Recipe: Kahlua Baked Beans

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KAHLUA BAKED BEANS

1 pound dried navy beans, picked over and rinsed
1/2 pound bacon slices, cut in pieces with scissors
2 cups finely chopped onion
1 (12 oz) bottle chili sauce
1/2 cup tomato-based barbecue sauce, preferably smoked*
1/2 cup Kahlua
1/2 cup strong brewed coffee
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
2 tablespoons thick, spicy steak sauce (such as Heinz 57)
1 tablespoon Tabasco sauce
1 teaspoon salt

Soak the beans in lots of water to cover overnight.

THE NEXT DAY:
Drain beans. In a large pot, cover beans generously with fresh cold water. Set the pot over medium heat and bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring once or twice, for 1 hour or more, until the beans are very soft but still holding their shape. (The beans should not be salted at the initial cooking stage, as salt will toughen the beans.) Drain, reserving 1 1/2 cups of the bean cooking liquid.

Cook the bacon in a large skillet until crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan and pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the fat.

Add the onions to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.

Combine the beans with 1 1/2 cups cooking liquid, bacon, onions, chili sauce, barbecue sauce, Kahlua, coffee, mustard, molasses, steak sauce, Tabasco and salt. Transfer to a heavy 5 quart nonreactive casserole or Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 30 minutes. Remove the lid, stir the beans and continue baking, uncovered, 30 minutes. Stir and continue baking 40 minutes, until beans are very thick. Stir occasionally.

The baked beans can be served or cooled, covered and refrigerated; reheat the next day on a medium-low burner.

*I STRENUOUSLY recommend Lea & Perrins Barbeque Sauce be used in this recipe. (And for anything else that needs barbeque sauce...it's the best!)

Makes 10 servings
From: Nancy
Source: Seattle Times