Lentil Walnut Loaf

 Day 2: Recreate a meal from your childhood (This photo is my second helping.) 

Some of these Vegan Month of Food themes are easier than others.  Day 10's theme is Something Blue. That's a fun food theme. I'm planning on either blackberries from my garden or Le Puy lentils. I'm having a mental block over the theme for Day 5: Best Sandwich Ever. Seems like that'd be easy, but I don't want to simply say BLT and be done. (Although a vegan BLT can be killer.) The most daunting day is Day 23: Fusion Challenge! The exclamation point was not added my me; it's included in the day's challenge. That's a toughie for me.

(This photo is my first helping. Obviously I didn't let the loaf cool enough.... not too pretty!) 

Today was simple for me (and probably lots of other VeganMoFo participants who grew up in the 60s). Meatloaf. Meatloaf improved. Meatloaf x 10 on the flavor scale. Meatloaf that can be served to company. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and peas.

(This photo is lunch the next day. Pretty, right?) 

I used *this* recipe and a modified fancy ketchup . (I loved ketchup as a kid and I love it more as an adult.)  I also found the same recipe *here.* Both sites give credit to Forks Over Knives for this recipe, but I could not for the life of me find the original recipe on the web or in any of my Forks Over Knives cookbooks. (If you have not viewed the Forks Over Knives movie, you MUST.) 

Here's what you need:

3 C cooked lentils

1 16 ounce bag of frozen mixed vegetables, thawed and drained

2 C chopped onion

1/2 C chopped parsley

3-4 cloves garlic, peeled

2 C raw walnuts

2 C oats (not instant), divided

2 T tomato paste

1 t salt

1 t pepper

1/2 t cumin

1 t poultry seasoning

Fancy Ketchup

1 C ketchup

1/2 C dark brown sugar

1/2 t allspice

1 t dry mustard

Here's what you do:

Mix the lentils, veg, onion, parsley, walnuts and 1 C oats in a food processor. Work in batches. In a large bowl, add the remaining 1 C oats, tomato paste, salt, pepper, cumin and seasoning. Mix well. Put mixture in a standard loaf pan. There's plenty to make two loaves. Mix all ketchup ingredients well and slather liberally over each loaf. Bake for about 1 hour.