Mederith Ann Walker... late wife of my Uncle Bobby. She died this last August, 2005. I first met her in the 1970's. They had come to Florida and were living in Deerfield Beach, an hour north of us. They were staying in a motel. Aunt Mederith and Uncle Bobby prepared a barbeque feast with only a tiny grill and efficiency kitchen. The ocean was wide and blue behind us. Uncle Bobby and my father were in rare form with their incredibly cheesy humor. And I remember nothing else of this day except how warm and generous Aunt Mederith was to me and to my mother and these marvelous baked beans.  She introduced me to the concept of "doctoring" foods. This is where you utilize convenience foods and with your improvements you produce home-style food. This is not to say that she never started from scratch, but in the South, that idea matters little. It all starts from scratch if it's fussed over.

Uncle Bobby has had many careers... sheriff, preacher, and musician. When I told Aunt Mederith that Melinda was in love with a musician, she sighed, "Oh Dear." After a pause, she asked, "Is he a Christian?" And then she asked, "Does he love her?" When I answered affirmatively to both of those questions, she said, "Well then it will be fine... I suppose." But what I want to say about my Aunt Mederith was that she loved me and she loved my Uncle Bobby. Powerfully. She loved people powerfully. ---- beth

Important to remember:
The key to "doctoring" food  is it is all approximate... don't get hung up on precise measurements with this recipe. Relax, like Aunt Mederith told me, "you can't go wrong, Baby."

• bacon (you can get by with a few strips but i like to go over the top and use up to 3/4 lb.)
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped, pressed, minced ... whatever you fancy
• 2 (28 oz) cans baked beans
• 1 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
• few squirts catsup
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup maple syrup or molasses
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
   

Chop the bacon into small pieces. Fry until crisp in a  cast iron skill. Add onions and garlic and fry until soft. Stir in the cans of baked beans. Bring to a soft bubbling boil as you add the remaining ingredients. Taste as you go, and after 5 minutes of simmering. (Lower temp. to simmer.)  This is best a few hours later as the flavors mingle and are enhanced.

Uncle Bobby owns his own business.