27 Comments
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Jolene Handy's avatar

I became distracted by the Lobster 🦞 Ice Cream 🍦 😳

Amie McGraham's avatar

I’ll take your rainbow any day, Jolene!

Domenica Marchetti's avatar

"Two replies poured in" is one of my favorite lines ever. Some years ago I bought the LL Bean Book of New New England Cookery (yes, two 'news') at a bookstore/coffee bar in Portsmouth, NH (now closed, alas). I have eyed the baked beans recipes in the book, including one from James Beard in which the beans are baked in a pot in a hole in the ground, as sort of bean clam bake, I guess. The other version is done in a pot on the back of a wood stove (can also be done in a crock pot or in the oven, according to the recipe). One of these days I will give it a go.

Amie McGraham's avatar

I’ve made every sort of baked beans (and pseudo-baked beans) out there, save the bean hole beans but there is nothing like a community bean hole bean Saturday supper! I’d love to see that cookbook, BTW

Domenica Marchetti's avatar

It’s really good. Published in 1987 by Random House. Authors are Judith and Evan Jones. No photos but there are illustrations by an artist named Lauren Jarrett. Filled with enticing recipes. I recommend seeking it out.

Amie McGraham's avatar

I sought. I bought. Because I need ONE more cookbook…

Jenny Hammerton's avatar

If it's good enough for Sharon Gless, it's good enough for me! https://www.silverscreensuppers.com/sharon-gless/sharon-gless-blondes-baked-beans - Sharon adds onions, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and bacon xx

Amie McGraham's avatar

Another bean bonus! Thanks, Jenny!

sarah e webb's avatar

I would say your mother's triptych is more like a summer trifecta ~ vinegar certainly puts the tart in tarte and is something I've never tried!

Amie McGraham's avatar

I mean, some pie crusts call for vinegar (which, for me, just no) so I guess it’s not that far a stretch for a tart crust?

sarah e webb's avatar

and thus i have been exposed - because while i am a baker, i am not a pie crust maker, so vinegar in anything 🥧 related is news to me 🤦‍♀️

Sharon Cortelyou's avatar

Could never get enough blueberries!

Julie B. Hughes's avatar

Loved reading this, Amie. It took me down memory lane when my grandma would make baked beans. They were my favorite. I haven't had them in years.

I just made Lemon Blueberry muffins! (It was a mix, but so good, and I used blueberries from Maine. I love that they have them in our freezer section at Wegmans)

Oh MY! Lobster ice cream. YIKES! LOL

Amie McGraham's avatar

Your muffins looked DELICIOUS!!

Julie B. Hughes's avatar

They were so good! I cheated a bit...from a mix, but they were absolutely delicious.

Ellen Kornmehl MD's avatar

I guess I would not try the lobster ice cream... I'm a mocha chip devotee. Maybe I'd try wild mean blueberry when traveling through… That tart sounds delicious!

Amie McGraham's avatar

100% agree. Lobster ice cream is just plain wrong!

Ruth Stroud's avatar

I just made my first pot of baked beans from scratch, so this piece from your mom was perfectly timed! Maine blueberries are a fond memory from our visit there—as was seeing you, Amie. I’m planning to make more baked beans soon—and maybe a blueberry tart too.🫐

Amie McGraham's avatar

I have a bean recipe that feeds 100. Let me know if you need it lol

Elizabeth Pizzinato's avatar

In an effort to eat more beans I am very tempted by the “can of this, can of that” method. But even more by the blueberry pie!

Donna Kawczynski's avatar

I mixed Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans (an upstate NY brand) with Bush’s Original Baked Beans. Always top with bacon! Grandma Brown’s went out of business😢

Amie McGraham's avatar

Wish I’d had a chance to try grandma’s…

Deborah Way's avatar

😂 This delighted me

Leu2500's avatar

my family doctored baked beans just like Suzy. Minus the onion.

Amie McGraham's avatar

I’m definitely a beans with onions gal, Paula!

Mary B's avatar

LOVE your mom's triptych as well as her sense of humor and dry wit, as always, Amie. A stand-out sentence for me, "whoever thinks I can’t squeeze a newspaper column out of two crummy replies to a query that clearly failed to pique the interest of a majority of Cook & Tell readers". I had to chuckle.

I mentally made comparative notes to Suzy's baked bean ingredients, your mom's suggestions, and the way my mom made them, to the way Jim makes them. I think a side-by-side taste test is in order!

P.S. I have a note on my desk "RECIPE(S) FOR AMIE". I haven't forgotten, just slow on the uptake! Hope your summer is going swimmingly well.