Cooking : Better Baked Beans

Ingredients
3 (15 ounce) cans navy beans
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups minced onion
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon salt
2 medium carrots, diced
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 medium red or yellow bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup grainy prepared mustard
1/4 cup dark molasses
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 (15 ounce) can low-sodium diced tomatoes
Minced flat-leaf parsley
Minced walnuts, lightly toasted

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Empty the cans of beans into a colander in the sink. Rinse thoroughly and set aside to drain.
Place a large (10 to 12 inch) skillet over medium heat and wait about a minute. Add the olive oil and swirl to coat the pan. Add the onion, spices, and half the salt, and cook, stirring often, over medium heat for 5 minutes or until the onion begins to soften.
Add the carrots, garlic, and bell pepper, plus the remaining salt. Stir to blend, then cover, turn the heat down to medium-low, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the carrots are tender.
Stir in the mustard, molasses, and vinegar. Cook for 1 minute, then pour in the canned tomatoes with all their liquid. Bring to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer, and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and gently stir in the beans (careful not to break them).
Transfer to a 9 X 13-inch baking pan, and cover it tightly with foil. Bake undisturbed for 45 minutes.
Serve hot, topped with parsley and walnuts.