Grandma Brown's Baked Beans

We grew up with these canned beans called Grandma Brown's Home Baked Beans. They are made in Mexico, NY and are hard to find in grocery stores outside of the upstate New York area. Susan and I both buy them when we go back home for a visit. They are simplicity itself, made only from water, navy beans, brown sugar, salt, bacon and baking soda. Most families add ingredients when baking them in the oven.

1 37 oz. can Grandma Brown's Home Baked Beans
Ketchup
Brown sugar
Bacon strips

I don't have the exact measurements, but I mix in a little ketchup (1/4 cup? per 37 oz. can) and a couple of heaping tablespoonfuls of brown sugar into the beans. I then taste them and add more ketchup or brown sugar if need be. They should have a hint of ketchup flavor and a bit of sweetness from the brown sugar to balance out the tomatoes in the ketchup. Put them in a shallow casserole dish and lay strips of bacon across the top. Bake until bubbly and the bacon is crisp.

Note: These are the best baked beans I've ever had except maybe those in at Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue in Kansas City where, according to my waitress, they bake their beans called Hickory Pit Beans beneath their barbecue so some of the sauce and bits of meat fall in them.