Mixed-Bean Casserole with Crumb Topping

Reader's Digest Kitchen Secrets Tips, Tricks, Techniques & Recipes was a Christmas Gift from my mom on the Christmas before I got married. It was a definite hint for me to get it together. Now that I am really trying to cook more I have found this is a great resource tool in the kitchen. It is more than just a set of recipes.

This is one of the first meals I made in our new house and it turned out terrible. I forgot to soak the beans so you can only imagine the results. My wonderful new husband put about a bottle of ketchup on it and ate a huge bowl.

So I decided to redeem myself and try again. This time I can give it a positive rating and my husband said it could be a definite repeat.

1 cup dried navy or pea beans, sorted and rinsed
1 cup dried baby lima beans, sorted and rinsed
1/2 cup dried red kidney or pinto beans, sorted and rinsed
6 strips of bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2 inch wide strips
1 large yellow onion, coarsely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar or maple syrup
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 whole bay leaf 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Topping:
2 cups soft white bread crumbs ( I used wheat)
1/4 cup minced parsley
1/4 cup melted butter or margarine
1 clove garlic,minced ( I used the jar)

1. VERY IMPORTANT!! Soak the three beans overnight in 1 1/2 quarts water. Drain, reserving soaking liquid and adding enough cold water to total 1 1/2 quarts.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a 6 quart Dutch oven over moderate heat, cook bacon until crisp--about 5 minutes; transfer to paper toweling to drain

3. To pan drippings, add onion and garlic and saute over moderate heat until soft--about 5 minutes. Add reserved beans and bacon, brown sugar, mustard, bay leaf, thyme, marjoram, salt, pepper, and reserved soaking liquid.

4. Bake, covered for 3 1/2 to 4 hours, stirring 3 or 4 times during cooking. Add boiling water if level of liquid drops below surface of beans. Remove and discard bay leaf.

5. For Crumb Topping: In a medium-size bowl stir together crumbs, parsley butter and garlic. Sprinkle topping over beans and bake, uncovered until brown---about 30 minutes. Makes 6 servings.