These baked beans are the perfect plant-based dish for autumn meals, with maple syrup and seasonal flavors that will take you right into cozy sweater weather.  They hit all the notes I need in homemade baked beans from nuanced sweetness to the woodsy quality of thyme.  In this recipe, tomato puree lends more brightness than commonly used ketchup, and rye whiskey adds the necessary touch of smokiness. When you return home from picking apples, remember to save one for this recipe.  A brief cook prepares chopped apples for the baking dish and ensures they cook up tender but not too soft.  Before reading through the ingredient list, you can watch…