Baked beans and pulled pork

I don’t remember when I first ate baked beans, but it was probably with Mom’s family in Crandall, TX. But I have loved them ever since. The Mexicans in our family do not like them and can’t imagine eating sweet beans, but that just leaves more for me. I

Personally, I would not use the bourbon in this recipe but that’s just me. I like bourbon, but not in my food. I would also add some cayenne pepper to the spices. I love anything sweet and spicy.

Southern Baked Beans

6 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped

1 medium onion, finely chopped

5 cloves of garlic, finely minced

1 tsp smoked paprika

1/2 tsp chili powder

Kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste

1/4 cup ketchup

2 tablespoons stone ground mustard

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons Worcestershire

2 tablespoons bourbon, optional

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 tablespoon molasses

2 (28-ounce) cans baked beans

Preheat the oven to 375. Note: This recipe starts on the stovetop and then gets transferred into the oven to finish. As such, you can use an oven-safe vessel or just empty the mixture into a casserole baking dish.

Heat a large dutch oven or deep skillet (that’s ovensafe) over medium heat. Add in the chopped bacon and cook, stirring often, until the bacon is brown and crispy. Then use a slotted utensil to transfer the crispy bacon pieces to a plate lined with paper towels, set aside. There should be plenty of rendered bacon fat in the pot.

Toss in the chopped onions and sauté until tender and golden, about 3-4 minutes. Then stir in the garlic and continue cooking with the onions until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.

Add in the smoked paprika, chili powder, salt and pepper to taste, ketchup, mustard, vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire, bourbon (if using), maple syrup and molasses. Sprinkle the reserved bacon pieces into the pan. Then add in the beans from the cans and stir everything together to fully combine.

Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a slight boil for 5 minutes. Then remove the pot from the heat. Give the beans a taste test and season with more salt/pepper, if desired.

Place the vessel into the oven, uncovered. Bake the beans for 1 hour, or until the beans are super bubbly. Stir the beans together and allow them to rest for at least 10 minutes.

—kwc— Now we need something to eat with those baked beans so how about pulled pork sandwiches? Here’s an easy crockpot recipe.

Dr Pepper Pulled Pork

1 pork butt/pork shoulder roast 4-5 pounds

Salt, pepper, and garlic powder

1 onion sliced 1 can Dr Pepper 3/4 cup barbecue sauce or to taste

Place the onion in the bottom of the slow cooker. Rub the outside of the roast with salt, pepper and garlic powder.

Pour the Dr Pepper over the pork and cook on high 4-5 hours or on low 7-8 hours.

The meat will be very tender. Using 2 forks, shred the pork and place back in the juices.

Add barbecue sauce to taste. Allow to cook an additional 30-60 minutes if desired.