Growing up my Mom would always make this. It was pure comfort, filling and fed a huge family. It was inexpensive and was one of those meals you could stretch out for a few days when times were really, really tough. This year as the 25th anniversary of my Mom’s passing approached it hit me pretty hard. I was really, really missing her pretty bad. Even though it has been 25 years I can still hear her voice or her laugh when I close my eyes. Even though she’s no longer “here” I still feel her with me and know that her and my Dad are watching over me as I journey through life.
This dish, as I was making it, brought up so many child hood memories of her and I in the kitchen. I can still remember her making sugar cookies and sitting me on the large kitchen table (I must have been maybe 2 or 3) with my own clump of dough, a red-handled rolling pin and 9,000 cookie cutters. She would roll and cut out cookies and I would just make a huge mess giggling the entire time. The best part was when she would give me all the pretty colored sugars to put on the cookies – some went on the cookies, some in my mouth/chin/cheek/floor/hair. LOL
Another memory is I was about 8 and I was fighting with my older siblings pretty bad. I got so angry that I, still in my night gown, packed a grocery bag of clothes, grabbed my pillow and Princess (my stuffed bear) and decided that I was going to run away. Now where I grew up, our house was in the middle of 41 acres and we had about a 1000′ red-dog rock driveway. So as I was running away, barefoot in my nightgown, my mother came running up after me. However she wasn’t trying to stop me. See she hurried up, grabbed a bag, threw some of her stuff in (including her bingo stuff) and said she was going to run away with me. When she said this I stood there, barefoot on the rocks all doe-eyed batting my baby blues telling her she wasn’t allowed to. That she had to stay home and take care of the kids and Dad. That they would starve without her; they’d have no clean underwear. LOL She said “But if I don’t have my baby princess there with me and my kitchen helper then I don’t want to stay”. Begrudgingly, I said I would stay but only for her. LOL
As I was eating this dish I sat there in silence with a tear in my eye and smile on my face as this, somehow, brought my Mom into my kitchen. So Mom, thank you! I love you forever and always!
Mom’s Comfort Beans & Weenies Tater Bake – this is pure comfort for me!
Mom’s Comfort Beans & Weenies Tater Bake
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Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon bacon fat
- 1/2 cup sweet yellow onions, chopped fine
- 1 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon mustard powder
- 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 (14 oz) cans beans: drained and rinsed (any type bean is fine) (or 1 large can drained kidney/white beans and 1 can baked beans)
- 2 large Perfectly Baked Potatoes, cooled and sliced into 1/2” slices
- 6 good-quality hot dogs: sliced 1/2 inch thick
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450F.
- Melt the bacon fat in a cast iron skillet set over medium heat.
- Add the onion and garlic and cook for 3 minutes, until just soft.
- Add in the tomato paste and cook, stirring for 1-2 minutes or until you can smell it cooking.
- Add the brown sugar, mustard powder, Worcestershire sauce and salt.
- Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the kidney beans and simmer over low heat for 20-30 minutes, until beans are soft.
- Add in the baked beans and potatoes, stir gently to combine.
- Cook for a minute just to warm up.
- Stir the hot dog pieces into the bean mixture and transfer skillet to the oven.
- Bake for 25 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
I serve this with a side of Honey Sweet Corn Bread. It’s my absolute favorite!
Served with a side of Honey Sweet Corn Bread – DELISH!!!
I never thought of cooking hot dogs in there, I am going to do it tonight. But, I am also going to try brats. Thanks for the recipe and please visit us
★★★★★
What beans brand and flavor did you use?
Thanks
Katherine
Hi Katherine!
I love Bush’s Homestyle with brown sugar and bacon.
Best Kitchen Wishes!
I made this recipe but I subbed acorn squash for the potatoes and used kidney beans it was great
★★★★★
Isn’t 55 minutes of cooking/baking canned beans overkill? I would think it would turn into mush.
Nope, I’ve been making my Mom’s recipe for decades and it’s never turned mushy.
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Aww…your story made me sad at first because I can relate. For me…it’s my Daddy though. In the end, I was smiling about your sweet memories. Just as you should. 🙂 Keep your chin up. No matter what life throws at us, they’re always with us. Probably smiling down at us. Oan…awesome recipe, & thanks for sharing.
I miss my mom too. .
The good Lord bless and keep you always.
*hugs*. You as well dear!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Have you converted this to the Instant Pot? It looks wonderful and reminds me of when I was growing up too. We always had the B&M Boston Brown bread steamed with butter 🙂
Half a century ago, my mother would make for us kids beans & franks for dinner, sans the potato slices, along with canned B&M Brown Bread, sliced, buttered, and broiled on one side. It was one of our favorite and fun dinners we looked forward to. I haven’t had it in over 50 years but I think that’s about to change!
OMG, B&M Brown bread! The first time my mother served it, she left it in one piece, embossed can ridges and all. Being a little 10 year old wisenheimer, I first asked what it was, and then followed up with, “But was it brown when it went in the can?” Thought my 20-something brother was going to choke. I think we both got slapped!
On the recipe page for “Moms Comfort Beens & Weenies Tater Bake” they also list “Honey Sweet Corn Bread” is delicious to go with I but I’m not finding recipe on the site.
Would you please have this recipe emailed to me as I plan to cook both this week. Thanks
Morning Blueyes,
Sorry but not everything listed/posted on the website will have an accompanying recipe. See #1 here: http://www.thekitchenwhisperer.net/about-me/
It’s my discretion as which recipe to share. Either it’s part of the TKW Signatures commercial line or it is a coveted family recipe.
My apologies but I cannot share that recipe.
Best Kitchen Wishes!
★★★★★