Friedel's Old-Fashioned Baked Beans

• white pea beans↗1 lb
• cold water4 cups
• small onion, sliced↗1
• salt↗1⁄2 tablespoon
• cider vinegar↗2 teaspoons
• prepared mustard1⁄2 teaspoon
• brown sugar↗1 tablespoon
• molasses↗1⁄4 cup
• tomato ketchup↗1⁄2 cup
• bacon, sliced (optional)↗1⁄4 lb
• pepper↗

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Soak beans overnight in cold water.

2. 2

   Drain.

3. 3

   Rinse beans, then place in a saucepan along with the cold water.

4. 4

   Heat water to boiling and simmer beans for 30 minutes, then drain.

5. 5

   Place onion slices in the bottom of a 6 cup casserole.

6. 6

   Mix seasonings and turn into the pot.

7. 7

   Add beans and water to cover.

8. 8

   Arrange bacon on top, before covering and baking in an oven for 7 hours at 250 F.

9. 9

   In the middle of the cooking, when the beans have become soft enough, remove 1 cup of beans, mash and then stir back into the pot.

10. 10

    Cover and continue to bake, adding water as needed to keep the beans just covered.

11. 11

    One hour before serving, remove cover to darken the beans.