annie blog

Happy Labor Day, Y’all!

My plans are yet unformed for this Labor Day — I think that the pool might figure in, and I have some last minute curriculum planning for the BLASTED ACADEMICS that will begin in earnest this week. So, that’s what we’re up to. I’m not even making Labor Day-ish food. However, if in case y’all are not like me and actually will be attending or throwing your own little end of summer shindig, well, I thought that I’d mention this recipe.

This recipe isn’t at all fancy, but it is easy and people love these beans.

I’ve taken these baked beans to many a cookout and picnic. I’ve never brought any home. Usually, I’m not a very brand-conscious cook. With this recipe, however, I would suggest using Bush’s beans. Specifically, I use 2 cans of the Homestyle flavor and one of the Bold and Spicy. Also, most of the time I don’t use any green bell pepper — even though it is yummy if you do. Also, I almost always use Dijon instead of dry mustard but that is also because I usually have Dijon on hand. I also have a preference for cider vinegar.

8 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium onion, diced
1/2 medium green bell pepper, diced
3 large cans (28 oz. each) baked beans
3/4 cup barbecue sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup distilled or cider vinegar
2 t. dry mustard or 2 T. Dijon

Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position. Heat oven to 325. In a large pan, fry bacon until it is medium crispy. Discard all but about 1/4 cup drippings. Remove bacon from pan and drain on paper towels.

Add onion and bell pepper to pan and cook in drippings until tender, about 5 minutes. Add beans, bacon and remaining ingredients; bring to a simmer. (If there isn’t room enough in the pan, just heat the beans to a simmer, transfer to a large bowl and stir in remaining ingredients.)

Pour flavored beans into a greased 9 X 13 ovenproof pan (I use a large wide casserole pan). Bake, uncovered, until beans are bubbly and sauce is the consistency of pancake syrup (the fake kind, you know, in other words, thicker than pure maple syrup), 45 minutes-2 hours, depending on the “juiciness” of the brand of beans you use.

Let stand to thicken slightly. Serve warm.

Serves 18.

This recipe is easily increased or decreased. Use a 28 oz. can of beans (and appropriate ratios of other ingredients) for every six guests.

Happy Labor Day, Y’all!

My plans are yet unformed for this Labor Day — I think that the pool might figure in, and I have some last minute curriculum planning for the BLASTED ACADEMICS that will begin in earnest this week. So, that’s what we’re up to. I’m not even making Labor Day-ish food. However, if in case y’all are not like me and actually will be attending or throwing your own little end of summer shindig, well, I thought that I’d mention this recipe.

This recipe isn’t at all fancy, but it is easy and people love these beans.

I’ve taken these baked beans to many a cookout and picnic. I’ve never brought any home. Usually, I’m not a very brand-conscious cook. With this recipe, however, I would suggest using Bush’s beans. Specifically, I use 2 cans of the Homestyle flavor and one of the Bold and Spicy. Also, most of the time I don’t use any green bell pepper — even though it is yummy if you do. Also, I almost always use Dijon instead of dry mustard but that is also because I usually have Dijon on hand. I also have a preference for cider vinegar.

8 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium onion, diced
1/2 medium green bell pepper, diced
3 large cans (28 oz. each) baked beans
3/4 cup barbecue sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup distilled or cider vinegar
2 t. dry mustard or 2 T. Dijon

Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position. Heat oven to 325. In a large pan, fry bacon until it is medium crispy. Discard all but about 1/4 cup drippings. Remove bacon from pan and drain on paper towels.

Add onion and bell pepper to pan and cook in drippings until tender, about 5 minutes. Add beans, bacon and remaining ingredients; bring to a simmer. (If there isn’t room enough in the pan, just heat the beans to a simmer, transfer to a large bowl and stir in remaining ingredients.)

Pour flavored beans into a greased 9 X 13 ovenproof pan (I use a large wide casserole pan). Bake, uncovered, until beans are bubbly and sauce is the consistency of pancake syrup (the fake kind, you know, in other words, thicker than pure maple syrup), 45 minutes-2 hours, depending on the “juiciness” of the brand of beans you use.

Let stand to thicken slightly. Serve warm.

Serves 18.

This recipe is easily increased or decreased. Use a 28 oz. can of beans (and appropriate ratios of other ingredients) for every six guests.

I Like Dawes,
well, this song of theirs, anyway. It’s the only one I’ve heard. I haven’t even thought about the lyrics, really, I just love singing along on the chorus. It reminds me of a seventies band, somehow.

“When My Time Comes” by Dawes. Happy Thursday, y’all!

I Like Dawes,
well, this song of theirs, anyway. It’s the only one I’ve heard. I haven’t even thought about the lyrics, really, I just love singing along on the chorus. It reminds me of a seventies band, somehow.

“When My Time Comes” by Dawes. Happy Thursday, y’all!

I Like Dawes,
well, this song of theirs, anyway. It’s the only one I’ve heard. I haven’t even thought about the lyrics, really, I just love singing along on the chorus. It reminds me of a seventies band, somehow.

“When My Time Comes” by Dawes. Happy Thursday, y’all!

Whew
Well, I’m sorry to be absent here for awhile. I’ve decided it’s not the first week of school that’ll get you — the second one will do you in. Not really. It is just that all of the open houses and meetings and stuff happen in the second week of school in the evening. So, for the homebody like me, well, that sort of throws a wrench in my happy little routine. Seriously, I had something to do for 4 out of 6 days in the evening. Of course, I don’t know what my problem is, if we’re here next year my boys will be in four schools instead of three. So this was a light year. Sheesh.

Meanwhile, this little buster here shown in one of the only moments of shyness in his LIFE (I knew I had to record it for all posterity),

Side note — Oh, how I love these buster’s eyes. They’re framed so well by the lunchbox handle…

has kept things a little interesting by having a fever one night followed by energetically engineering (before 6 am) the next day a morning of cookie baking by clearing the table, putting dirty dishes in with the clean in the dishwasher and then turning the whole thing on, wiping off the table with a hand towel that contained a gallon of water at minimum and locating and placing the special cookie plate by climbing up to get it. Oh, yes, he was doing this with our house guest ensconced on the sofa that was a few feet away. The guest was no longer sleeping because who could through that, really? Then on Saturday he was nearly responsible for a hazmat team being needed at the pool bathroom. Now that was thrilling.

School is good, though. All the boys seem to be doing from okay all the way to excellent in school — and I think that most of y’all would know without me saying so who is hitting it out of the park and who is moseying along and doing his best when he thinks about it.

One more thing, on the way to school this morning my youngest covered the topics on his mind which included: the Christmas tree skirt and his thoughts concerning it, the all of the attributes of the bird that he had made up called a Crystal Valcon, and his super hero name.

So, I asked him what his super hero name was……

….wait for it……

he’s the Electric Waistband.

The things he comes up with.

Whew
Well, I’m sorry to be absent here for awhile. I’ve decided it’s not the first week of school that’ll get you — the second one will do you in. Not really. It is just that all of the open houses and meetings and stuff happen in the second week of school in the evening. So, for the homebody like me, well, that sort of throws a wrench in my happy little routine. Seriously, I had something to do for 4 out of 6 days in the evening. Of course, I don’t know what my problem is, if we’re here next year my boys will be in four schools instead of three. So this was a light year. Sheesh.

Meanwhile, this little buster here shown in one of the only moments of shyness in his LIFE (I knew I had to record it for all posterity),

Side note — Oh, how I love these buster’s eyes. They’re framed so well by the lunchbox handle…

has kept things a little interesting by having a fever one night followed by energetically engineering (before 6 am) the next day a morning of cookie baking by clearing the table, putting dirty dishes in with the clean in the dishwasher and then turning the whole thing on, wiping off the table with a hand towel that contained a gallon of water at minimum and locating and placing the special cookie plate by climbing up to get it. Oh, yes, he was doing this with our house guest ensconced on the sofa that was a few feet away. The guest was no longer sleeping because who could through that, really? Then on Saturday he was nearly responsible for a hazmat team being needed at the pool bathroom. Now that was thrilling.

School is good, though. All the boys seem to be doing from okay all the way to excellent in school — and I think that most of y’all would know without me saying so who is hitting it out of the park and who is moseying along and doing his best when he thinks about it.

One more thing, on the way to school this morning my youngest covered the topics on his mind which included: the Christmas tree skirt and his thoughts concerning it, the all of the attributes of the bird that he had made up called a Crystal Valcon, and his super hero name.

So, I asked him what his super hero name was……

….wait for it……

he’s the Electric Waistband.

The things he comes up with.

Whew
Well, I’m sorry to be absent here for awhile. I’ve decided it’s not the first week of school that’ll get you — the second one will do you in. Not really. It is just that all of the open houses and meetings and stuff happen in the second week of school in the evening. So, for the homebody like me, well, that sort of throws a wrench in my happy little routine. Seriously, I had something to do for 4 out of 6 days in the evening. Of course, I don’t know what my problem is, if we’re here next year my boys will be in four schools instead of three. So this was a light year. Sheesh.

Meanwhile, this little buster here shown in one of the only moments of shyness in his LIFE (I knew I had to record it for all posterity),

Side note — Oh, how I love these buster’s eyes. They’re framed so well by the lunchbox handle…

has kept things a little interesting by having a fever one night followed by energetically engineering (before 6 am) the next day a morning of cookie baking by clearing the table, putting dirty dishes in with the clean in the dishwasher and then turning the whole thing on, wiping off the table with a hand towel that contained a gallon of water at minimum and locating and placing the special cookie plate by climbing up to get it. Oh, yes, he was doing this with our house guest ensconced on the sofa that was a few feet away. The guest was no longer sleeping because who could through that, really? Then on Saturday he was nearly responsible for a hazmat team being needed at the pool bathroom. Now that was thrilling.

School is good, though. All the boys seem to be doing from okay all the way to excellent in school — and I think that most of y’all would know without me saying so who is hitting it out of the park and who is moseying along and doing his best when he thinks about it.

One more thing, on the way to school this morning my youngest covered the topics on his mind which included: the Christmas tree skirt and his thoughts concerning it, the all of the attributes of the bird that he had made up called a Crystal Valcon, and his super hero name.

So, I asked him what his super hero name was……

….wait for it……

he’s the Electric Waistband.

The things he comes up with.

Nice Songs
make Mondays so much better. This band makes me think of the Beach Boys. It’s a nice little song to start your day.

Have a good day, y’all.

Nice Songs
make Mondays so much better. This band makes me think of the Beach Boys. It’s a nice little song to start your day.

Have a good day, y’all.