Baked Beans

On a cold, snowy, northern Michigan first day of spring, a pot of homemade baked beans might just be what we need to warm us from the inside out. What follows are two recipes from Grandma's Recipe Box. The first is credited to Grandma's oldest sister, Della, who was a huge Tiger fan and live to be 100 years old!

Here it is as written on a recipe card found in her recipe box:

Cook 1 quart of beans until mush. (About 4-5 hours). Put on in cold water to cover beans well. Cook slowly. Take off fire. Add 1 tablespoon molasses. Place is baking dish. Put slices of salt pork on top and bake in hot oven. When beans get dry, add water. When done, let top brown.

This recipe in her box was on newspaper print, as many of her recipes were taken from the paper:

Boston Baked Beans

Navy Beans, 1 pound
Salt, 1 teaspoon
Molasses, 2 tablespoons
Sugar, 3-6 tablespoons
Salt Pork, 1/4 pound
Water, 4 cups

Wash and pick over beans. Mix beans, unsoaked, and other ingredients together, and put into bean pot. Cook in a moderate oven 6 to 8 hours or longer if desired.

Go make a pot of beans and warm up on the Michigan spring day!