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.