News Man's Gas Generator-Baked Beans

2 lbs. small white beans

1 lb. bacon, preferably thick cut, chopped in approx 1 inch pieces.

1 med. Onion minced

2 jalapeno peppers minced

¼ cup tomato paste

¼ cup molasses

¼ cup dark brown sugar

¼ tsp. cayenne pepper

1 tsp. black pepper

2 tsp. kosher salt (= 1 tsp. table salt)

Vegetable broth

Optional

3 cloves garlic minced.

1 tsp. liquid smoke

Method

The night before

1. Soak beans over night in enough water to cover the beans by at least 2 inches (about ½ gallon)

2. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Place dutch oven over medium heat and let it heat up until handles are hot to the touch. Put bacon into the dutch oven and fry until very crisp. Take bacon out and reserve leaving rendered fat in the pan.

3. Turn heat down and add the onion and jalapenos and sweat until onion is translucent. If desired add garlic and continue to cook until garlic is fragrant.

4. Turn heat off. Add tomato paste, molasses, brown sugar, cayenne, black pepper, salt, and optionally liquid smoke. Stir to combine.

5. Add beans and bacon into the Dutch oven and stir to combine. Use leftover soaking water and broth to cover beans by an inch.

6. Place dutch oven into preheated oven for 6-8 hours, or until beans are soft and liquid has become thick and viscous.