Taking a detour down the savory lane of the FABU Highway, I want to share this luscious bean dish with you.  I was intrigued at the idea of using the three different beans and was happy to find all of the ingredients available in my kitchen.  This recipe takes a little time to prepare but it is more than worth it.

While you are preparing the beans, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp.

While the bacon was cooking, I chopped the onion and green pepper.

Remove to paper toweling to drain.

Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat from skillet. My bacon didn’t really leave much fat so I just left it all in the pan.

Add onion and green pepper to skillet; saute 8 to 10 minutes or until tender.

Stir in tomatoes, molasses, tomato paste, bourbon, brown sugar, mustard, salt, and black pepper.

Bring to boiling; cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 5 minutes. Open the cans of beans, drain and rinse them.

Crumble bacon.

Add to sauce along with black beans, red kidney beans, and white kidney beans.

Pour into a shallow 2-quart baking dish.

Bake in heated 350-degree F. oven 45 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

These beans are truly yummy and will make a great addition to your picnic or any meal. The bourbon lends a sweet flavor that I’m sure you will agree is mmmmm FABU!

Bourbon Three Bean Bake

Ingredients:
2 strips bacon
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 large sweet green pepper, chopped
1 can (16-ounces) diced tomatoes
1/2 cup molasses
6 Tablespoons tomato paste
1/3 cup bourbon
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 can (19 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (19 ounces) red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (19 ounces) white kidney beans, drained and rinsed

Preparation:

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper toweling to drain. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat from skillet.

Add onion and green pepper to skillet; saute 8 to 10 minutes or until tender. Stir in tomatoes, molasses, tomato paste, bourbon, brown sugar, mustard, salt, and black pepper. Bring to boiling; cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 5 minutes.

Crumble bacon. Add to sauce along with black beans, red kidney beans, and white kidney beans. Pour into a shallow 2-quart baking dish.

Bake in heated 350-degree F. oven 45 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Lauri Rottmayer is the author of the FABU Highway. When she’s not traveling the Highway, Lauri directs The Mrs. Oklahoma International Pageant, a competition for married Oklahoma women from ages 21-56.

You can visit Lauri’s websites at www.FABUHighway. and www.TheMrsOklahomaPageant.com.

Tags: black beans, bourbon, kidney beans, white kidney beans