Firehole Beans Recipes

BAKED BEANS TRADITIONAL BEAN-HOLE BEANS

Steps:

• Soak 2 pounds of yellow-eye beans overnight.
• Parboil beans until the skin peels away by blowing on a few beans in a spoon.
• Add the mix to the beans and stir slightly.
• Slice 1 pound salt pork into sections.
• Cut each section partly through in a criss-cross pattern and place pieces on top of the beans.
• Cover the beans and set to one side.
• The bean hole should be dug into the ground and be half again as large as your dutch oven or any other tightly lidded pot.
• Using seasoned hard wood, accumulate live coals until hole is 3/4 full.
• Shovel out the coals leaving about 3 inches of live coals in the bottom of the hole.
• Set the bean pot in the hole on top of the 3 inch bed of coals.
• Shovel the rest of the coals around and on top of the pot.
• Cover with dirt and check for escaping steam and making sure none is leaking out.
• If steam is leaking out, cover area with more dirt.
• Leave in the ground for 8 hours or overnight.
• Note: Make sure the beans are completely covered with hot water before putting in ground.
• The beans need to go into the ground hot.

BEAN-HOLE BAKED BEANS

Steps:

• Soak beans overnight in water to cover or quick-soak: Put beans in a large pot, add water to cover by 2 inches and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Simmer for 2 minutes, then remove from heat and allow to stand for 1 hour. Drain and rinse.
• If you don't already have a bean hole, dig a hole about half again as large as whatever pot you plan to cook the beans in. (The key is that there be 6 inches between the top of the hole and the top of the pot.) Build a fire in the hole using about 10 pieces of cord wood. When the fire is burning well, add 10 softball-size rocks, then continue to burn until the wood is reduced to embers. You should have a bed of embers 2 to 3 inches deep.
• Meanwhile, drain and rinse the beans and put them into a 6-quart Dutch oven or other large, heavy pot along with all remaining ingredients except the salt pork. Stir well to combine. Lay the salt pork slices on top of the beans, then add water to cover by about an inch. Bring just to a simmer over medium-high heat.
• Carefully remove the rocks from the bean hole. Put the pot into the hole on top of the embers, cover it with a triple layer of heavy-duty foil, then put the rocks back into the hole around and on top of the pot. Fill in the hole with dirt, covering the pot. Come back 8 hours later, remove the pot from the hole and serve the beans.

FIREHOLE BEANS

Steps:

• Using a galvanized pail, soak the beans overnight. Pour off the top water and with it any floaters, twigs, etc. Swirl the beans for a time. This will allow any rocks to go to the bottom just like nuggets in a miner's pan. Lift the beans using the fingers of the two hands as a strainer. Transfer to a heavy iron pot, or Dutch oven, equipped with a well-fitting lid. Add salt and cold water. Bring slowly to a boil and keep boiling for 3 hours, adding water if the level drops beyond what appears to be a safe point. Slice the salt pork into 1-inch-wide strips and cut crosswise, forming squares of fat attached to rind. Add the pork, molasses, mustard, and tomatoes. Cover and bake at 350° about 2 hours, checking water level periodically.

CAMPFIRE BEANS

Steps:

• Rinse the beans under cold water, sorting out any rocks or particles. Place the beans in a stockpot with the ham hock and cover with water by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer. Cover the pot and simmer for 2 hours, checking occasionally to make sure the water level is fine. Add more water as needed.
• Throw in the garlic, red bell peppers and onions. Cover and continue cooking for another hour or two, remembering to check the water level.
• Add the chili powder, black pepper, and salt (or more to taste). Then cover and cook until the beans are lovely and tender, another 20 to 30 minutes. The liquid should be very thick and stew-like, not thin like a soup.
• Serve with cornbread as a meal, or spoon on top of nachos, tacos, etc.

CAMPFIRE BEANS

Steps:

• Heat a cast-iron pot over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook for 5 minutes. Add the onion and saute until beginning to soften and become translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Add the beans and 5 cups water to the pot, stirring to combine. Bring the beans to a boil, reduce the heat and cover. Cook over medium-low heat until the beans are tender, about 2 hours. Adjust the seasoning, if necessary.

IDAHO BUCKAROO BEANS

Steps:

• Drain beans and add fresh water to 2 inches above beans. Add meat, onion, garlic, and bay leaf. Heat to boiling and cover tightly. Cook over low heat for 1 1/2 hours or until beans are almost tender. Add all remaining ingredients, except salt, and more water if necessary. Simmer, uncovered, for 2 hours, stirring once or twice. Taste and add salt, if necessary. There should be enough liquid left on the beans to resemble a medium-thick gravy. If desired, the beans may be baked, covered, at 325° after the first step is completed. Note: Long, slow cooking helps to give a rich, full flavor. May be made ahead and refrigerated, then reheated, even on a barbecue grill.

FIREHOLE RIBS

Steps:

• For the Firehole BBQ Sauce: Bring ketchup, molasses, vinegar, Worcestershire, sugar, liquid smoke, salt and 1/4 cup water to a simmer in a saucepan, then turn off the heat and let cool.
• For the rib glaze: Add the sugar, honey and sweet chili sauce to the full batch of Firehole BBQ sauce and bring to a rolling boil. Turn off the heat.
• For the Firehole brisket rub: Stir together the pepper, salt, seasoning salt and granulated garlic.
• For the ribs: Preheat a smoker for cooking at about 300 degrees F.
• Trim any loose or excess fat from ribs.
• Season ribs with pork seasoning and 1/4 cup brisket rub.
• Place in smoker meaty-side up and let smoke for 2 hours. Pull ribs off smoker and place on a piece of foil. Brush all over with rib glaze and wrap in foil. Place back in the smoker for 1 more hour, then let rest 15 to 30 minutes.