Baked Beans

1 quart pea beans
1/2 lb. piece salt pork
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup molasses
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
boiling water

Wash and pick over the beans and soak them overnight in cold water. In the morning drain them and cover with fresh water. Simmer until the skins break. Put the beans in a bean pot. Score the pork and press on top of the beans where it will brown. Filling the pot three-quarters full, add the sugar, molasses, salt, soda and mustard. Cover with boiling water. Cover the pot and bake without stirring for 8 hours in a slow oven, 250 degrees. Keep beans almost covered with water. Remove the pot's cover for the last half hour of baking.


-- Louise C. Siddons Greenn, "Aunt Lulu" 1885-1968


When Aunt Lulu married Uncle Al Bischoff, they were in their 70's. The newlyweds would make a pot of beans at the beginning of each week and be able to eat it throughout the week.