Old Settler’s Baked Beans aka Cowboy Baked Beans

These baked beans are always a crowd pleaser. I almost always double or triple the recipe for a crowd and it’s never a problem. You can also use different meat, depending on what’s local and available. One time I made them for friends in New Orleans and used Tasso ham which gave the beans a real kick! Remember, most recipes are just a guide to success!

Ingredients:

Instructions:

  1. Decide on the vessel you plan to cook your beans in and set aside.  I prefer to use an oven safe heavy Dutch Oven or a large Crockpot.
  2. Brown the ground beef.  Once browned, drain off the fat and transfer the browned meat to the pot you are using to cook the beans in.  Repeat above steps with the bacon.
  3. Sauté the onion until translucent in olive oil (okay, a little bacon grease would be good as well) adding a little salt to make the onions sweat then some freshly ground black pepper.  When almost finished (about 4–5 min) move the onion to one side of the pan and add the garlic and sauté until fragrant (about 1 min) then combine with the onion.  Transfer the onion and garlic to the pot.
  4. Open and drain and rinse Kidney and Butter beans and add to the pot
  5. Open baked beans and pour off much, but not all, of the sauce and to the pot
  6. In a small bowl combine brown & white sugar, catsup, dried mustard, and molasses. Mix thoroughly and add to the pot
  7. Gently mix together all ingredients in the pot, while incorporating parsley
  8. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour, then reduce to 250 degrees for an additional two hours stirring Occasionally

The Dads’ EPIC Party!

Hey guys! Melissa here, again!

So, The Dads finally threw their epic outdoor BBQ party! Sure it was thrown on Memorial Day weekend, but really their party was also a launch of their extensive home additions!

Needless to say, it was amazing! Their phones and emails were flooded the following days with praise of how great of a job they did and how much fun everyone had!

The Dads BBQ Party

First of all they added a new outdoor kitchen… Look at the Weber Summit grill with a Viking cooktop!

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They added lots of new outdoor furniture… I love the green!

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They added columns, fans and a new railing to the back porch…

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And a new outdoor bar… Look at that stock!

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(The tags on the chairs were cut of course, post photo.)

They had a special cocktail menu… My favorite was the Coconut Tree Martini! The Dads toasted the shredded coconut right before the party began, and it made it impossible to not want more! It was actually a cocktail designed by my step-sister, Casey (from my mother’s side). She made it for my 21st birthday and The Dads thought it would be a nice personal touch. They also hired their favorite bartender, Megan from City Cafe in Baltimore and her fiancé Tommy, who were super sweet!

Cocktail Menu The Dads

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The Dads Cocktail Bar

They hired their contractor’s brother for the catering called N&M in Pennsylvania. The Dads hired the caters to cook for 70% of the party and The Dads took care of the remainder 30%. They had expected up to 80 guests, so this was not an easy feat!

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The Dads' Grill

The food needless to say was divinity. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the passed ahi tuna from the caters, but the highlight for me was their crab fondue! I’m making you salivate, right?

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Their friend George was kind enough to bring in a huge amount of seasoned shrimp! I couldn’t stop eating them with my cousin, Stephanie!

George, Melissa & Jerry

The indoor table landscape was designed by their dear friend Leslie…

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Of course, Dave’s sister Carol was a huge help!

Did I mention they had 300 pounds of ice?!!!

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Well there’s a taste of what a party at The Dads is like!

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Want tips on how to throw your next upcoming shindig? Leave your questions in our comments! Or email harrisanddave@gmail.com!

Smokey and Sweet Baby Back Ribs!

Opening Day is next Monday, and spring is in the air. Well, it’s supposed to be anyway, but here in Baltimore we just got some snow! But we’re still trying to get in the spring spirit, and nothing says warmer weather like BBQ! We slow cook our ribs for four hours to ensure that the ribs get super tender. We also use a dry rub which encrusts the ribs in a beautiful crust, or bark. So, never be intimidated by ribs again! Don’t believe us? Give it a try!

Friday Grilling: Dave’s BBQ Sauce!

It’s Friday and we’re so excited for this weekend! We are busy working on our deck and can’t wait to start some outdoor cooking.

So in the spirit of our excitement, we’re making barbecue! Try Dave’s special sauce! In Leah’s opinion, it is smack-your-mama good!

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Ingredients

· 2 Tablespoons Butter
· ½ cup chopped Sweet Onion
· 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
· 1 cup ketchup
· ½ cup apple cider vinegar
· 1/3 cup of chili sauce
· ¾ cup brown sugar
· ½ cup honey
· 1/3 cup Worcestershire
· ½ tablespoon smoked paprika
· ½ tablespoon cayenne pepper
· 2 tablespoon chili powder

Directions

Sauté the chopped onion in the butter. Once translucent, add the tomato paste.

Once the onions are browned, add the ketchup.

Brown the onions and ketchup.

Then, add the remaining ingredients. Cook until the sugar is dissolved.

Once cooked through, process in a blender. You can skip this step if you don’t mind chunky BBQ sauce.