Brown Sugar and Bacon Baked Beans

Scroll down for a complete Fourth of July Menu and shopping list...I had a hilarious friend growing up. (Actually, I've had several. I must be the laughing listener for hilarious people.) Not the hee-hee-giggle kind of funny. The HOO-HA-deep belly laugh-please stop kind of funny. Everything she did made me and everyone around her laugh. Tricia Shaw had athsma and had to breathe into a machine every morning, noon and night, and she could even make me chortle when she was plugged into her Darth Vader machine. When we were in kindergarten, Tricia fell out of the back of a camper on the highway because she wanted to catch hold of a dead bug on the bumper. A random driver picked her up and brought her back to her family, and she was fine other than a comical bandage wrapped around her head. She never paid attention in Sunday school because all she could think about was how much she wanted a monkey for a pet or how much she loved Ben Robinson, the cutest boy in class. The girl was hilarious.

Like many childhood friends, we've lost contact, but I did run into her a few years ago when we were both attending church in our home town. I spotted her during a hymn and immediately began laughing-hard laughing...couldn't finish singing. I was relieved to know that she is still hilarious. If personal tragedy ever strikes, I'm going to seek her out for humor therapy.

Tricia's contribution to my life is not limited to comedy. Her lasting legacy is actually this favorite baked bean recipe. It's so fantastically good that you just might not ever make another recipe for baked beans again. Ever. This is the one. It makes a big batch, but I promise it'll be the first thing gone at any of your summer parties.

And Tricia, if you're out there, send me some more recipes. And make me laugh.

Brown Sugar and Bacon Baked Beans from Tricia Shaw

Estimated Cost: $5.50 for 10-12 servings

Notes: A half batch can be baked in a loaf pan.

1/2 to 1 lb bacon, chopped

1 large onion, minced

3 (15 ounce cans) pinto beans, drained

1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 cup barbecue sauce

2 tablespoons mustard (I've used yellow or dijon with good results)

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon vinegar

1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350. In a large skillet, fry bacon until almost crisp. Pour off most of the fat. Add onion in with the bacon and continue to fry for five minutes. Add in all ingredients and mix well. Pour into 2 quart casserole or 9 by 13. Bake, covered with lid or foil for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 30 minutes longer.

Coming Tomorrow:

Tomato Cucumber Slaw with Lemon Dressing

Plus a Breakfast Bonus:

Cran Blue-Berry Scones for Fourth of July Breakfast