Integrated Beans

Ingredients:

2 large sweet yellow onions (I prefer Vidalia), diced into large squares: approx. 1/4 - 1/2"

5 lbs. ground beef, can be replaced with turkey or venison

2 lbs. bacon (I prefer Oscar Mayer's)

Then, there's the Beans ... There's no prescribed ratio, or dictated types, but I typically use:

1 super-sized can of dark red kidney beans

1 super-sized can of black beans

1 super-sized can of baked beans (I like Bushes "Homestyle Baked Beans")

1 can (white) butter beans

1 can of Great White or Northern Beans (also called Cannelloni)

1 can light red kidney beans

1 can pinto beans

1 can pink beans

And finally, the Sauce ...

1 cup granulated sugar

2 cups light brown sugar

2 cups BBQ sauce (Jack Daniel's hickory version, KC Masterpiece Original both work well)

1 1/2 cups ketchup

3/4 cups mustard

1/4 cup Franks hot sauce

1/4 cup dark molasses

3 or 4 shakes of Worcestershire sauce

Add to taste, the following spices:

chili powder (I use several types: ancho, chipotle, cayenne, and "regular" chili powders)

garlic powder

salt & pepper

Instructions:

Open bean cans; drain, and using a colander, rinse all the beans. Pour the rinsed beans into a large, deep baking pan; stir until mixed - or integrated! :) - thoroughly.

Cut or slice the bacon into 1" pieces (I use kitchen scissors); cook the bacon and then drain, reserving a little in the bottom of the frying pan to use for frying the onions . Add to beans.

Fry up the onions until clear (minimum) or lightly browned in the bacon grease; add to the beans. Then cook up the ground beef; drain and add to beans.

In a large bowl, mix up the sauce. Pour over the beans, bacon, onions, and beef. Mix thoroughly. Bake for an hour in a pre-heated 375^o oven - or until bubbling. Enjoy hot or cold, as a side or a meal!