Aunt Ruth’s Barbecue Baked Beans

This weekend being the 4th of July many of us plan to gather with family and friends to celebrate. Me, I plan to go to a small town even further into the mountains called Hiawassee to my Aunt and Uncle’s place where everyone will gather to enjoy some good food, good music and good company.

The best part of going…I get to see my Aunt Ruth. She is such a lively and fun person to be around. And, it doesn’t hurt that she happens to be the best cook that I know. So, I thought I would share one of her recipes in honor of the upcoming holiday so that if you have plans to attend a cookout and need a fabulous covered dish to take…you would have something to knock peoples socks off!

Aunt Ruth’s Barbecue Baked Beans

1 gallon baked beans

1 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce

1 TBSP mustard

4 TBSP vinegar

1/2 cup chopped onions

dash of garlic powder

1/4 tsp of hot sauce (adjust to taste)

1 small hot pepper

Mix all of the ingredients in a large baking dish and bake at 325 degrees for one hour. Serve hot.

Remember, this is meant to feed a crowd. I am not sure that Ruth knows how to cook in small quantities because even if you just drop by her house on a Tuesday for no reason unannounced, there is a crowd around her table…and that is just how she likes it.