Van Camp’s Bake Bean Showdown – Review & Linky
Today is the day folks! Did you participate? Did you make both Amy’s Baked Beans with a Kick and my Baked Bean recipe?
We can’t wait to hear what you have to say about our recipes. (And stay tuned on Monday (6/7/10) as we ask you to share your favorite baked bean recipes as well!)
In the meantime, I thought it only fitting that I do a review too. . .Here is mine
Van Camp’s Baked Bean Showdown
Now, I know what you are thinking; how in the world can you do an honest review? Obviously, you think that your baked bean recipe is the best, that is how this whole thing started, right? True. But I knew I needed to participate alongside you so I brainstormed some ways that I might accomplish this. And then an opportunity presented itself.
My father’s side of the family was having a birthday party for two of my nephews. My baked bean recipe originated on my mother’s side of the family (my parents are divorced) so taking the bean recipes to this gathering would be a prime opportunity. Especially since the birthday party was a grilling out picnic! Score!
So I made both batches of beans (I only did a 1/2 portion of Amy’s recipe – it makes a lot) and took them to share. To keep it “neutral” I didn’t tell anyone which one was my recipe. I told them I wanted them to try both and make a determination for themselves. After their reviews, I revealed which beans were which.
Here is how it started (Amy’s recipe is on the left, mine on the right):
This is the final results (Amy’s recipe is still on the left, mine is *kind of* on the right):
As you can see, my baked bean recipe was the hit of the party. Seriously. I have witnesses, I didn’t rig it! 
It was a lot of fun. And it is good to know that I am still talking to my dad’s side of the family after this event!
Perhaps it was our penchant for more traditional beans? I’m not sure. But it was definitely a lot of fun either way.
Our winning vote for our taste test goes to: Once A Month Mom
Your Review/Vote:
Now it is your turn. Please link up to your review post that should include which beans you thought were best. If you don’t have a blog you can leave your link on the Van Camp’s Baked Bean Showdown Facebook Event Page. This linky will be live until Friday, June 4th at Midnight EST! We will draw 9 winners from the links here and on Facebook for the $50 VISA gift cards.
Hmmmm, funny how your recipe for my baked beans doesn’t LOOK like my baked beans… What’d you do wrong?! HA! (Thanks for the fun!)
You know Amy, my beans looked like hers too. Did we really do something wrong?
I don’t know… need to investigate that. If you look at the photo on my site, don’t mine look “soupier?” Hope I don’t have something written down wrong! I’ve never had them come out “dry” though…
[...] baked both bean recipes in the crockpot, making sure they were cooking the same. Then, we set up a Baked Bean Showdown for the boys to judge which bean they liked [...]
How fun! Looks like we have a competition!
~Liz
I must have missed this original post. I LOVE baked beans and I totally would have made these both. Shoot. Well, I’ll still try them! That’s what I get for keeping emails for a week before reading them!
You actually have until Friday (6/4) st midnight to make them and submit a review! There is plenty of time.
Well, I participated but I do not have a Facebook acct so don’t know how to give review that way. I made both baked bean recipes and took to a weekend cookout. I have to say, that there was a clear cut unanimous winner. The winning recipe was from OAMM! I will make it again and prob halve the sugar, though!! I think that Amy’s recipe was doomed because the beans did not look like baked beans. Amy’s dish is basically Calico beans minus the ground beef and with the addition of picante sauce and with folks thinking they were judging baked beans, well, I wonder if that could have prejudiced folks……?
Ah, good thought! In reading everyone’s posts and such, I’ve seen (clearly)
that if you LIKE traditional baked beans (sweet, pork n beans) then no, you won’t be liking mine. 
My family pretty much won’t eat traditional baked beans, though…
Eager to see what conclusions everyone else came to!
[...] Thursday – Impromtu grill-out dinner with family. We took baked beans. [...]
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