Soak the dry beans in enough water to cover them by a few inches. I use a six quart pot. Start the soak after supper and plan to use the beans the next day. Drain the beans and refill the pot with fresh water and boil them until the skins split.

Drain the beans and save the cooking water.

Mix the onions, sugar, molasses, mustard powder and salt; add to the chopped onions and bacon. Mix the beans and other ingredients together and add enough of the bean water to make the beans swim–about 1 1/2 quarts.

Put the entire mix in a large oven safe pan (I use an enamel roaster) and bake at 350 for about 3 and 1/2 hours with the lid on the pan. Check the liquid and add water as needed.