The original oven baked beans of our childhoods were always SO good; cooked with lots of bacon and sweet molasses. Only problem is, they take a long time to prepare and cook.
As our children were growing up, we did a lot of camping, and cooked on a Coleman Stove and the camp's grill. We always enjoyed having baked beans with our grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. But, without an oven, and having a time constraint out in the campgrounds, oven baked beans was not an option. Therefore, my hubby, Bob, came up with his own version of camper baked beans, which he named Bob's Top-of-the-Stove baked beans.
After our children grew up, they began to make this recipe both in camp and at home. Quite quick to prepare and always tasty, it has become a standard favorite in our family.
Bob's Top-of-the-Stove Baked Beans Recipe
Ingredients
Serves 4
1 can pork & beans (we usually use Van Camp's).
Several slices of bacon*
½ to 1 diced onion*
Mustard to taste
Ketchup to taste
1 tablespoon dill pickle juice
Brown Sugar to taste
Salt & Pepper
Instructions:
- Cut up bacon slices into one or two inch squares. Chop the onion.
- Begin by sauteing the bacon and onion together. When done to your preference, pour off excess bacon grease (leaving a small bit for flavor).
- Add the can of Pork & Beans.
- Add all the other ingredients.
- Simmer for 15-20 minutes to heat through and blend all the ingredients.
- As the beans simmer, add more ketchup and/or brown sugar to your tasting preference. This is an extremely variable recipe, so exact amounts are not given in the ingredients. Personally, I prefer lots of ketchup and enough brown sugar for that 'sweet' taste. Taste and adjust amounts to your own satisfaction as the beans simmer.
NOTE: We always used a Corning Ware pan (as shown in the accompanying pictures), so everything can be cooked in one pan. Otherwise, you might wish to saute the bacon and onion in a frying pan, then add them and the other ingredients together in a sauce pan.
*Explanation for the *starred items in the recipe: the number of bacon strips and the amount of onion used are negotiable! Personally, we like LOTS of bacon and plenty of onion. Adjust each to your own personal preference.
Summary
Bob's Top-of-the-Stove Baked Beans Recipe is easy & quick, and definitely delicious. And it's one of those recipes that works equally as well cooked on the stove-top in your kitchen or on a camp stove at a campsite.
It is most definitely a favorite in our family.
*All images are the personal photos of (c) Wednesday Elf
*Bob's Top-of-the-Stove Baked Beans Recipe is brought to you by Wednesday Elf