SarahH - yup another one for you :P (or other cooks)

[Suzie and Faith]

what are baking beans and do I really need them
I think I can use rice (uncooked) instead??? or shall i get baking beans (if so where from?)

i'm making bakewell tart and need to blind bake the pastry...

I actually sound like i know vaguely what i'm doing! I have a recipe but that's about it!

 

[SarahH]

You can buy them in Lakeland.

Other things I have used it dry split peas/lentils/kidney beans etc. My SIL uses teaspoons to weigh the pastry down, but I've never used them!

Again, I have seen chefs on TV use rice to weigh it down, but never tried it myself - should work fine tho

Pics of the end result please!!

 

[Urchin]

John Lewis sell them too

 

[Charlie:-)]

I use rice, works just as well, no point spending money on baking beans when you dont need to.

 

[Suzie and Faith]

lovely jubbly, thanks guys! if i really get into this cooking thing then i will invest in some in the future but for now i'll use rice or lentils - whatever is cheaper tomorrow. lol. I will def posts pics, am it turns out ok as i'm cooking for my mum, OH and the in-laws!