Pork and Beans

FF has an uncanny habit of buying grocery items on sale. Sausages, sweets, yogurts, beer or chips. It there's a red label attached to it, he'll be hanging to it like a toilet paper on a wet bottom. He could be every girl's  " Mr. Right " if he shows the same fierce determination at ferreting out shoes or handbags.  Unfortunately, his reaction to cut- priced fashion items is as enthusiastic as a person surveying a dead toenail. A girl could only dream, right?  

It was Saturday and we were at our favorite supermarket. He was yet again totally wrapped up in his search for  things he don't need and I don't like. The sudden manic glint of his eyes was all so familiar as he dashes forward to grab something that might slip off his almost quivering palms. Then, he triumphantly raised his hand holding a huge jar of baked beans with a 1 euro stamp on it. Normally, I just roll my eyes at his childish  delight for finding cheap grubs but I just grinned back.  I haven't  seen baked beans at  our groceries before, but then again, American food items  are rarely seen at our German grocery shelves. Looking at it brings back some distant childhood memories. My family often eats canned pork and beans for a quick fix . Served on hot rice, we don't even have to warm it, plus it's relatively cheap and filling. My only complain as a kid was, not having enough meat chunks on it. Eating it was a tedious game of hide and seek. Finding the the tiny speck of meat was the challenge and the winner takes it all. When our luck runs out, we simply rename the canned food, "Bean and Beans" in commemoration of the non existent pork. If the piece of meat ends up on my plate however, I always save that for last, eating and savoring it with the last spoonful of rice. Aaaahh happy , silly childhood memories. I gave FF an affectionate pat on the back before putting his precious loot in the cart.

Cooking the beans was a brisk  plus it tasted mighty fine too. The best euro we've ever spent if you ask me. Way to go Hubby!

Ingredients: 

Baked beans (1 kg)

1/2 cup of BBQ Sauce 

1 cup of tomato ketchup

1 onion

3 cloves of garlic

1 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup of Apple cider vinegar

3 tbs. of brown sugar

1 bay leaf

Salt and pepper to taste.


Cooking Instructions

 Put BBQ Sauce, tomato ketchup, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce.

Add in cider vinegar..

 Whisk ....whisk....whisk away until everything's well combined.

Heat a bit of oil in a pan. Sauté diced onion and chopped garlic until aromatic.

Add in cubed pork. Toss and let it brown.

Add the BBQ - Ketchup mixture. Bring the mixture to a boil, lower the heat. Season with salt and pepper, add in bay leaf.

Cover pot, pan or whatever you're using and let the meat and sauce simmer gently for about half an hour or until pork is just-tender. Add 1/2 Cup of warm water if Sauce thickens too much or dries out.

Add in the beans ( On sale or not ). Stir well. Cook for another 15-20 minutes.

Done!

Now this one porky beans!