If there’s one food that just screams “summer picnic” or “summer barbecue,” it’s pork and beans served alongside a hamburger or hot dog. The side dish has been part of the American diet since the 1800s and though it’s typically purchased pre-made from a can, it’s not so hard to make your own!

In fact, a 1832 cookbook titled The American Frugal Housewife lists only three ingredients needed to make the dish: a quart of beans, a pound of pork, and pepper. It instructs that the beans should be placed in cold water and hung over the fire the night before …read more