Recipe

Moore's New England Baked Beans Recipe

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Ingredients

1 1/3 c dark molasses (Crosby's) .
1 lb salt pork (don't even think about using bacon) .
2 tsps sea salt .
2 tsps fresh ground white pepper .
2 lbs dried navy beans .
1 c sugar .
2 tsps dried mustard (Coleman's)

Directions

Step #1 Carefully sort the beans, discarding any misshapen or discolored beans.
Step #2 Check carefully for small stones.
Step #3 Place beans in a colander & rinse thoroughly to remove all dust.
Step #4 Then place the beans In a large-ish pot or bowl.
Step #5 Add enough cold water to cover by several inches.
Step #6 Soak the beans about 12 to 15 hrs The beans should be smooth & doubled in size.
Step #7 Drain the beans in a colander.
Step #8 Rinse well with cold water.
Step #9 Discard any beans that haven’t re-hydrated.
Step #10 Place the beans in a stock pot.
Step #11 Add enough cold water to cover the beans by about ½ inch.
Step #12 Bring to a boil & boil vigorously for 10 mins.
Step #13 Continue to boil the beans for another 5 to 10 min until the skin moves on the beans when blown on or you can slip the skin from the bean by pinching a bean between your thumb & forefinger.
Step #14 BE CAREFUL not to over cook.
Step #15 It’s better to err on the under done side.
Step #16 Drain & rinse the beans reserving the cooking liquid.
Step #17 Preheat oven to 300F degrees F.
Step #18 Cut the salt pork in half, if the salt pork is thick, cut horizontally.
Step #19 Score the rind.
Step #20 Cut half of the salt pork—the rindless section if halved horizontally—into 3 or 4 pieces & place them in the bottom of the bean pot.
Step #21 Add the beans to the bean pot.
Step #22 Mix together the sugar, mustard, molasses, salt & pepper.
Step #23 Scoop onto the top of the beans but do not stir.
Step #24 Add enough of the reserved bean-cooking liquid to barely cover the beans.
Step #25 If the water is not penetrating the beans, insert a table knife & carefully push the beans apart allowing the water to penetrate.
Step #26 Place the remaining half of the salt pork, rind side up, on top of the bean mixture.
Step #27 Cover up the bean pot.
Step #28 Bake for 6 or 7 hrs Check the beans periodically for liquid—about once every 1 ½ hrs or so.
Step #29 Adding extra reserved liquid as necessary—the liquid should be boiling when added.
Step #30 Beans are done when they become dark & tender.
Step #31 The beans should not be mushy.
Step #32 Allow the beans to stand for 30 min before serving.
Enjoy the Moore's New England Baked Beans recipe