July is National Baked Bean Month

I'm very familiar with baked beans, being from Boston and all, and I think they're one of the great foods. They're tasty, healthy, and filling. They're light enough for a quick summer meal yet at the same time hearty enough for a cold winter night (especially if you eat it with some nice crusty bread).

July is National Baked Bean Month, and after the jump, a couple of recipes, including one from me that's very quick and easy but one I think you'll like.

Crockpot Baked Beans (from southernfood.about.com)

1 pound navy beans, about 2 1/2 cups
5 cups water
5 or 6 pieces of bacon, diced, or about
1/4 pound salt pork, sliced
1 Cup tomato juice
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup sorghum molasses or regular molasses
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. chili powder

Soak beans overnight in a large bowl. Drain; put in a large stockpot. Cover with 5 cups fresh water and simmer over medium-low heat on stovetop until tender, about 1 hour. Drain beans, reserving 2 cups of the liquid.

Add beans to the slow cooker. In a skillet over medium heat, fry bacon or salt pork until browned; stir into the beans in crockpot. Combine tomato juice, the chopped onion, ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, dry mustard, salt, black pepper and chili powder; add to beans and stir well. Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 9 hours or HIGH for 4 to 5 hours, until beans are tender and flavorful. Check and add a little of the reserved liquid as necessary.

Bob's Baked Beans

1 large can of baked beans (I like Friend's or B&M, but any will do)
1 1/2 small cans (or two, if you like) of diced tomatoes (any will do, though I like the ones with Italian seasonings)
shredded cheddar cheese
black pepper

Cook the beans in a pan according to instructions. In a separate pan, cook the tomatoes.

Put the beans on a plate, then carefully put the tomatoes on top of the beans. Don't mix them up, just lay them on top, with as little of the tomato juice as possible. Top with black pepper and cheddar cheese. Serve with Ritz or other crackers or bread. Serve hot!

Here are some other baked beans recipes.