Baked Beans

This Baked Beans recipe is so meaty, it's almost a main course instead of a side dish! My family loves it, and my husband's family always likes it when I bring this dish to family gatherings. 3 large cans Van Camp's Baked Beans (Original style) 1/2 lb. bacon, cut into small pieces 1 lb. hamburger, browned 1 large sweet onion, chopped 1/2 cup brown sugar Salt and pepper to taste Cook bacon pieces until crisp; drain on paper towels. In remaining bacon grease, add onion and cook until golden (almost carmelized). Remove from pan and drain. Add hamburger to pan, and cook until browned; remove from pan and drain. In large Dutch Oven, add all ingredients; stir to blend. Bring to simmer, then removed from heat, cover, and place in oven. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.* *These also do well in a Crockpot. If using this method, cook on low 4-6 hours.

Red Beans and Rice

This dish is so meaty, it's almost like a meal instead of a side dish!

1 lb. ground sausage
2 medium onions
1 Tbs garlic salt
3 cans red beans
2 small cans tomatoes
1/3 cup red wine *
1 lb. rope sausage, cut into chunks

Cook ground sausage with onion; add garlic salt. Drain off grease. Add remaining ingredients, simmer. Serve over hot rice.

Note: This is best if made the night before to give the flavors time to blend.

* If you don't have any red wine, or if you just basically don't like cooking with wine, chicken broth can be substituted; that works just fine.

**UPDATE** I added 1/2 lb. of bacon, cut into squares and cooked. It was a wonderful addition!