Spicy Maple Baked Beans

Yum! A classic New England dish made zingy with Tabasco. This can be cooked in a crockpot on low for about 8 hours and finished in the oven, uncovered, at 350 for about 1 hour. (The crockery liner of most crockpots can go into the oven.) Or bake in a covered casserole or dutch oven at 250 for approx 4 hours, remove cover and cook until thick, about 1 hour.

• Ready In: 8 hrs 15 mins
• Serves: 8-12

Ingredients

• 1  lb dried navy beans or 1  lb  other small dried white bean
• 1  medium onion, diced
• 1⁄4 cup ketchup
• 1⁄2 cup real maple syrup
• 1⁄3 cup soy sauce
• 1⁄4 lb bacon, cut up (a good use for the cheaper ends and pieces, if available in your market)
• 1  tablespoon dry mustard
• 1  teaspoon Tabasco sauce (or other hot sauce, to taste)
•  salt and pepper
•  water

Directions

1. Soak beans overnight in 6C water, or boil 2 minutes to soften and let soak 1 hour while prepping other ingredients. Drain beans.
2. Mix all in crockpot/casserole, adding enough water to cover, plus about 4 inches extra. Check pot halfway through and add more water if dry. If you won't be home, just start out with more water; you can cook it off during the final hour. When removing cover for the last hour, taste and adjust seasonings.