Certain dishes just scream summer. Potato salad, watermelon, barbecued chicken … and baked beans, of course! It wouldn’t be summer without ‘em, and I think that’s why the food holiday gods must have picked July to be National Baked Bean Month. 
It also makes for perfect timing with the 4th of July – which is centered around backyard barbecues and all of those famous summer party foods.
Now, one thing I love about baked beans is that you can very easily doctor-up store-bought or canned baked beans for a shortcut homemade side dish everyone will love. A little of this, a little of that – and you can make ‘em your own!
