TIP:: Make the soup one day in advance, up to but not including the step when you add the cream; cool, cover, and refrigerate. When ready to serve, reheat the soup and add the cream.

The ingredients for this chili are completely exchangeable. It changes every time I make it and I don’t measure anything. You just keep adding to it until it’s the portion you want it to be. It’s a food you can cook while having a conversation.

9 June 2013 — I used some date sugar instead of all brown sugar — see if you can cut the sugar and maybe the amount of BBQ sauce a little: The barbecue sauce is (see attached photo for my choice) really adding the most flavor to these beans. So use one that you know you love. If you want a smokier tasting bean, then try using a hickory barbecue sauce.

Cooks note: If your bacon produced a large amount of grease then you may need to set aside some of it for later use. You really don’t want more than about a 1/4 cup of bacon grease for this recipe. Anything more and it will be greasy baked beans.

9 March 2013
Be careful with siracha and cinnamon – don’t be heavy handed.
This freezes very well – but freeze without the dairy products. Cut off the stem end of the squash so that it is easier to handle and peel. You can also carmelize the onions/carrots/celery mix.
Variation:: You can also try it with nutritional yeast and almonds.