Have you tried the NCHFP recipe? That's the one we use and prefer the molasses variation it gives you.You can always leave the sugar out if you prefer the tomato sauce options.

http://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_04/beans_tomato_molasses.html

Everyone's tastes are different. You should probably make a jar or two with each sauce to see what you like.

I made the NCHFP recipe and love the outcome, but I much prefer the Tomato Sauce Recipe #2 over Tomato sauce recipe #1. This was my first time and since I didn't know which sauce I would like, I made up all three sauce versions and canned a couple jars of each one in the same canner load and also included 1 or 2 of the plain version (using water as the liquid). Didn't like the Tomato Sauce #1 at all...too many spices! The plain version is, well, "plain" but it makes the beans very versatile for adding into other dishes after opening.

I also made the Baked Beans recipe, which uses the same molasses sauce and did not like the flavor at all. Those were salvageable because all I have to do is rinse the sauce off of those jars and doctor up the beans any way I like after opening the jar to make baked beans the way I like (lots and lots of onions and bacon!).

After canning beans and baked beans, future versions will be probably be to just to can the beans plain so they can be used for almost anything. If I use a sauce again, it will be tomato sauce #2, which has the catsup in it.

Thank you! I think I am going to try making some next week. I like mine on the sweet side for the baked beans. I bought some molasses the other day. I want them dark in color. I borrowed my friends all American canner again. Am canning potatoes with it tonight. Got 8 qts. in there now. I did 7 qts. in my Presto already. Been a busy day! Thank you again!!!