Doctored Up: Baked Beans

Born in 1913, my Grandma's formidable years took place during the Great Depression, and you could tell. She was always one to cut coupons and take sugar packets from restaurants (don't all Grandma's do this?), taking home leftovers in a doggy bag, even if there was only one bite left. Her frugality showed in the kitchen as well, she was able to "doctor up" something that cost two dollars and make it taste like a million dollars. My mother does this too; I'm beginning to think it's something ingrained in mother's minds, the ability to stretch a buck. I'm attempting to learn it as well.

My favorite meal as a kid, the one I requested often for my Birthday was hot dogs and beans. Though it's not the healthiest option (I did find gluten-free, casein free, uncured turkey hot dogs from Applegate Farms that are only 45 calories each recently!), I still enjoy it. Whether it was my Mom or my Grandma making it, it was the best. This isn't really a recipe, but the way in which the matriarchs in the family make a can of two dollar beans into a tasty treat.

Grandma's Doctored Up Baked Beans (gluten-free, dairy-free)

1 28 oz can of baked beans, I used Bush's Original Recipe
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons dijon mustard (yellow works too)
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 tablespoon molasses
2 strips of bacon, cut in half (I use this kind)

Preheat oven to 375. Place the beans, onion, mustard, ketchup and mollasses in a dutch oven or casserole dish and carefully mix until combined. Taste if you'd like and adjust ingredients. Add the strips of bacon on top and cook for 25-30 minutes until the bacon is cooked through.

Poor Henry can smell bacon from a mile away.