Lentil Loaf. 2.25.22

 I've been trying to find a good recipe for Lentil Loaf.  It's a vegetarian comfort food version of meat loaf. My mom made meat loaf, a comforting memory, but I haven't had meat for forty years.  I used to make a recipe from Vegetarian Times magazine, I think about 1995.  However, it was too complicated, called for a binder/filler ingredient I can't find easily (I forget - maybe kashi?) and crumbled too easily.

So, I looked at other recipes and combined parts into this one and left out some things I don't think were useful.

This actually turned out pretty good.  I think it was a big improvement as far as texture or consistency, over the original.  It needs some refining but so far, so good.  Here is the current recipe, I guess a "work i  progress".

Two cups rinsed brown lentils.  - bring to a boil in six cups of water, boil 40 min.  Lentils soak up all of the water and will be tender.  Let them cool off about 30 min so the eggs wont scramble when added.

Combine -

1/2 cup breadcrumbs

1/2 cup oats (I used old fashioned but instant oats might have been better)

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons dehydrated chopped garlic (I made this a while back)

2 teaspoons dehydrated tomato powder (I made this a while back)

2 tablespoons tomato sauce

about 1/2 teaspoon of toasted sesame oil.

Sautè

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup chopped carrot

Now combine the lentils, the dry mixture, two eggs (well stirred), the sautéed vegetables.  I tried using the mixer, the blades gummed up too much so I used the dough hooks.  I left it a bit chunky but a lot of the lentils were mashed.

Line 8 inch bread pan with parchment paper.   Transfer the loaf to the bread pan (there was too much.  I baked the rest is a small glass dish).

Bake 40 min.  Take out of oven.  Coat the top with catsup.  Bake another 15 min.  Remove from over.  Let cool before removing parchment paper.

When hot, this was a little crumbly.  Fully cooled, this loaf cut almost like a real meat loaf.  A bit more firm.   I thought this was great on sandwiches with mayo, mustard, relish.

Next time, I may increase the sesame oil (for umami), and the garlic.  I think instant oats would bind better than traditional oats, although the texture was already quite good.  A little olive oil might make it more juicy but will that make it more crumbly?  Also, maybe red lentils might give a better color but I don't know if that would change the texture.

Potato and Four O'Clock Update. 5.25.22

 I planted this row of Four O'clocks in a narrow wedge shaped  next to the fence in a sort of "Hell Strip" area, too narrow to mow and difficult to care for, especially watering.  I grew squashes there last year.  I also planted a row of early potatoes (Envol), which I hope will be done before most of the heat and watering season start.  

Today I filled the potato trenches by about 2/3 and cultivated the rest.  I also gave both some general purpose fertilizer.

The far end is only a foot between fences.  I may resort to landscape fabric to keep that part relatively clean.

First Sweet Corn is Finally Planted. 5.25.22

 This is about two weeks later than last year.  With the cool weather, that might not be a setback.  This is a new variety for me, "Orchard Baby".  Apparently the ears are short, just five to six inches long, two ears per plant, and the plants are only three to five feet tall.  Ready in 65 days, which is very early (and here possibly more like 80 days).  Victory Seeds description.  Baker Creek Seeds description.  Mine came from Baker Creek.  These originate in Canada and were sold by a North Dakota seed company, so should be adapted to my latitude, and short season.

The rows need protection from birds, rabbits, deer until about a foot tall.  Then they are OK.  I planted close and will thin.  My experience is I often have low germination, maybe birds get the seeds anyway,

I'll probably plant another variety in two weeks.  I'm thinking Early Sunglow Hybrid, which is a bit larger, about the same season length (68 days) and also not as water and is more "corn flavored" than more modern supersweet varieties.

Blooming. 5.25.22

 This was sold as a cranberry bush but I don't know for certain.

Rhododendron, probably 50 years old.

Laburnum

Viburnum

Lilac

Not blooming, but colorful Japanese Maples.

Most of the Peppers are Planted. 5.24.22

 Planted, with irrigation and paper mulch in place.

I added a large container for three more, and am setting up a second one.