Maine Baked Beans and Blueberry Gingerbread
Baked beans are a New England staple. They are one of those dishes that every family has their own unique recipe for! Try out this recipe below, and enjoy a slow-cooked, rich and hearty meal that really grounds you in what it means to be a New Englander!
For dessert, try out this recipe for blueberry gingerbread. What better way to celebrate winter in Maine than to utilize Maine blueberries to create a classic winter sweet!
Maine Baked Beans – Warren Jameson, MASP
Ingredients
- 2 pounds yellow-eyed beans
- 1/2 pound salt pork
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 to 2/3 cup molasses
- 2 teaspoons dry mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 1/2 tablespoons salt
- 1 medium onion (optional)
Directions
Soak the beans overnight in cold water. In the morning, parboil the beans until the skins crack. If an onion is used, cut in quarters and put in bottom of bean pot. Add the parboiled beans. Cut through the rind of the salt pork to a depth of 1/2 inch and place the porn on the top of the beans.
Mix the sugar, molasses, mustard, pepper, and salt with 1 pint of boiling water. Pour this over the beans and pork. If necessary, add more boiling water to cover. Bake at 300 degrees Fahrenheit (150 Celsius) for 6 hours or more, adding more boiling as the beans cook.
Blueberry Gingerbread – Cooking Down East
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 tablespoons molasses
- 1 cup sour milk or buttermilk
- 1 cup Maine blueberries
- 3 tablespoons sugar
Directions
Cream shortening. Add salt. Add sugar gradually. Add unbeaten egg and beat mixture until light and creamy.
Sift and measure flour. Sift with ginger and cinnamon.
Measure baking soda into buttermilk or sour milk. Stir baking soda to dissolve.
Add sifted dry ingredients and sour milk alternately to creamed mixture. Add 3 tablespoons molasses.
Add blueberries. Use a greased and floured 9×9-inch pan. Turn batter into pan. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons sugar over top of batter. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 Celsius) for 50 to 60 minutes.
Chopped raisins may be substituted for the blueberries.