Recipe: Un-Baked Baked Beans for the Company Picnic

It is the day of the company picnic which is hours away from the house.  There is less than an hour to have the kids dressed and piled into the car when the boss calls and "asks" (as if there is a choice) that you bring baked beans.  You certainly do not want to show up with a simple can of beans and there is not enough time to make it from scratch. Now what?

This is exactly what happened to my poor mother the day of her first company picnic.  A whiz at making due with what she had in the pantry she whipped together this incredible dish and was the star of the picnic! Everyone asked for the recipe, and she did not know what to tell them!  

We returned home and had to work on and replicate the recipe for nearly a week as the boss had also "asked" for the recipe to be included in the company newsletter.  This recipe is the refined version of what she made that day for the company picnic.

Now you too can be the star of your next potluck!

This recipe was entered in the Taste of Home Recipe Competition for Healthy Cooking.  Please head on over and rate the recipe.

Un-baked Baked Beans

Ingredients:
12 oz Canadian Bacon
1 Onion
2 Cooking Apples (Pink Ladies or Granny Smith)
1 Can Pineapple Chunks
1 Cup Dark Molasses
1/2 Cup Apple Juice
1 Tablespoon Curry Powder
3 Cans White Beans, drained
Salt and Pepper to Taste

Directions:
Cut the Canadian Bacon and Onion into cubes.
In a large pot over medium-low heat, saute the bacon and onions until the bacon is browned and the onions are soft. About 10 minutes.
Peel and core the apples.  Then cube and add to the pot to saute. Cook until slightly softened, about 10 minutes.
Drain the pineapple chunks and add to the pot along with the Molasses, Apple Juice, Curry Powder and drained Beans.
Season with Salt and Pepper to taste and allow to simmer and heat through for another 10 minutes.
Pour into a dutch oven or deep casserole dish to serve.

Tips:
If you have fresh beans by all means use those!  The canned beans are really just a time saver.
For longer parties keep warm in a crock pot.
Will keep for 3 days covered in the refrigerator.