This all brings back memories of the great fried bread and spotted dick shortages of the early seventies. Then it was blamed on the three day week, the Tory party and the switch to decimal currency. You don't need to refry beans, just open the can and let them dry out.

Croutons of suet sound good with the soup, but I like very streaky bacon crispy fried in, you guessed it, lard. That and a nice chunk of proper WHITE bread with dripping.