Durgin Park Baked Beans

Back in the 80's I was in Boston and decided to eat at a restaurant called Durgin Park. Not knowing it was a legend and that the wait staff was noted for their unusual service. I loved the baked beans so much that I planned several trips later on just to eat at Durgin Park. Several years ago I stumbled across this recipe on CopyKat Recipes and have been using it ever since. No need to travel to Boston anymore. The original recipe is baked in the oven, I adapted mine to do in a crock pot (cut the ingredients in half). I have included directions for both. The result is not the traditional baked bean with a thick sauce, but Durgin Park is not a traditional restaurant. The sauce is very thin, but oh so good. Hope you enjoy.

• Ready In: 6 hrs 25 mins
• Serves: 20

Ingredients

• 2  lbs dry white beans
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  large yellow onion, peeled
• 1  lb bacon, chopped
• 8  tablespoons sugar
• 2⁄3 cup molasses
• 2  teaspoons dry mustard
• 4  teaspoons salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper

Directions

1. FOR BOTH VERSIONS, soak the beans overnight in water.
2. Drain, rinse and put beans in a large stockpot.
3. Add enough water to cover beans along with the baking soda.
4. Bring to boil.
5. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
6. Drain beans and rinse.
7. OVEN VERSION, preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
8. Place the onion in the bottom of a 3 quart ovenproof casserole.
9. Add half the bacon, add the beans and top with remaining bacon.
10. Mix the sugar, molasses, mustard, salt and pepper together.
11. Pour over the beans.
12. Add just enough water to barely cover.
13. DO NOT stir.
14. Cover and bake for six hours (you may need to add a little water but be careful not to get the beans too wet).
15. CROCKPOT VERSION, to fit into a 2 1/2 quart Crockpot cut ingredients in half.
16. Place the onion in the bottom of the Crockpot.
17. Follow with half the bacon, all the beans and the remaining bacon.
18. Mix the sugar, molasses, mustard, salt and pepper together.
19. Pour over the beans.
20. Add just enough water to barely cover.
21. DO NOT stir.
22. Cover and bake for 7- 8 hours (you may need to add a little water but be careful not to get the beans too wet).