Oh, way back in my youth I dated this nice gal named Jenny. She was from Annapolis Maryland and her parents still live there on the Chesapeake Bay. It was an old farmhouse circa 1840-1850, pre-civil war but totally renovated.
Every spring her family all got together at her parents’ house for a Memorial Day family reunion. They also had a Labor Day get together in the fall but that’s another story. Jenny informs me that We are invited to this shindig and that we have to bring a dish for the potluck meal. Enter Bill’s famous backed beans.
There was going to be about 75-85 family and friend attending so I had to make a triple batch of my Famous BB. I started a few days ahead preparing the beans, they took a long time to cook, and I won’t boor you with the recipe, because it really didn’t matter. All finished and stored in the biggest pot Uncle Commy had at the Saloon. The day of I reheated the beautiful Baked Beans and then we were off to the reunion.
A great time was had by all and it gave me a chance to meet most of her family. Her wizened old grandmother really stood out to me. She and I spent a long 35 minutes together as she pumped me for information about myself. Now I know what a hot seat feels like.
As the party was winding down we went to pack up the car and pick up mt empty pot. But, the pot was still 1/3 full. I mean really 1/3 full. I stood in disbelief and told Jenny that I never take any of my universally Famous Baked Beans home from a party. Off handedly she said that I may have nade too many, but I assured her I had not.
So, heartbroken and stunned I strapped the 1/3 full pot into the back seat with the seatbelt, and when I came out I see Jenny’s little wizened old grandmother slowly walking over to me. As she reaches us she kind of leans in (I thought she was going to hug me) and hands me a small piece of paper and says, if you use this recipe the next time you come, if there is a next time, you won’t have to take any beans home with you. Then she kissed me on the cheek so no one knew what she had done and slowly walked away. And that is how I got the recipe for the Famous Bill’s Baked Beans. I I still use it today.