Ida's Sweet and Sour Beans 8 strips of bacon crisped and crumbled 4 large onions sliced or chopped 1 cup brown sugar packed 1/2 cup wine vinegar 1 tsp dry mustard 1 tsp garlic powder 1 10oz can butter beans (white lima beans) drained 1 can kidney beans drained 1 16oz can B&M baked beans Saute onion covered until transparent Mix brown sugar, mustard, garlic, vinegar Add to onions and cook for about 20 minutes slowly Mix beans, bacon, and onion mix. Bake 350 degrees for 1 hour Alternate (better): Onions overnight in crockpot Cook bacon, add to crockpot along with everything else Add a can of cannelini beans (white kidney beans). For the red ones I used 'light red' Cook for several hours -------- Variant Attempt 2/19/2017 1/2-3/4 lb of bacon 4-5 onions 1-1/4 cup brown sugar 1 small can of tomato paste 3/4 cup red wine vinegar 1-1/2 tsp dry mustard 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp garlic powder 1 can each of: light red kidney, red beans, cannelini beans, butter beans Onion at low in crock pot overnight with about 1/4 cup water Chop, cook the bacon, drain Add the beans and bacon to crock pot in morning Mix the dry ingredients, brown sugar, vinegar, tomato paste Pour over the bean mixture and toss/stir Cook at high in crock pot until it starts to bubble, then drop to low Cook all day. Review: Too sweet, but flavor otherwise delicious. Try with significantly reduced brown sugar next time we make it. -------- Variant Attempt 4/2/2017 3/4 lb of bacon 4 onions 3/4 cup brown sugar 1 small can of tomato paste 1/2 cup red wine vinegar 1 tsp dry mustard 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp garlic powder 1 can each of: light red kidney, cannelini beans, baby butter beans Onion at low in crock pot overnight Chop, cook the bacon, drain Add the beans and bacon to crock pot in morning Mix the dry ingredients, brown sugar, vinegar, tomato paste Pour over the bean mixture and toss/stir Cook at high in crock pot until it starts to bubble, then drop to low Cook all day. -------- Variant 4/9/2017 3/4 lb of bacon 4 onions 3/4 cup brown sugar 1 small can of tomato paste 3/4 cup red wine vinegar 1.5 tsp dry mustard 1.5 tsp onion powder 1.5 tsp garlic powder 1/4 to 3/4 cup water 1 can each of: light red kidney, light red kidney, cannelini beans, baby butter beans Mix the dry ingredients, brown sugar, vinegar, tomato paste, add to crock pot Add Beans to crock pot, toss to mix well Sautee onions, add to crock pot Chop, cook the bacon, drain, add to crock pot Stir thoroughly and throughout cooking Cook at high in crock pot for several hours ------- Variant 8/5/2017 1 lb of bacon 5 med onions 1 cup brown sugar 2 small cans of tomato sauce 3/4 cup red wine vinegar 1.5 tsp dry mustard 2 tsp onion powder 2 tsp garlic powder 1 can each of: light red kidney, light red kidney, cannelini beans, lima beans, white kidney beans Add Beans to crock pot Chop, cook the bacon, drain, add to crock pot Sautee onions, add to crock pot Mix the dry ingredients, brown sugar, vinegar, add to crock pot Add tomato sauce Stir thoroughly and throughout cooking Cook at high in crock pot for several hours