Baked beans with ground beef topping

1. In a large frying pan, cook ground beef in its" own fat. Add green pepper and onion.
2. Sautei until beef is brown and vegetables are limp.
3. With the exception of 4 strips of bacon, cut bacon into 2-inch strips and add to ground beef mixture.
4. Stiri in the tomato sauce, water, vinegar, garlic, mustard, thyme, brown sugar, liquid hickory smoke, and salt and pepper to taste.
5. Simmeri together 5 minutes.
6. Turn pork "n beans into a greased 1 ½ quart baking dish.
7. Spoon meat mixture over top. Place long strips of bacon over top of ground beef.
8. Bakei at 375 °F for 45 minutes.