Baked beans and Bourbon Orange Smash

We had a BBQ with the neighbors last night.  My contribution was homemade baked beans and a damn fine summer cocktail called the Bourbon Orange Smash.  I found both of the recipes in the most recent Real Simple magazine.  The baked beans are made with molasses instead of brown sugar which, when mixed with bacon, brings a nice smokey flavor.

Baked Beans

4 sliced of bacon, cut into ½ inch pieces

1 onion, chopped

1 lb dried navy beans soaked in water overnight and drained*

1/2 cup molasses

1/4 cup ketchup

1 tablespoon dry mustard

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

Heat oven to 300° F. Cook the bacon in a Dutch oven over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until nearly crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the onion, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft, 4 to 6 minutes more.

Add the beans, molasses, ketchup, mustard, and 5 cups water to the pot and stir to combine; bring to a boil.

Cover the pot and transfer to oven. Bake until the liquid is reduced by half, about 2½ hours. Uncover and bake, stirring once, until the cooking liquid is thickened, 1 to 1¼ hours more. Stir in the vinegar and serve.

 *Note:  I was recently convinced to try using dried beans instead of canned bean and I really do think they taste better (soaked in water overnight first).

Bourbon and Orange Smash

1 orange

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon bitters

3 cups freshly squeezed orange juice*

3 cups club soda

1 1/2 cups bourbon (12 ounces)

In a large pitcher, using a wooden spoon, mash the orange zest with the sugar and bitters. Add the orange juice, club soda, and bourbon and stir to combine. Serve over ice.

* It is definitely worth making your own OJ or spring for the fresh stuff at Whole Foods.