Potent Maple Baked Beans

These are posted for ZWT 2006. Cookin and prep time does not include "standing" time.

• Ready In: 5 hrs
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 8  cups water
• 2 1⁄2 cups  small dried white beans
• 6  slices bacon, cut into 2 inch strips
• 1  onion, chopped
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1⁄2 cup real maple syrup
• 1⁄2 cup dark rum
• 2  tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 2  tablespoons  melted butter

Directions

1. Wash and pick over beans. Put beans and water in saucepan, cover. Bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes.
2. Remove from heat and let stand 1 hour.
3. Return to heat, bring back to a boil, lower heat and simmer, covered, for 40 minutes.
4. Drain beans thougha colander set over a bowl. Reserve 2 1/2 cups of the cooking liquid and set aside.
5. Put bacon in ovenproof casserole or bean pot. Cover with cooked beans.
6. In a bowl, combine onion, salt, mustard, syrup, rum and 2 cups of reserved cooking liquid.
7. Pour mixture over beans.
8. Cover and bake in a 325 degree oven for 3 hours, adding the last 1/2 cup cooking liquid during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
9. Remove from oven.
10. Combine brown sugar and melted butter. Drizzle over beans.
11. Bake, uncovered, for another hour or until liquid has evaporated.