Homestead Baked Beans

You've got 2 options:  use canned (time-saver) or use a bag of beans (cleaner).  IF YOU USE CANNED, you can "clean it up" by opting to buy Trader Joes brand or an organic brand of baked beans.  This is a VERY FILLING recipe and served w/ some cornbread it could be a meal in and of itself!

THE SECRET TO PERFECTION:  SLOW COOKER AND COFFEE!

BELOW ARE 2 RECIPES, ONE using BAGGED BEANS (soaked overnight) and ONE using CANNED BEANS.  I'll start w/ BAGGED BEANS.

RECIPE #1 USING BAGGED BEANS: (serves 6)

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb of beans of your choice. (I like to use a little of everything:  kidney, black, pinto...I weight it on my scale until it equals 1 lb)
1 tsp of baking soda

2 medium onions (yellow) diced or pureed
3 garlic cloves
1 Tbsp of Worstechire Sauce
1 Tbsp of dijon mustard
1/2 pkg of raw uncured bacon, diced or sliced into small chunks (we like Trader Joes Uncured bacon)
1/2 lb of grass fed ground beef, BROWNED
1 cup of strong brewed coffee
1/4 cup of Sucanat or dark brown sugar
1 Tbsp of McCormick's Montreal Steak Seasoning
1 cup of favorite Bar-B-Q sauce (get as clean as you can find.  Trader Joes has some good options that don't contain any HFCS)

1.  Soak beans in large bowl overnight.  Be sure and cover it with about 2 inches of water.
2.  Morning of:  Drain beans and transfer to large saucepan.  Add water to cover and stir in the baking soda.  Bring to a boil and cook for 30 minutes.  Drain beans and set aside.
3.  Dump the remaining ingredients into your slow cooker, followed by the beans.  Give it a good stir.
4.  Set slow cooker on LOW and cook all day (8 hours)


RECIPE #2 using CANNED BAKED BEANS:


INGREDIENTS:

16 oz of canned baked beans of your choice. (I love Trader Joes Baked Beans)
2 medium onions (yellow) diced or pureed
3 garlic cloves
1 Tbsp of Worstechire Sauce
1 Tbsp of dijon mustard
1/2 pkg of raw uncured bacon, diced or sliced into small chunks (we like Trader Joes Uncured bacon)
1/2 lb of grass fed ground beef, BROWNED
1/2 cup of strong brewed coffee
1/4 cup of Sucanat or dark brown sugar
1 Tbsp of McCormick's Montreal Steak Seasoning
1/2 cup of favorite Bar-B-Q sauce (get as clean as you can find.  Trader Joes has some good options that don't contain any HFCS)

1.  Dump the remaining ingredients into your slow cooker, followed by the beans.  Give it a good stir.
2.  If it seems too "dry", then add another 1/4 cup of bar-b-q sauce.  Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking.  (it might need to be a little sweeter or need more of a "kick"...it all depends on what kind of canned baked beans you buy and what seasonings it used)
4.  Set slow cooker on LOW and cook all day (8 hours)