Campaign Bean Recipe

As the President's reelection campaign kicks off- I figured I would share a recipe I learned from a volunteer while I was working on the campaign. It would be an understatement to say we ate poorly on the campaign. I often reminisce about Eagle Square Deli across from our headquarters in New Hampshire and how I felt as those if we didn't eat out at one of the local delis each day we would be losing votes for the Senator- the fact that they had delicious food certainly didn't hurt. However, as we got to the final stretch, everyone in New Hampshire it seemed was eager to provide us with food to keep us going. Being a vegetarian at the time I was limited in what I was able to eat, but there were some delicious side dishes that we were able to sample over that winter. One of them was a delicious baked bean recipe. One particular volunteer brought what I recall must have been at least 6 pounds of it over one night to the office which is to encourage all of you to try the recipe in large quantities. I hope that you enjoy- it is relatively simple if you have a crock pot or don't mind leaving your oven on over night:

Campaign Baked Beans

Ingredients:
1 lb. beans (pea beans, yellow eye or red kidney- your choice.)
1 1/2 quarts water
1 tsp. salt
1/3 cup brown sugar (I use dark brown)
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 cup molasses (not blackstrap - too strong)
1 large onion, cut in sixteenths

(1) Rinse beans well and pick over. Add to cold water and soak overnight.

(2) Cover the beans and bring to a simmer until tender. Usually about an hour

(3) Pre-heat oven to 275 degrees.

(4) Drain beans, reserving at least 2 cups of liquid.

(5) Mix liquid with sugar, mustard, molasses and salt. Put onion in the bottom of a pottery baking pot, add drained beans and then add the sugar mixture. Cover and bake for 5 to 7 hours. I check the beans every now and then. If the liquid goes down below the level of the beans, add more bean liquid (if there is any) or just water.