This is the PERFECT DISH ....

... for the Father-Son Camping Trip!

Yes, my hubby is taking the boys - even almost 3yo, not-potty-trained-yet, Graham - on a Father-Son Camping Trip sponsored by our homeschool group. I always try to send a few items that can be shared by all. This baked bean recipe (either cold or heated) has been appreciated and so have the Special K Bars and homemade Trail Mix, which I send EVERY year.

This recipe is also great for Homeschool potlucks ( or any potluck for that matter) and it happens to be my favorite recipe for baked beans. I wasn't really a fan of baked beans until I tried this recipe. I think it has to do with simmering the first set of ingredients for 20 minutes and then baking for an hour. The flavors meld together to create something more than 'just beans'.

The Sweet-Sour Baked Beans would have been great at the Camping Trip .... if they hadn't been left in the frig at home ...

SWEET-SOUR BAKED BEANS
Yield: 12 servings
Original Recipe From: Grandma Green Acres

INGREDIENTS
8 slices bacon, fried crisp and sliced about ¼ “ thick
4 med. Onions, diced fine
¾ cup brown sugar
1 tsp. dry mustard
½ tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. salt
½ cup cider vinegar
1 – 15oz. can butter beans, drained
1 – 15oz. can light red kidney beans, drained
1 – 15oz. can navy OR Great Northern beans, drained
1 – 28oz. can baked beans, undrained

DIRECTIONS
Place onions in skillet; add sugar, mustard, garlic powder, salt and vinegar. Cook, covered, for 20 minutes.

Simmering the onion & spices is what makes this dish extra tasty!

Bacon - nice & crispy!

Add crumbled bacon and the remaining ingredients. Pour into 3-quart casserole and bake in moderate oven (350 degrees) for 1 hour. Transfer to a crock pot if taking for a pot-luck.

FREEZING INSTRUCTIONS: Cool completely. Transfer to freezer safe container and freeze. OR, transfer to a freezer zip-loc bag and freeze flat.

RE-HEATING: Thaw completely in the refrigerator. Reheat in the oven at 350 degrees or stove-top until heated through.