Recipe: Boston Baked Beans

2 C navy beans, small white beans, or Great Northern beans

Water for soaking

1 t salt, approximately

¼ lb. salt pork

2 t dry mustard

5 T dark-brown sugar

4 T molasses

Wash the beans. Soak overnight or use the short method. Add salt, stir, and drain, reserving the liquid. Preheat the oven to 300° F. Cut off a third of the salt pork and place the piece on the bottom of a bean pot. Add the beans to the pot. Blend the mustard, brown sugar, and molasses with the reserved bean liquid and pour over the beans. Cut several gashes in the remaining piece of salt pork and place on top of the beans. Cover and bake for about 6 hours, adding water as needed. Uncover, for the final hour of cooking so the pork will become brown and crisp. Taste and correct seasoning.

Serves 8