Fish Fingers, Chips & Beans

 

One thing that children really enjoy for their suppers in the UK are Fish Fingers, Chips and Beans.  Its a simple meal and quick to throw together, making it a firm favorite with mums as well.  You don't always have the time or the energy to put together a big meal.

I confess that from time to time, I also enjoy it.  It can be as simple as opening frozen packets and tins, popping the fish and chips into the oven and the beans into a saucepan to heat up. I, however, always like to add a little twist to my baked beans which I am sharing with you today. 

 

My secret recipe for dealing with a tin of baked beans to dress them up a bit and make them taste just like New England Baked Beans, is to treat them like baked beans!

I don't think I am the first person to admit that tinned baked beans can be a little bit lack luster in comparison to the real thing!  I was really spoilt as a child. Mom always used to bake our beans from scratch.

Every Saturday without fail we could count on them for most of my growing up years. Occasionally she would open a tin, but more often than not we had the real deal.

 

Baked long and slow in a low oven, all day.  She would soak the beans the night before and then get them into her bean crock early in the  morning.  The smell of them baking would tantalize us all day.

By the time supper rolled around we were more than ready to tuck in with delight. And there was always plenty extra that she would freeze in containers for us to enjoy at future dates.

My sister bakes her own beans from scratch nowadays as well, but she uses her crock pot/slow cooker.  They may not get quite as dark as mom's but the flavor is there, and we love them.

 

You don't always have time to bake your own beans however.  And you don't always want to resort to opening a tin, wanting to feed your family something a bit more tastier than that.

Thankfully, I do know how to fix tinned beans up to taste very close to my mother's home baked beans with the addition of a few simple ingredients.

  

Its not very hard to do at all and this method works with any type of canned baked bean. All you need are a few simple ingredients . . . apple cider vinegar, molasses, soft light brown sugar, and tomato ketchup  . . .

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE FAUX BAKED BEANS

• 1 400g tin of baked beans in tomato sauce (14 oz)
• 1 TBS apple cider vinegar
• 1 TBS mild molasses
• 1 TBS soft light brown sugar
• 1 TBS tomato ketchup
• 1 tsp hot mustard
• 1/2 tsp onion powder (not salt)

To complete the meal you will also need a quantity of frozen fish fingers/sticks, and I am not promoting any one kind in particular. You know what your family like and enjoy.  Personally I prefer cod fish fingers.  But you pick whatever you like.

You also need a four serving size bag of frozen French fries, or in the UK a chippie that is close by where you can buy ready made chips/fries.   Again, you know what it is that is available to you and what your family enjoys.

 

While you are heating up your fish fingers and or chips in the oven, you can get on with cooking your beans. They are so simple.

 You just stir all of the additional ingredients into the beans and let them simmer for about 15 minutes over low heat. This will infuse them with that delicious home baked bean flavor we all love and enjoy.

  

I like to  buy the best fish fingers and frozen oven chips that my money can buy, and only very occasionally, will I pick up ready made deep fried chips. It was much easier to do so in the UK.  

This combination really does  make for a tasty and quick occasional supper from time to time, and it not all that hard on the budget. For larger families it can be a real boost to the food bill! 

If I am using deep fried chips from the local chippy I will also add a slice of cheap buttered white bread. Not only does it go well with the baked beans, but until you have tasted a chip butty (sandwich made from a slice of buttered white bread wrapped around hot chips) you really haven't lived

A true carboholic's dream!

Yield: 4Author: Marie Rayner

Fish Fingers, Chips & Beans

Quick and easy this is often a child's favourite supper. This special touch on the beans takes them over the top to delicious!  Another store-cupboard meal.

ingredients:

• 1 package of your favourite frozen fish fingers
• (4 serving size)
• 1 package of  your favourite frozen oven chips
• (4 serving size)
• 1 400g tin of baked beans in tomato sauce (14 oz)
• 1 TBS apple cider vinegar
• 1 TBS mild molasses
• 1 TBS soft light brown sugar
• 1 TBS tomato ketchup
• 1 tsp hot mustard
• 1/2 tsp onion powder (not salt)

instructions:

1. Preheat your oven and cook your fish fingers and chips according to the package directions.  While they are cooking, open your beans and pour into a pot.  Add the remaining ingredients.  Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and leave on low heat simmering, stirring occasionally, until your fish fingers and chips are done.
2. To serve divide the fish fingers, chips and beans between four heated dinner plates and serve immediately.

Created using The Recipes Generator

 

 

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