Illinois Beans and Boston Baked Beans

I chose this recipe for a few reasons. The first is that it has a bit of family history behind it. My grandfather was from Illinios "country stock" as my granmother used to say. My granmother, a Boston girl from a well off family. The fact that she choose to put these two recipies on the same page is symbolic. A merging of worlds one may say. These recipies hold personal significence for me as well.

Every christmas my dad and his three siblings get together for a "christmas party". This is honestly my favorite part of the holiday season. At these parties we always swap stories and enjoy each other company. I believe it was last christmas season that my dad made the illinois Beans and his siblings were so excited. They swaped stories from childhood and enjoyed the food. While I was not a fan of this dish, I loved the stories that it ilicited from my father and his siblings.