Baked beans have always been a popular store cupboard staple for many British families. But sales of Britain’s favourite beans have soared recently as hard up families ditch more expensive fare in favour of cheaper, more filling alternatives. For the first time sales have now topped a staggering £300million a year! Wow! Love them or hate them baked beans are a big part of British culture like fish and chips, HP sauce and Cadbury’s chocolate. Most of us have enjoyed beans on toast as children and have grown up to still love them as adults. Baked beans are certainly a cheap and enjoyable source of protein and fibre for children and adults alike. They give the perfect combination of amino acids when served on toast or with cheese. Many people including myself still see them as comfort food. Certainly for me there is nothing more comforting than fish fingers and beans or beans on toast after a bad day at work! Eating fish fingers or any kind of fish with anything else but baked beans just doesn’t taste quite the same.
Baked beans first hit our shores in 1886. They were imported from Canada until 1928 when Heinz produced the first British made beans. The company now produces 1.5 million cans a day. Britons certainly love their beans! They are now more popular than ever with the credit crunch bringing the wind of change to many people’s diets! Beans on toast is still the healthiest meal it’s always been; high in fibre and low in fat. Baked beans also count towards your recommended daily intake of five fruit and vegetables per day. Here’s one of the best beans on toast recipes I’ve come across.
Warm some baked beans in a pan, whilst toasting a thick slice of nutty brown bread. Melt some grated cheese on top of the beans and add a dash of Worcestershire sauce on top. Pile the beans on top of the buttered bread and top it off with a fried egg. Delicious!
Bon Appetit!
4 comments:
I have never heard of beans on toast. I have always eaten baked beans at a barbecue with hot dogs or hamburgers. I wonder if my baked beans are the same as yours. Ours are pinto beans in a slightly spicy brown sugar sauce. I am going to try beans on toast it sounds good. Do you use cheddar cheese?
Thanks for your kind words. It looks like next hurricane, IKE is going to miss us. Keeping fingers crossed because it is still too far off to know for sure.
Don't remind me... thats all we ever had when we went camping. I detest the stuff!
I'm from the Pittsburgh area of Pennsylvania (USA) where the Heinz products originated. I must admit that I have never heard of baked beans on toast. We usually just serve them at picnics. Maybe I will serve them English style soon.
Hi Marsha
It sounds like your beans are slightly different to the ones you have over there. Ours are haricot beans in a sometimes tangy tomato sauce. I personally think they are particularly nice on toast with some melted cheese on top! Glad you and your family are all safe and well.
Hi Ria
It's funny how some people love beans and others loathe them!
Hi Randilee
I think the beans you have over there are slightly different to the ones we have over here in England. The British ones are delicious on toast and make a healthy balanced snack.
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