I’ve never been much of a fan of baked beans. I think there’s just something about them that screams Chef Boyardee to me, which is synonymous with vomit-inducing. But all I’ve ever tried are the canned beans—you know, the ones with the talking dog.

You can actually make your own baked beans, which I hear are far better than the canned varieties. You’ll need a bag of navy beans, a cup of molasses, an onion, a cup of maple syrup, 2 cups of ketchup, a teaspoon of mustard, a teaspoon each of salt and pepper, and half a package of bacon (if desired).

Pour the bag of beans into a pot and cover them with water. Presoak the beans by putting the pot on the stove and bringing it to a boil. After it starts boiling, turn of the heat and let the beans sit for an hour. Then, cook them on the stove for about an hour and a half, boiling them on medium until they pop open. Drain the water out of the pot, and add your ingredients (dice the onion and chop the bacon first). Finally, continue cooking them for another hour and a half on low, and then you’re finished.

Aside from this basic recipe, there are countless variations to making your own baked beans. Try:

• Soy sauce, garlic, olive oil and crushed tomatoes for a less-sweet taste
• Salsa, peppers and the spicy sauces of your choice to create a fiery flavor
• Cook them in barbecue sauce for a side when you’re grilling
• Try beans on toast, a traditional British meal—add an eg, tuna, and grated cheese for “Beans on Toast Deluxe”
• Stew your beans with pork or pork fat for traditional pork and beans
• Cut up some hotdogs and add to your beans for “Franks & Beans”
• Cook your beans with duck or goose and sausage in a covered container for a traditional Southern France dish called Cassoulet
• For the Feijoada, the national dish of Brazil, cook some black turtle beans with salted pork or beef and at least two types of smoked meat, and serve with rice and collard greens
• For a Latin American twist, substitute black or pinto beans
• Add some fruit—such as apple or pineapple chunks—for a sweeter taste

Above all, baked beans are supposed to be a personal taste, so play with them for a flavor you like. I’ll be searching for a taste that pleases my palette, too.