Boston-Style Baked Beans

A little extra prep time but worth the effort!

• Ready In: 6 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 2  cups  dried beans (pea, navy or soldier)
• 1⁄2 lb  smoked thick slab bacon, with rind on it
• 1  large onion, chopped
• 1⁄4 cup blackstrap molasses
• 1  tablespoon mustard powder
• 2  bay leaves
•  salt and pepper
• 1⁄8 teaspoon cayenne pepper or 1⁄8 teaspoon  hot sauce

Directions

1. In a saucepan, cover beans with cold water, bring to a boil; boil 1 minute.
2. Remove from heat, cover pot, and let sit for 1 hour; drain well.
3. Score the bacon in squares without cutting through the rind.
4. Put half the beans in the pot in which you will bake them, and add the onion, molasses and seasonings.
5. Add remaining beans and bury the bacon rind up in the top layer of beans Add just enough water to cover.
6. Cover the pot tightly; bake for 4-6 hours, or more to melt the pork fat, and blend the flavors.
7. Add boiling water from time to time if needed.
8. The last 30 minutes of baking, remove the lid to make a brown crust.