Recipe from the Great Depression
2 to 3 cups of Pea Beans
1 pint of Tomatoes
8 slices of Bacon
1 Onion
3 Cloves
Pepper and Salt to taste
Pick over and wash the beans and soak overnight. In the morning drain, cover with cold water and parboil until skins will break when you blow on them.
Drain carefully and rinse with hot water. Put the beans in a casserole. In the meantime, put the tomatoes on in a saucepan with the onion cut fine and the cloves.
Cook until onions are tender. Strain and season with pepper and salt and pour over beans. If there isn’t quite enough juice, a little boiling water may be added from time to time.
Bake in a moderate oven (350 degrees), covered, for 3 or 4 hours. At the end of 3 hours cover the top with bacon and bake uncovered until bacon is crisp.
Note: Slice bacon into small chunks to insure all guests get meat.