The baked bean showdown

mandi (mandi@itscome2this.com)

The Baked Bean Showdown

Have you heard about the Baked Bean Showdown? It’s basically a friendly (I think they’re still friends!) contest between two wonderful bloggers – Once A Month Mom and Amy’s Finer Things. They each think their baked bean recipe is the best.

They stated talking smack on Twitter and the next thing you know, they’re running a contest and offering prizes! They want us (any of their readers) to tell them which is better!

My new “in real life friend” House of Hills hosted a super fun party & had guests (I was a guest – yay!!) vote on their favorite.

I went a simpler way out and just made each recipe for my family. And instead of a full group of judges, I only had two – Evan & Megan.

Except Megan is in “that” stage right now where she won’t hardly touch anything!! And that included beans. Which meant it all came down to Evan!

So on Memorial Day I baked Once a Month Mom’s Recipe, here’s my review:

1. Super Easy Ingredients – Just a couple of normal, everyday things.
2. Super Easy to Prepare – Just layer in the pan & pop in the over.
3. Cooking – My oven must be faster because it only took about 1.5 hours instead of the full 2 suggested and even then I think I overcooked it a bit.
4. My Personal Taste Test* - Yummy. Tastes just like the sweet baked beans you would expect to find at a cookout or family gathering.
5. The Official Judges’ Taste Test – “I want some more of these!!”

So the four year old judge liked them. He ate them before his hot dog and asked for seconds. That’s pretty good & might be tough to beat!

Then just last night I made BBQ and used Amy’s Finer Things’ Recipe, here’s my review:

1. Super Easy Ingredients - The ingredient list looked long & hard, but don’t let it fool you. It’s really not that bad! I don’t normally have Molasses in the house, but I actually happened to have some – why you might ask? Because I actually used a very similar recipe to this for Megan’s first birthday party. And why did I serve these beans at Megan’s first birthday party? Because they were that yummy!!!
2. Super Easy to Prepare – Just measure & pour.
3. Cooking – I baked mine this time around because I was using the crock pot for our BBQ, but the kidney beans got too hard. I would definitely use the crock pot the next time I make them.
4. My Personal Taste Test* – Yummy. Does not taste like you’d expect baked beans to taste, but that’s because it’s Baked Beans with a Kick:).
5. The Official Judges’ Taste Test - “They’re good!” He didn’t ask for seconds but they also passed one very important test. When he wanted to leave the table, I told him he’d need to take three more bites of something. He passed right over my BBQ and chose the baked beans! Cleaned them off:)

*I took myself out of the judging and even though Baked Beans are definitely not on my diet, I did sample a bite of each. And it is personally Amy & Tricia’s fault that I gained one pound for each of those bites!!

So, now for a winner. And the winner is …

I call it a draw. I know, I know, I’m taking the easy way out. But seriously if they were both consumed without complaints by a four year old picky eater – then they’re both a winner in my book!! And here’s the deal – if I wanted traditional baked beans I’d make Once A Month Mom’s Recipe. But if I wanted something a little different or a filling side dish to go with nice sandwiches or something then I’d make Amy’s Recipe. So, to each their own but which ever one you choose, I think it will be good!

The baked bean showdown

The Baked Bean Showdown

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