BOSTON BAKED BEANS

Steps:

• Prepare beans: Rinse well and discard any stones or shriveled beans.
• Soak beans in water in a 5 quart Dutch oven, using the overnight or quick soak method.
• Overnight Method: Cover each cup of dried beans with 3 cups of water; let stand for a minimum of 12 hours.
• Quick Soak Method: Add beans to boiling water, allowing 3 cups of water for each cup of beans, bring back to the boil and boil for 2 minutes; remove from heat, cover and leave for an hour, then cook in same water.
• Bring mixture to a boil, add salt, reduce heat, cover and simmer for an hour.
• Stir in molasses and next 3 ingredients.
• Stud the onion with the cloves; tuck onion & ham bone (or salt pork) into the beans.
• Cover and bake in a 250F oven for about 7 hours; check & stir about once an hour.
• Add more water to keep beans moist but not too wet OR remove lid to thicken mixture through evaporation; it all depends on your preference for thick or runny!
• Discard cloves, chop onion and return to mixture.
• Remove meat from ham bone (or cut salt pork into pieces, discarding fat) and return to mixture.