Boston Baked Beans

Ingredients:

• 1 pound navy beans, soaked overnight
• 6 cups water
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 slices bacon, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
2. Drain the soaked navy beans and rinse them under cold water.
3. In a large pot, combine the rinsed navy beans and 6 cups of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Drain the beans and reserve 2 cups of the cooking liquid.
4. In a bowl, mix together the chopped onion, molasses, brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, salt, and black pepper.
5. Place half of the cooked navy beans in a Dutch oven or baking dish. Top with half of the chopped bacon.
6. Pour half of the molasses mixture over the beans and bacon.
7. Repeat the layers with the remaining beans, bacon, and molasses mixture.
8. Sprinkle the ground cloves and ground nutmeg over the top of the beans.
9. Pour the reserved cooking liquid over the beans until they are just covered.
10. Cover the Dutch oven or baking dish with a lid or aluminum foil.
11. Bake in the preheated oven for 4 to 6 hours, or until the beans are tender and the sauce has thickened, stirring occasionally. Add more water if needed to keep the beans moist.
12. Remove the lid or foil during the last 30 minutes of baking to allow the sauce to thicken further.

Serving:

Serve the Boston Baked Beans hot as a side dish alongside grilled meats, cornbread, or coleslaw. They also make a delicious topping for hot dogs or enjoyed on their own as a hearty and comforting meal.