Bacon in my beans – Fairborn Daily Herald

We loved raising our family in Cedarville. It’s an agricultural city and a university city and much more!

A few weeks ago we attended the Farmers' Evening at the University of Cedarville – a delicious dinner to honor the families of farmers and a great entertainment that the university opened to all community. The entertainment was our own Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers. Joe is a friend and neighbor, and his children went to high school with our daughter Anna. Joe is a gifted singer and banjo chooser, as well as group leader and radio host. Joe and Radio Ramblers have performed at the Grand Ole Opry on several occasions, and they have received the 2019 Artists of the Year Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association. We love to see them play our Ice Cream Social.

One day when Joe stopped by our house, I challenged him to find us a good Ohio song. We just needed a real upbeat song about Ohio! Joe found Tom Ewing's song called "O-hio". I love this! He and Radio Ramblers recorded it on their 2019 album "For the Record". It's a great album "that can lighten your load and lift your spirits," as Joe says.

At the Cedarville Farmers' Evening concert, Joe challenged me! He knew I had written a food column and he had another song on his new album: "Bacon in My Beans". It & # 39; s a song that will make you smile:

"First of all, let me say that you deserve some sacrifice" I wouldn't change much to be with you. I must say that you are asking me for something that I could never do. I will bring your mom to church with us on Sunday. I'm going to join the gym and try to stay really skinny. But if I could, I ask for a small favor. I must have bacon in my beans! "

Bacon so it's in my beans this week! For fun, I have tried several recipes. I have a recipe for black bean soup in my 12th cookbook which is made in a slow cooker with canned black beans, onions, garlic, tomatoes, peppers, Polish sausages and of course bacon. It’s great to get ahead and be ready for society. Most of the time in summer, when I'm in a hurry and want a good side dish for a picnic, I just add chopped onions, green peppers, ketchup, brown sugar or canned maple syrup and bacon with pork and beans, and put them in the oven to cook. If I have time, I like to cook dry pinto beans in a heavy cast iron pan with bacon, onions, green peppers and garlic. I adapted my recipe from the pioneer woman's recipe for cowboy beans, although I did not put as much green pepper or brown sugar as she did.

But for this one, I'm with Joe. I'm going to "cut down on burgers, make vegetables routine! I must have bacon in my beans!" Come on, Joe!

cowboy beans

2 pounds of dry pinto beans

1 pound thick bacon, cut into pieces

1 green pepper, chopped

1 onion, chopped

2 to 4 garlic cloves, minced

¾ cup brown sugar or ½ cup maple syrup

¼ cup ketchup

2 tablespoons mustard

1 tablespoon chili powder

2 teaspoons of salt

1-2 teaspoons of black pepper

Rinse the beans in cold water and sort out the rocks or other particles.

Sauté the bacon pieces in a thick saucepan until it is half cooked and the fat is melted. Add the onions and peppers and garlic to the bacon and sauté for about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the beans and about enough water to cover them with 2 inches. Bring to a boil. Add maple syrup (or brown sugar), ketchup, mustard, chili powder, salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to a boil. Cover and cook, 3 to 4 hours, until the beans are tender and the liquid is thick. (Add more water if necessary during cooking.) Check the seasonings and add salt and pepper to taste.

Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine is a Cedarville resident, Yellow Springs native, and guest columnist.