Okay, here’s my post about Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans, written in a personal, blog-style format:
So, I’ve been on this mission lately to recreate some of my favorite childhood dishes. And you know what’s been on my mind? Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans. Man, those beans were the real deal. I remember them being at every church potluck and family barbecue, and they were always the first thing to go.
I did a little digging around because I couldn’t remember what was in them. I noticed that the company shut down a few years ago. Like, what’s that about? It got me bummed out for a minute, but then I thought I could try to make them myself. I’m not sure if these ingredients are completely correct, but here’s what I put together for my recipe:
- Cooked Pea Beans
- Water
- Sugar
- Molasses
- Salt
- Modified Corn Starch
- Pork Fat
- Seasoning Blend (I used dried onion, dextrose, dried garlic, spices, and some natural flavors I had on hand)
- Mustard
First, I got a big pot and tossed in the beans and water. I brought that to a boil and then let it simmer for a good while, just to get those beans nice and soft. While that was going on, I mixed the sugar, molasses, salt, cornstarch, and that seasoning blend in a separate bowl. Oh, and the mustard, can’t forget that!
Once the beans were ready, I drained most of the water, leaving just a bit in the pot. Then I poured in my sweet and savory mixture, along with some diced-up pork fat. I gave it all a good stir, making sure everything was mixed up real well.
Next, I covered the pot and let it cook low and slow for a few hours. You really want all those flavors to meld together and get into the beans. The smell, guys, the smell was amazing. It filled my whole house and took me right back to those summer barbecues.
After a few hours, I took off the lid, gave it one last stir, and let it thicken up a bit. I know some folks like to freeze their baked beans, and I did that with some of the leftovers and they turned out great when I reheated them! Finally, it was time to dig in. And let me tell you, these beans were pretty darn close to the real deal. They were tender, sweet, savory, and just all-around delicious.
It was a successful experiment for sure. I think I’m going to try making my grandma’s old recipes more often. If you have any ideas for dishes you loved as a kid, let me know!
