Texas Cattle Drive Baked Beans
Violet Peacock & Cheyenne Ranger SASS L #48747
This is a recipe that is great tasting the first day and even better the next. A bowl of beans along some homemade cornbread will satisfy the heartiest appetite.
The portions listed are for a large oval roasting pot. Adjust as necessary.
Ingredients
4 cans commercial baked beans, we like Bush Baked Beans
2 cans diced or crushed tomatoes
1 ½ cups dark brown sugar
2 cups molasses
1 can tomato paste
1-2 pounds of bacon
1 large yellow onion, 10-15 or Vidalia are what we look for
1 package shredded carrots, can use carrot chips or whole carrots chopped
1 large garlic bulb
1-2 jalapeno peppers
1-2 green peppers, optional
3 Tbsp Cumin
3 Tbsp Paprika
Salt
Water as needed
Directions
Put the oval roasting pot over medium heat
Cut the bacon into 1 inch stripes
Cook bacon till brown, drain and save
Save some of the grease, enough to fry the onions plus other vegetables.
Dice the onion green peppers and garlic, if using whole carrots chop these
De-seed, remove the inner membrane and chop the jalapeno peppers. Do not use your fingernails to remove the membrane or the seeds—the juice will find its way into your eyes
Add all to the hot grease. Cook till translucent (for a slightly different taste you can add everything but the onions and bacon when the tomatoes go in without cooking them first)
Again drain off the grease, save the vegetables
Now return the vegetates and bacon to the pot over medium-high heat
Add the baked beans
Add the crushed/diced tomatoes
Add the tomato paste.
Add dark brown sugar
Add molasses
Add half the Cumin and Paprika and check for taste. Add entire amount if you desire
Salt to taste
Add enough water to bring level to within 2 inches of top of roaster
Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer
Stir occasionally and for first 3 hours keep adding water as needed
Final 2-3 hours allow beans to thicken, don’t add water but do keep stirring
Allow to sit until it’s cool enough not to blister you tongue and mouth.
Then grab a slice or two (or ten) of corn bread and a bowl of beans and enjoy.
Might want to stay down wind of the herd for a spell.