3-Bean Baked Beans

I found this recipe on the Taste of Home website, (tasteofhome.com) which is my favorite place to search for new recipes to try.  I altered it slightly, omitting the ground beef it called for and it tasted awesome!  I guess if you wanted it to be more of a main dish instead of a side dish, you could add the beef (1/2 lb.) but I liked it without.  I served these beans with pork ribs, corn on the cob, and some fresh sliced veggies from our garden, and it was the perfect summertime meal!  

3-BEAN BAKED BEANS

5 bacon strips, diced (I used pre-cooked)

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 16 oz. cans pork and beans, undrained

1 16 oz. can butter beans, rinsed and drained

1 16 oz. can kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup organic ketchup

1/4 cup barbecue sauce

2 tbsp. molasses

2 tbsp. mustard

1/2 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. salt

In a large pan, saute the bacon and onion in a small amount of olive oil for about 1 minute.  Add beans. Combine remaining ingredients and stir into bean mixture.  Bring to a boil then reduce heat and let simmer on stovetop for about 30 minutes, OR bake uncovered in a greased baking dish at 350 for 1 hour.  

3/4 cup = 230 calories

Health Benefits of Cherries

I love cherries.  Unfortunately, my husband is allergic to them, so I never used to buy them because I was afraid my boys would be allergic as well, and I didn't want to find out the hard way!  But now, all of my boys have tried cherries (not when I was around) and it turns out none of them inherited the allergy!  So now, we eat them quite often, and poor David just has to go without!

Here are the health benefits of these wonderfully sweet, locally available fruits:

*  ANTIOXIDANTS -- Cherries are packed with antioxidants called anthocyanins, which are the pigments that give them their red color.   These help rid the body of free radicals which can cause cancer and heart disease.


*MELATONIN -- Another antioxidant that helps regulate heart rhythms and sleep cycles in the body.


*FIBER -- The fiber in cherries can help regulate the digestive system.


ANTI-INFLAMMATORY -- Cherries are good for people with gout and arthritis because of their ability to rid the body of excess fluids.


*VITAMINS AND MINERALS -- They are a rich source of beta carotene, vitamins C and E, potassium, magnesium, iron and folate.


*LOWER CHOLESTEROL -- Cherries can help lower cholesterol levels as well as aid in weight loss, especially belly fat.


*AFTER WORKOUTS -- Eat cherries or drink tart cherry juice after your workout to help reduce post exercise muscle and joint pain.


Now is a great time of year to find cherries at your local fruit stand.  Eat them plain and fresh as a snack, add them to a smoothie, or put them in a summer fruit salad.