HOMEMADE BAKED BEANS

Nothing quite like Heinz but these are delicious too and good for a change. They are great on toast with a poached egg but they are marvellous with a cooked breakfast as they combine the flavours of baked beans and tomatoes.  The sauce is a a basic tomato sauce, quick and easy to make from tinned tomatoes.  I recommend making it in a larger quantity and storing it in the freezer so that you always have a base tomato sauce for lots of other recipes, see 'Variations' below.

INGREDIENTS for the base Tomato sauce
Tinned tomatoes (cheapest supermarket own brand is fine)
Olive oil
Pinch of mixed herbs (I favour Herbes de Provence)
Dash of Tabasco (to enhance the flavour, not for heat)
Sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
A small amount of sugar (a teaspoonful, then taste before adding more)

The ingredients above are for a base tomato sauce.  For this recipe I add a small amount of fresh or dried chilli to make the beans a little spicy but that is optional. You could also add a little garlic.

White cannellini beans or similar
(tinned or dried, it's up to you, but if you use dried follow the instructions with regard to soaking & cooking.  I use tinned as that's the quickest)

METHOD
In a deep pan empty the tinned tomatoes.  Add a good glug of olive oil (this helps to emulsify the sauce) and all the rest of the ingredients.  Turn on the heat and break up the tomatoes using a potato masher until you are happy with the texture.  Bring to the boil and then turn to a low simmer.  Leave to simmer for at least 20 mins.  The longer you leave it on a low heat the more the flavours will develop and the sauce will thicken as it reduces.  You will notice that the colour will change from deep red to a more orangey red.  Check your seasonings and add a little more if necessary.

Add the cooked white beans, heat through and serve.

VARIATIONS
Italian dishes: To the above sauce add garlic and more herbs, fresh or dried.  This can be be used as a sauce to coat pasta or added to cooked mince and onions for Spaghetti Bolognese or Lasagne.  You can also use it as the sauce base for a quick French bread pizza.

Spicy: Add fresh or dried chilli and add to cooked mince and onions and you have the sauce for a chilli con carne or a topping for patatas bravas.  Add some garlic and prawns and you have a wonderful sauce for spaghetti.