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Rinse beans. Soak overnight in 4 cups of water.
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Drain, measuring water. Discard the soaking water and add fresh water in an equal amount. (This makes the beans less 'gassy').
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Add remaining ingredients except bacon.
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Bring to a boil and cook for 1 1/2 hours. Remove from heat.
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Cut bacon into 1/4" pieces. Stir into the beans and put the mixture in a 10 cup casserole or a bean pot.
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Bake, covered, at 250F for 7 hours.
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After 4 hours, remove one cup of beans, mash and stir back in to thicken juice.
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Check occasionally during cooking and add a little more hot water if it starts to get too thick.