Pam's World Famous Baked Beans

This recipe can be made sweet or savoury, and the ingred can be changed to suit whatever you have on hand.  This is often a special request anytime we attend a pot luck barbeque.  Here is my favourite "sweet" version.

3 cans baked beans in tomato sauce (or any variety/combination, such as pork'n'beans, bean with molasses, or beans with maple syrup.  I usually use one can of maple syrup beans and two cans of beans in tomato sauce)
1/2 sweet onion, finely diced
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 small can tomato sauce
1/4 c brown sugar
1/4 c maple syrup or molasses or a combination of both
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
3-4 drops liquid smoke
salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingred in a large casserole dish.  Bake uncovered at 350 for 1 1/2 hours.  Stir every 30 mins.  Cover and let stand for 15 mins before serving.

Makes about 8 servings.  Keeps well in the fridge for several days. Also freezes well. 

If wanting savoury instead of sweet, omit maple syrup/molasses and ginger, and add chili sauce and hot sauce to taste.  Ground beef or sausage meat can also be added for extra body.  Dry onion soup mix can also be substituted for the onion for a change of pace. 

Enjoy and have fun experimenting!

Mrs. Hayes' Chocolate Cake

This is an old family recipe from the turn of the century.  Mrs. Hayes was a neighbour of my great-grandmother back when they lived in New Brunswick.  This recipe calls for lard as the fat source, but you can use butter, margarine or shortening instead.  I use butter but for best results, lard is the way to go.

Cream together:
1/2 c lard
1 c sugar

Lightly beat 2 eggs and add to creamed mixture

Combine:
1 3/4 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
2 heaping tbsp cocoa

Add dry ingred to creamed mixture alternately with a total of 1/2 c milk (ie 1/4 c milk each add), beginning and ending with dry ingred.  Pour 1 c boiling water over mixture and mix well.

Bake in greased 8"x8" pan for 40-45 mins.  Frost as desired (I like peppermint!)