Let’s get ready for the 4th of July.  These beans are semi-homemade which means the come out of a can I work my magic and wha’la  an hour later delicious baked beans.

BAKED BEANS

1/4 pound boiled and fried salt pork cut into cubes, 1/2 cup diced white onion, 1/4 cup diced celery, 1/8 cup diced green bell pepper, 1 (54 oz.) can baked beans, 3 tablespoons ketchup, 3 tablespoons prepared commercial Mesquite BBQ sauce, 1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke, 1/4 cup molasses, 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, 2 teaspoons yellow mustard, 1/4 pound 80/20 ground beef.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Liberally season the fried salt pork with dried rosemary, black pepper, chili powder and brown sugar, set aside. In a heavy skillet brown off the ground beef. Add the onions, celery and bell pepper, saute for approximately 2-minutes. Drain off the fat. Add the salt pork, beans, ketchup, BBQ sauce, smoke, molasses, sugar, and mustard, mix well, cook for about 3-minutes. Pour everything into a large greased baking dish.  Bake covered for at least 1-hour.  Remove top and bake another 15-minutes. Remove from the oven allow to rest for 5-6 minutes, serve hot.