Recipe: Best Baked Beans

'Tis the season for hearty comfort foods, and what says comfort better than baked beans? This is an easy recipe that is sooo good. If you want it healthier, omit some of the sugar, and cook your own beans - it's easy!

Best Baked Beans
(Serves 6-8.)

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 pound center-cut thick bacon, cut into 1" pieces

1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1 teaspoon brown mustard

15 oz dark kidney beans, drained (or 1 cup dry kidney beans - cooked & drained)

15 oz butter beans, drained (or 1 cup dry butter beans - cooked & drained)
30 oz pork and beans, undrained

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Sauté onion in olive oil over medium high heat until it starts to soften. 
• Add 1 pound center-cut bacon and cook until crispy. With a vented spoon, remove bacon and onions from pan and place on folded paper towels. Blot with extra paper towels to remove as excess fat.
• Add ketchup, sugar, brown sugar, white vinegar and mustard to a large oven-proof dish. 
• Add drained kidney and butter beans along with undrained pork and beans. 
• Add bacon and onions to bean mixture. Stir well to combine. 
• Bake uncovered at 350° for 45 minutes.