Barbecued Baked Beans

• lb navy beans or 1 lb great northern bean, rinsed↗1 lb
• medium onion, finely chopped↗1
• tomato sauce↗1⁄2 cup
• apple cider↗1⁄2 cup
• molasses↗1⁄4 cup
• Bourbon↗2 tablespoons
• brown sugar↗2 tablespoons
• dry mustard1 tablespoon
• Worcestershire sauce↗1 tablespoon
• salt↗1⁄2 teaspoon

  or to taste

• fresh ground pepper↗1⁄4 teaspoon

  or to taste

• smoked ham↗8 ounces

  finely diced

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Soak beans overnight in plenty of cold water; or boil 2 minutes, cover, and let stand 1 hour.

2. 2

   Drain beans and transfer to large saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover beans generously. Stir in onion. Boil uncovered 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer uncovered until beans are tender, 1 to 1-1/2 hours.

3. 3

   Combine all remaining ingredients except in ham in mixing bowl and set aside.

4. 4

   Heat oven to 350 degrees.

5. 5

   Drain beans, reserving 1 cup liquid. Transfer bean to medium casserole, pour sauce over beans, and stir to coat. Stir in ham and reserved liquid and spread mixture evenly in casserole.

6. 6

   Bake covered about 35 minutes, then remove cover and continue to bake until liquid is almost completely absorbed, about 1-1/2 hurs.