OMG did you eat beans???

Tipping my hat to the fine folks of Boston this week, I wanted to share a recipe that I have always enjoyed but have never had time to make the "proper" way.  

Mama V's Imitation Boston Baked Beans

A long time ago, my friend from the east coast exposed me to Boston Baked Beans and they were fabulous!  

But they take hours to make.  While I am fond of good, old fashioned slow cooking I just don't have time for all that.  Not to mention the fact that I am a total fail at beans from scratch.  (I would show pictures but well, they are just too horrible to post on a public forum.)  So me, being me, figured out a short cut and I did it my way...

2 Cans of  Baked Beans (I like Bush’s Country Style with bacon and brown sugar) but any kind will work.

2  medium onions - Chopped (red onions are awesome in this!  Note:  If using red onion, use 1 large instead of 2 med )

6 cloves of garlic - minced

3/4 cup dark brown sugar 

(you can use light, but dark gives that molasses flavor)

1/2 cup ketchup

Dash or two of Frank’s Red Hot Sauce 

(and yes, I do put that shit on everything!)

And the crown jewel of today's recipe:

6 slices of thick cut peppered bacon

Start by frying the bacon until just crispy (reserve about 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease in the pan)
Drain the bacon on paper towels and set to the side to cool. When cooled, chop into bite size pieces.

Next lightly sautée the onions and garlic until softened in the reserved bacon grease.  Set to the side.

Now let's do this...

In an Enameled Pot, (Note if you do not have one of these, Get One!!  Really, they are awesome!) or a thick material pot, add the Beans, Ketchup, and Brown Sugar and heat over a medium flame until brown sugar dissolves, stirring constantly.  

Turn the heat to low and add the Onions, Garlic and Bacon again stirring constantly (beans burn easily).  Keep cooking until the beans begin to thicken (usually about 10 - 15 minutes).  Remove from heat and allow to cool for about ten minutes.

Yes, yes, I know it's blasphemy, using canned beans. But damn it, this is good!