Boston Baked Beans

Ingredients

• 4 ounces salt pork, trimmed of rind and cut into 1/2 pieces 2 ounces bacon, cut into 1/4 pieces (about 2 slices)
• 1 medium onion, chopped fine
• 1/2 cup mild molasses, plus
• 1 tablespoon mild molasses
• 1 1/2 tablespoons brown mustard
• 1 lb small dried white bean, rinsed and picked over (but NOT SOAKED or boiled at all... just dry beans)
• 9 cups water
• salt
• 1 teaspoon cider vinegar
• ground black pepper

Directions

1. 1

   Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position; heat oven to 300 degrees.

2. 2

   Add salt pork and bacon to 8-quart Dutch oven; cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and most fat is rendered, about 7 minutes.

3. 3

   Add onion and continue to cook stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, about 8 minutes.

4. 4

   Add 1/2 cup molasses, mustard, beans, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, and 9 cups water; increase heat to medium-high and bring to boil; cover pot and set in oven.

5. 5

   Bake until beans are tender, about 4 hours, stirring once after 2 hours.

6. 6

   Remove lid and continue to bake until liquid has thickened to syrupy consistency, 1 to 1 1/2 hours longer.

7. 7

   Remove beans from oven; stir in remaining tablespoon of molasses, vinegar, and additional salt and pepper to taste.