I was in the canned goods section of the grocery store last week when I saw – on the top shelf – a display of Campbell’s Pork and Beans. I had not had any in years, so I plucked off a can, plopped it in my cart and the memories swirled.
When I was a kid, we had pork and beans probably at least once a week – they went with everything, especially chicken, burgers, and hot dogs. They were inexpensive and everybody loved Campbell’s Pork and Beans. I would eat them right out of the can. They were yummy.
Then, when Nancy and I first married and money was tight, she made a regular dish consisting of Hot Dogs, Campbells Pork and Beans, Chopped Onions, a little brown sugar, and a dash of mustard. She baked the whole shee-bang for about 30 minutes, and I loved it. In fact, beans and franks were once a staple at Church and potluck dinner gatherings. And they were one of the first dishes to disappear. My son, Jimmie however, still gags at the thought of those family meals of beans and franks, but somehow, he survived.
Campbell’s has been in the pork and bean business for over 100 years and they sell – catch this – over 100 million cans a year. The “pork” part of the dish is actually pork fat, but it has been virtually rendered and is there only for flavor. A piece of the fat was always packed on the very top of the can and sometimes I ate it first. Somebody had to, and it sort slipped down the back of your throat.
In past years, I have been buying Bush Beans frequently, and often whip up a big pot from dried beans while Campbell’s Pork and Beans never entered my mind.
But I ate them last week with a couple of hot dogs and they were as good as ever. Truly, an American classic and one which Boomers will never forget.
