Pioneer Recipe: Beans Cooked in Ground

In honor of Pioneer Day {July 24} this month here is another basic, frontier-style recipe.  This one sounds like it would be good.  If you're looking for a more modern way to cook beans please refer to our Cooking Beans post.  :)  This way would have been the pioneer's slow cooker option...

Beans Cooked in Ground
Dig a hole 18 inches square. Make fire in the hole and let it burn down to hot coals. Put a pot of beans in the hole with plenty of water, salt and pepper, and add a piece of bacon. Cover tightly, place coals and ashes around pot and cover with dirt. Cook 6 to 8 hours.