Pam and Lil's Baked Beans

I have two friends, Pam Whalin and Lil McCarthy, who I met through the Elks.  Recently, they shared their recipes for their baked beans.  Pam's are a bit spicy, smokey, sweet, and salty.  Lil's are more like sweet baked beans. The recipes produce a large batch of beans.  Great for a group dinner or picnic.  I am not sure if reducing the amounts of the various incredients will result in the same tasting beans.  So, I would make the full batch for a large group and save the remaining leftover (possibly freeze) for future use.  One more important thing, the recipe calls for specific manufactures for some of the ingredients, I would NOT substitute.  Use the ones she recommends.

Yes, you can safely freeze baked beans.  But, you need to use the right process when freezing them.  Only freeze baked beans that have been fully cooked.  Make sure the cooked beans are cold before putting them into a freezer container.  Freeze the baked beans the same day they are cooked.  Leave room in the freezer container for expansion. When it is time to reuse the beans, allow them to thaw completely in the refrigerator overnight. Preheat them in a pan in the oven.  Enjoy

Pam's Baked Beans

Ingredients

• 3 - 15 ounce cans of "Ranch Style Beans" (Pinto Beans)
• 2 - 15 ounce cans of "Pork and Beans" (Campbell's)
• 1 Tablespoon of yellow mustard
• 7 pieces of bacon, cooked and cut into bite sized pieces
• 1 Teaspoon To 1 Tablespoon of Red Pepper flakes - add your amount for heat leave to taste
• 1 Teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper - to taste
• ½ Cup of "Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce" (use your favorite)
• ½ Cup of water stirred into the above combined ingredients
• Black Pepper - to taste 

• ½ Cup "Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup" or your favorite maple syrup poured over top of beans. (see procedure)

Procedure

• Combine all of the ingredients and put into a large oven pan
• Pour Maple S yrup over the top of the beans
• Bake uncovered for 1-½ hours in a 350 degree oven
• Turn down oven to 225 degrees for another 1 hour or until tender.
• Let rest for about 10 minutes
• Serve

Lil's Baked Beans

Ingredients

• 4 Standard Cans of Pork and Beans
• ¾ Cup Ketchup 
• ¾ Cup Dark Corn Syrup
• ¾ Cup Dark Brown Sugar
• ½ Cup White Onion, minced
• Black Pepper to Taste, 1-2 teaspoons
• 2 TB Yellow Mustard
• Black Pepper - to taste 
• Strips of Uncooked Bacon over the top, generally about 6 slices

Procedure

• Combine all ingredients in a large oven proof casserole dish, except Bacon
• Lay uncooked Bacon stripes over the top of the beans
• Cook at 350 degrees for about 1-½ hour
• Let rest for about 10 minutes, serve