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I've always loved Heinz baked beans, but they don't taste like the used to. I've decided I won't be buying them again as I don't much enjoy them any more and what a price!!! Daft I know, but I miss them! So I think I need to rediscover them in a homemade way. I've looked on t'web, lots of recipes but wonder if anyone has any tried and tested ones they could share? I'm open to ideas whether it's a comfort type baked bean on toast recipe or something a bit more elaborate.

As Tom Kerridges Proper Pub Food was going off last night a preview of next weeks programme said he was going to show us how to make home made baked beans on his show next week.  Might be helpful as he's a down to earth chap.

Good to know, thanks Yorkshire Lass 

This might be the recipe http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/recipes/10260001/Tom-Kerridges-proper-baked-beans-on-soda-bread-toast-recipe.html

I make up my tomato sauce with  roasted tomatoes, peppers, garlic, onions, courgettes and herbs. Seive it and the residue is pizza topping and the seived stuff is sweetened and salted to taste. I cook the beans up and add to the sauce. This is frozen in small containers and we don't have to open a tin 

Sounds good to me, I've just got out of the freezer some tomato and garlic roasted pasata to use. Any particular herbs or what's available in the garden?

They probably do not seem the same anymore due to them reducing salt and sugar content to keep in with the trends to healthy eating.

I buy the supermarket cheap brand then add various touches to "spice" them up e.g. a touch of Worcester sauce, brown sauce, bit of crushed garlic or even tomato sauce.

Quote from: daveyboi on October 22, 2013, 10:47:22
They probably do not seem the same anymore due to them reducing salt and sugar content to keep in with the trends to healthy eating.

I buy the supermarket cheap brand then add various touches to "spice" them up e.g. a touch of Worcester sauce, brown sauce, bit of crushed garlic or even tomato sauce.

Oh yes...that's what I do too. Though I tend to 'spice up' everything here..or so OH keeps saying (he might use word poison instead of spice)

When I do my own 'recipe' of baked beans it just variety of beans (what ever available at the time) cooked in water first and then simmered in pasata with black and white pepper, salt, teeny amount of garlic/onion and touch of vinegar and/or ketchup and touch of oil.
That is the very plain version but usually I end up chucking other bits and bobs in there too...nice spicy salami goes well with it too and spice it up with oregano, chilli and smoky paprika ..MMM ...but it ain't 'baked beans' anymore but totally different dish then...
OH...and runner bean seeds make nice 'sticky baked beans' as they tend to mush up well when well cooked. I usually save some cooked ones to add in later on so there is still nice big whole ones left to be found in the 'concoction'. Nothing nicer than have BIG bean on fork

Half mug of dried beans  Major Cooke are good (very little wind problems)
Tin of tomatoes or passata or equivalent in skinned fresh tomes
Three rashers of bacon or a chopped piece of cooking bacon - can be omitted
Salt if no bacon and pepper
Carrot and celery including the leaves and an onion. courgette or pumpkin as well if you like
A couple of apples cored and peeled or cup of apple juice
Teaspoon mixed spice
Teaspoon ginger more if you like it I tend to use two.
2 Teaspoon of mixed herbs more if you like it
Tin full of water

Soak beans over night in water and throw away the water.  Do not leave them in the mug because they will not come out
Fry onion and bacon in a little butter and/or cooking oil add veg
Then add the rest of the ingredients and zap in the pressure cooker at full pressure for about 10 minutes.

If you included starchy veg such as potatoes or parsnips be careful that it does not burn.

Quote from: Jayb on October 22, 2013, 10:42:45
Sounds good to me, I've just got out of the freezer some tomato and garlic roasted pasata to use. Any particular herbs or what's available in the garden?

I just use fresh oregano and basil (frozen) 

Do you want a typical Boston Baked recipe Jay, it will have tomato, smoked pork Hock, bit of molasses etc in it. I can get out my own one if you want it, I make it in the slow cooker.

XX Jeannine

Thanks all, lovely recipes and ideas, can't wait to try them all. Cheers Manics, although I'll have to do it the other way around though, fresh Basil and frozen Oregano!

That would be smashing Jeannine, whenever you have the time. I'm still slowcookerless here but I'm sure we can adapt the recipe? I don't have any hocks left, would smoked belly (with the bone in) work ok?

My baked beans A la Manics are half done, afraid 'stuff' got in the way of finishing them.

Beans A la Manics are very good, I had them a couple of times this week, the beans flavour came through and was lovely though I think my tomatoes used were a little sweet.

I made another batch yesterday, very slight tweaks.

For the sauce;
Home-made roasted tomato and garlic pasata,
Pinch of oregano
Pinch of dried coriander seed
Touch of vinegar
A little salt
and a dash or two of Worcester

Then mixed with cooked mixed shelly beans, Amerthyst (DB), Norberg (DB), Red Eye Greasy Fall and some tinned chick peas, simmered for 5 mins. I had mine on buttered toast which got a bit too soggy, although the sauce was quite thick I think the water separated out somewhat.  I don't know if a little cornflour might help next time?
Not the best picture but my beans yesterday.