MAPLE-BACON BAKED BEANS FOR A CROWD

For a casual gathering, nothing beats baked beans as a side dish.  These are a little spicy, a little sweet, a little tangy and just downright good.  If you don’t like the  bacon strips on top, just leave them out.  I’m even giving you the quantities for a smaller batch that will serve 5-7 people, so there’s no excuse not to make these.  And remember, you can freeze leftovers. 
QUESTION:  Do you have a favorite recipe for baked beans?

Baked Beans for a Crowd Source:  Judy’s Kitchen Rating:  10 out of 10 PRINTABLE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS:  3 (28-oz.) cans Bush’s Vegetarian beans (total of 84 oz.) 5 oz. chopped bacon, cooked till crisp and drained (reserve 2 Tbsp. bacon fat) 1 medium sweet onion, chopped 2 large garlic cloves, minced or grated 1/2 cup green pepper, diced 3 Tbsp. ketchup 1 Tbsp. spicy brown mustard 1 Tbsp. California hot sauce (or other hot sauce of choice) 1/2 cup pure maple syrup, Grade A Amber optional:  8-9 slices of bacon, cooked till barely crisp (about 5-6 oz.) Heat oven to 400F.  Open cans and remove 2 Tbsp. sauce from each (total of 6 Tbsp. sauce); discard.  Pour beans into a 10” x 14” x 2-1/2” Pyrex baking pan (or another pan of similar size).  In medium skillet, using medium heat, sauté onion, garlic and green pepper in reserved bacon fat (or in butter or oil, if preferred) for about 6-7 minutes, or till vegetables are wilted and beginning to brown.  Off heat.  Stir in ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, maple syrup and chopped cooked bacon.  Stir into beans.  Cover with foil; bake 1/2 hour.  Remove foil; stir beans.  Reduce heat to 350F.  Bake 20 minutes.  Stir beans again.  Optional:  top with cooked bacon strips.  Bake about 10 more minutes.  Let beans rest for 15 minutes before serving.  (These are good hot, warm or room temperature.)  Yield:  15-21 servings   1/3 Recipe, or Beans for 5-7 INGREDIENTS:  1 (28 oz.) can Bush’s Vegetarian Baked Beans 1.66 oz. chopped cooked bacon, drained (about 2 strips) 1/3 of a medium sweet onion, chopped 1 medium garlic clove, minced 3 Tbsp. diced green pepper 1 Tbsp. ketchup 1 tsp. California hot sauce 1 tsp. spicy brown mustard 3 Tbsp. pure maple syrup Optional:  3 bacon strips, cooked till barely crisp (reserve 2 tsp. fat) Follow directions above.  Bake in a 1-1/2 quart baking pan.