Bacon and Bean Pie

Bacon and bean pie is a simple-to-make, feelgood meal that is very inexpensive, tasty and filling. I really only had one reservation about making it, but it was a big one. I used imported British Heinz Baked Beans to make it. Heinz goes to a lot of trouble to procure the very highest quality beans - and I mashed them up into a bean gruel to make this pie. It broke my heart but it didn't hurt my tastebuds one little bit.

By the way, if you aren't convinced that imported Heinz beans are really the finest quality beans money can buy, just open a can alongside a can of cheapo beans from your local no thrills supermarket.

Ingredients

• 2 cans Heinz Baked Beans
• 1 pack Ayrshire Bacon
• 3 eggs
• 3 slices toast
• Mashed potato
• Seasoning

Preparation

• Cringe, then pour the world's finest beans into a liquidizer
• Break 3 eggs into the mushed up beans and stir them in
• Add seasoning (salt, pepper)
• Line the base of  large, greased ovenproof dish with toast then pour on the beans
• Chop and lightly fry the bacon, then add to the pie
• Top with mashed potato
• Bake at 350F for 45 minutes

John's Notes
This humble meal is like a cross between beans on toast and shepherds pie. You won't find it on the menu in the big house at the end of The Mall in London but us common folk enjoy it. Incidentally, while I was touring Sandringham House in Norfolk last summer I asked one of the tour guides if the Queen ever curled up with a plate of beans on her lap in front of the telly. "Never" came the reply; "Her Majesty always dines formally at table".

Baked beans were originally an expensive import from the Excited States. They were eaten in the United Queendom as almost a delicacy. As time went on they met with mass popularity and became associated with a cheap meal for the masses. I recall a British TV commercial from my childhood with the jingle: "a million housewives every day pick up a tin of beans and say: 'beanz meanz Heinz'". Do you remember it?