Recipe: Beans

A while back, I told you about my Aunt Kathy's "Beans" recipe.  She brought them every year to the family reunion, and they were SO YUMMY.  One summer (when I was in high school or college) I asked Aunt Kathy for her recipe.  She was happy to oblige.  The recipe that follows is in her words.

Beans
2 regular cans CHEAP BEANS (Campbell's, Bush's or your favorite generic brand!)
2-3 good shakes of ketchup
2 good shakes of mustard
small handful of brown sugar
a good 1/4 bottle of lite molasses
1/2 small onion, diced
good handful of bacon bits

Cover with sliced bacon.  Bake for a while.

I'm sure I was married for several years before I really "got it."  I'm pretty sure my Aunt Kathy never made the beans the same way twice.  She wasn't too worried about quantities.  She threw in a little of this and a little of that until it was all yummy -- after it had baked "a while."  =)

Truth be told, I use dehydrated onions and Bacos.  In more recent years, I have left out the brown sugar and molasses (even the "lite" stuff), trying to trim down the calories for us.  Also - no bacon on top.  But, I still think of Aunt Kathy every time I make beans.  Oh - and I have never baked them either.  I always use the crock-pot if I'm taking them somewhere, or just make them on the stove-top if we're eating them at home.

I guess maybe I take after Aunt Kathy a little.  I've learned to do things my way.