Old Fashioned Brown Sugar and Molasses Oven-Baked Beans Recipe

Directions:

1. Remove stones from beans, rinsing well in a colander.
2. Place beans in a large pan, adding a teaspoon of salt along with enough water to cover contents by 3 inches.
3. Over high heat, bring beans to a rolling boil for 2 minutes.
4. Remove pan from heat, cover pan and let stand for 1 hour.
5. Uncover pan, breing contents back to a boil.
6. Reduce heat and simmer until beans are tender (1 to 1 1/2 hours).
7. As necessary, add more water to keep beans well covered.
8. Drain beans well, reserving liquid.
9. In a 2 1/2 quart bean pot (or casserole) combine molasses, brown sugar, mustard, ketchup and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
10. Add drained beans. Then stir in enough reserved cooking liquid to cover beans.
11. Mil well.
12. One one side of pot, push whole onion down into beans.
13. Cut several gashes in the salt pork and push it down into beans on other side of the pot.
14. Cover pot, place in oven and set heat to 350 degrees.
15. Bake until beans are bubbling (about 1 hour).
16. Reduce heat to 250 degrees and continue to bake for 6 to 8 hours more, stirring every hour or so.
17. As beans cook, they will absorb liquid.
18. Continue cooking, adding reserved liquid (or water) a little at a time to keep beans moist, but not soupy.
19. Baked beans are done when thick and fragrant, with a deep, brownish red color.
20. When serving, remove and discard onion, while keeping in sliced salt pork if desired.