Title: Texas Baked Beans From Philadelphia Inquirer
Categories: Southern Bean Pork
Yield: 1 Servings

1	lb	Dried navy beans
6	oz	Slab bacon, diced
1	lg	Onion, chopped
1		Green bell pepper, cut in
1/4		-inch dice
1		Red bell pepper, cut in
1/4		-inch dice
1	cn	(28 ounces) plum tomatoes,
		Chopped, with their juices
1/2	lb	Honey-baked ham, in 1/4-inch
		Dice
1		Smoked pork chop, in
1/4		-inch dice
1	c	Ketchup
3/4	c	Packed dark brown sugar
1/4	c	Honey
1/4	c	Dark molasses
1	tb	Worcestershire sauce
1	ts	Dry mustard
2		Granny Smith apples, peeled,
		Cored and cut in 1-inch
		Cubes

If you're going to tote baked beans to your picnic, they might as well be the best you've ever tasted. Texas-style beans, chock-full of smoked pork and mellowed with apples, are just the ticket.

In her new U.S.A. Cookbook, Sheila Lukens says that she first tasted the beans at a barbecue joint in Houston, and had four quarts shipped to her home in New York ``to make the moment last a little longer.''

Salt to taste Wash beans and soak overnight in enough cold water to cover by 2 inches. Drain, rinse and drain again. Place in large, heavy pot; add water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer until beans are tender but not mushy, about 45 minutes. While cooking, skim off any foam that rises to the top. Drain beans and set aside.

Place bacon in a heavy, ovenproof pot. Cook over low heat until fat is just rendered (do not brown), 5 to 6 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside. Saute onion in bacon fat until wilted. Add bell peppers and stir-fry for five minutes. Add beans, reserved bacon and tomatoes (reserve the juice).

Add remaining ingredients except reserved tomato juice, apples and salt.

Fold together gently. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for two hours. Add apples and cup of reserved tomato juice. Bake, uncovered, until thick and fragrant, about two hours. Season with salt. Makes six to eight servings.

Nutritional data per serving: Calories, 401; protein, 17 grams; carbohydrates, 63 grams; fat, 10 grams; cholesterol, 25 milligrams; sodium, 1,127 milligrams.

Judy Howle posted the recipe below a couple of weeks back. We made it this weekend. Aside from using 3 porkchops and leaving them whole we did it straight. Very nice dish but next time it'll getta handful of cayennes. The apples make a nice touch.

John Benz Fentner, Jr. Unionville, Connecticut, USA http://www.geocities.com/~jbenz/ "Lex Non Favet Delicatorum Votis" From: "John Benz Fentner, Jr." Date: 08 Aug 97 Chile-Heads List Ä

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