Hearty Ribs and Bean Bake

Ingredients

 * 3½ lbs pork country style ribs
 * 15 oz canned tomato sauce
 * 1 oz onion soup mix
 * ⅓ cup brown sugar
 * 2 tbsp prepared mustard
 * ⅛ tsp hot pepper sauce
 * 3 cups cooked small white beans (2 16oz. cans)
 * 3 cups cooked kidney beans (2 16oz cans)
 * 1½ cup celery
 * 1 sweet red or green bell pepper

Directions

 * 1) Place ribs in 13 x 9-inch baking dish; add ¼ cup water.
 * 2) Cover tightly and cook in moderate oven (350°F. ) 1 ¼ hours; remove to absorbent paper. Pour off cooking liquid and reserve.
 * 3) Combine tomato sauce, onion soup mix, brown sugar, prepared mustard and hot pepper sauce in small saucepan and cook slowly 10 minutes.
 * 4) Remove excess fat from cooking liquid; add enough water to remaining liquid to make 1 cup. Stir into sauce mixture.
 * 5) Combine small white and red kidney beans, celery, pepper strips and all but ½ cup sauce.
 * 6) Place bean mixture into baking dish. Arrange ribs on top of bean mixture; brush with sauce.
 * 7) Cover tightly and cook in moderate oven (350°F. ) 30 to 45 minutes; remove to warm platter.

Chef's tip: Country style ribs also can be braised in a Dutch oven on top of the range for 45 to 60 minutes.