Friedel's Old-Fashioned Baked Beans

I tried many recipes before I found this one and I think it is the best baked bean recipe ever!! It is worth every single minute of cooking, enjoy!!

• Ready In: 16 hrs
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1  lb  white pea beans
• 4  cups  cold water
• 1  small onion, sliced
• 1⁄2 tablespoon salt
• 2  teaspoons cider vinegar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon prepared mustard
• 1  tablespoon brown sugar
• 1⁄4 cup molasses
• 1⁄2 cup tomato ketchup
• 1⁄4 lb bacon, sliced (optional)
•  pepper

Directions

1. Soak beans overnight in cold water.
2. Drain.
3. Rinse beans, then place in a saucepan along with the cold water.
4. Heat water to boiling and simmer beans for 30 minutes, then drain.
5. Place onion slices in the bottom of a 6 cup casserole.
6. Mix seasonings and turn into the pot.
7. Add beans and water to cover.
8. Arrange bacon on top, before covering and baking in an oven for 7 hours at 250 F.
9. In the middle of the cooking, when the beans have become soft enough, remove 1 cup of beans, mash and then stir back into the pot.
10. Cover and continue to bake, adding water as needed to keep the beans just covered.
11. One hour before serving, remove cover to darken the beans.