COMFY BAKED BEANS

3 cups dried white pea beans
1/4 pound slab bacon or salt pork, diced
1 (28 oz.) can tomatoes
2 cups chopped onion
3/4 cup ketchup
3/4 cup fancy molasses
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Rinse beans. In large Dutch oven or large pan, cover beans with 3 times their volume of water. Bring to boil. Boil gently for 2 minutes. Remove from heat; cover and let stand for 1 hour.

Drain, discarding liquid. Return soaked beans to pot along with 3 times their volume of fresh water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered for 30 to 45 minutes or until tender. Drain, reserving 2 cups of cooking liquid.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

In bowl, and using potato masher, mash tomatoes in their juices.

In bean pot or 16 cup casserole, combine beans, reserved cooking liquid, bacon, tomatoes, onions, ketchup, molasses, sugar, mustard, salt and pepper.

Bake, covered, in 300 degree F oven for 2 1/2 hours.

Uncover and bake to 1 to 1 1/2 hours longer or until sauce is thickened and coats beans well.

Makes about 10 cups or 6 to 8 servings
Source: Country Cooking by Canadian Living