Maple Baked Beans

As promised, here is the recipe for the maple baked beans.  I sent these to the kids at the center reluctantly.  I was sure that these would not be too popular.  I was totally wrong.  These beans were the biggest hit of anything I've sent there and I have been cooking for them several times a week for three months!  I am not a big fan of baked beans but when I tried them on our trip, they were so good that I asked for the recipe.  And the best part, they are extremely simple to make. The recipe:  2 cans of baby butter beans, 2 cans of navy beans, 2 tablespoons of bacon grease, 1 medium diced onion, 2-1/2 tablespoons of vinegar, 1-1/4 cup of maple syrup and 3/4 cup of ketchup.  Cook the onions in the bacon grease until softened.  Turn the heat up and add the vinegar, stirring.  Add the maple syrup and ketchup.  Stir well.   Add the beans.  Add sliced hot dogs if you wish.   Simmer for 30 minutes.    I was tempted to add things to this recipe but I thought better of it and didn't.  These beans are outstanding as is!  Nothing has been eaten faster by the kids than this recipe. I made 40 cups for 16 kids and they were gone in 30 minutes. If you think maple seems a strange combination with beans, most beans are made with brown sugar and this subs for it. There is not a strong maple flavor at all.

 I also made Boston Brown Bread to go with the beans.

 I steamed them in my pudding molds since I had no cans to use.

 I added currants to them.

 This should be sliced with the beans served on top of each piece. The kids had never eaten steamed bread nor heard of Boston Brown Bread before but they loved it.  They kept referring to it as cake.

 So, if you like baked beans, I strongly recommend trying this recipe.  And add extra hot dogs  They were picked out and eaten first by the kids.

Teddy, of the sad paw, says hi!

Here are some of the containers the syrup comes in.