Calico Beans
CALICO BEAN CASSEROLE
1 can kidney beans, undrained 1 can pork and beans 1 can butter beans, undrained ½ cup ketchup 2 t. vinegar 1 T dry mustard ¾ cup brown sugar 1 lb ground beef 4 oz bacon, chopped ½ c. onion Salt and pepper Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 1. Skillet fry the beef, bacon, and oniondrain.
2. In a large bowl combine beans, beef mixture, and all other ingredients. 3. Mix and pour into a 9 x 13 dish. 4. Bake for 30-40 minutes.
The current 4-H year is coming to a close, and that means we’ll soon be able to sit back down at the kitchen table. Three kids means three 4-H record books, which also means a whole lot of information to be input into those record books. We’ve come so far in organizing 4-H projects and information, but the record book mess has me realizing that there is a lot more organizing we could be doing. Goals for a new year! Record books are made up of individual project records. For instance, my eldest was in the Foods and Nutrition project. She then completes a project record for that project, which includes goals, learning experiences, exhibits, citizenship, and leadership related to Foods and Nutrition, financial information, a summary of the project, and photos. Her project records include more and more each year as she ages because she is more capable and able to volunteer more. The big thing is keeping track of it all. We did well for many months, then the recording of dates and happenings just did not happen like it should have, thus a bigger mess during record book time. That mess should teach the kids more than anything the importance of record keeping more than record books themselves; keep good and organized notes throughout the year and you won’t end up with a crazed mom at record book time…and no place to eat. Regardless of our feelings about record books, the kids are excited to start a new 4-H year. 4-H gives a purpose to so many learning experiences involving their interests. We’re going to try and get creative this year and see how we can incorporate my son’s prized Cub Cadet lawn tractors into a project area, as well as displays on fresh-milled flour, and get projects going with dairy animals. 4-H isn’t about livestock, it’s about anything you can create, from foods to robotics to art. It’s about anything you can raise, from a bunny to a garden to a steer. It’s also what you want to make of it. Be involved a little or a lot. Enter a couple of projects or as many as you can handle. What I love best about it, though? It’s a family thing. It’s perfecting a recipe together, it’s your son handing you safety glasses in the woodshop so he can show you how he cut out his project, it’s your youngest wanting to make a sourdough starter with you, it’s researching your kid’s passion together, it’s sitting at the fence watching as your oldest climbs onto her steer she trained. Call your local extension office and find a club to join this October, give it a try. The kid’s efforts pay off after fair time when a nice little check for their projects comes in the mail, just a bonus with all the skills they learn. With the ground drying out, I’m over here wishing the laundry fairy would have come during record book time as fall harvest will be approaching fast. Oh well, guess it’s just me, the pile of laundry, and the homeschooler who suddenly wants to do all her schoolwork without a break, so mom doesn’t have the chance to ask her for help. Here’s to coffee (or matcha in my case) grace, and fall! This Calico Bean casserole has always been one of my favorite go-to throw-together meals. This last time I made it I used dry beans (budget friendly!) I soaked ¾ cup of each - kidney, pinto, and great northern beans, and cooked them in water for a couple of hours before resuming the rest of the recipe.
