture.

Bake 425 deg. about 15-17 mins.

The cranberries and orange combined, create
a divine aroma in the kitchen, while baking.

Icing/ Frosting

1 cup of icing sugar/confectioners sugar

2 tbsp Baileys Irish Cream

and add a few tsp. of milk to make

 an icing constituency.

Spread over cookie and sprinkle some green.

Our coffee for the day.

I froze most of them. 

We're gaining weight in this pandemic. 

We have to watch our sugar intake.

After taking this pic,

 I opened the blind to let the 

sunshine in to brighten the day.

It's a beautiful Sunny day here.

The snow is melting.

Social distancing is important.

We are all in this together.

Keep well my friends.

Thanks for your visit xo