Happy Fourth of July!

We’re invited to a block party this evening in a neighborhood in the town next to ours.  It will be a potluck, and I hear that a large bouncy house will be there for the kids as well.  Lyd is psyched.    This particular neighborhood is perched up way high on a hill, and our friends that live there have an A.MA.ZING view of the San Francisco Bay.  So, we’ll be able to see the fireworks displays going on in TWO cities from way up high — and if the weather’s clear, we’ll also be able to see the San Francisco fireworks, and perhaps even the Oakland and San Jose fireworks, too.  I’m very excited.

Edited to add: We had fantastic views of the fireworks!  At one time, I counted 12 different fireworks shows that we could see at one time from our aerial perch!  12!!!  Very, very cool.

I was asked to bring baked beans to the party tonight, and as this is one of my favorite, tried-and-true recipes, I thought I would share it with ya’all.  Enjoy!

Best in the West Beans

(from the 10th anniversary Morning Star Evangelical Lutheran Church, Jackson, WI cookbook)

• 1/2 lb. ground beef
• 1/2 lb. bacon
• 1/2 C. onion, chopped
• 1/3 C. brown sugar, packed
• 1/3 C. sugar
• 1/4 C. ketchup
• 1/4 C. barbeque sauce
• 2 Tbsp. prepared mustard
• 2 Tbsp. molasses
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. chil powder
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 1 (16 oz.) can chili beans (I use kidney beans)
• 1 (16 oz.) can pork & beans (I use Bush’s baked beans)
• 1 (16 oz.) can butter beans (if you can’t find butter beans, just use some other white beans)

Brown meats and drain.  Add onion and cook until tender.  (This is what I do: Fry bacon.  Crumble and set aside.  Brown ground beef and onion; cook until tender, then drain.)  Add combined sugars, ketchup, barbeque sauce, mustard, molasses and seasonings to meats.  Mix well.  Add beans.  Place in 3 qt. casserole.  Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees until bubbly.  May also use slow cooker or crock pot.  (That’s what I usually do.)  Makes 10-12 servings.