Winter is brutal here in upstate NY. Dinners have to consist of warmth and comfort, not just for our belly's, but for our mental health because winter is sooooo long here.... no matter what the damn groundhog says. Enjoy this 'Meat'Loaf recipe for your mental wellness and belly wellness. Picky husband and picky kid approved!
~ I love to do my grocery shopping at a few different stores. The majority of my shopping is done at Aldi. Their prices and quality are fantastic! And you can't not love the aisle of randomness. Need a new laundry basket? Barbie doll? Exercise bike? Any-who, I also go to Trader Joes and Wegmans, which is our local grocery store. And of course the random Target and Walmart run. So you will see a variety of different brands in my posts.
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Ingredients:
- 1 can of chickpeas drained and rinsed
- 1 can of black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 carrot peeled and chopped
- 1/4 onion chopped
- 1 celery stalk chopped (add the leaves)
- I bell pepper chopped
- 2 cups mushrooms chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic pressed
- 3/4 cup cooked brown rice
- 3/4 cup oats (or quick oats, not steel cut)
- 1 tbs coconut aminos or soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp thyme
- 1 tbsp parsley
- 2 tbs tomato paste
- 2 tbs flax seed meal
- 6 tbs water
- salt and pepper to taste
Sauce:
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 tbs PURE maple syrup
How to:
~Preheat oven to 350
1. Mix the flax seed with the water to make a "flax egg" and set aside
**a flax egg will help to hold the loaf together similar to an egg**
2. Make the brown rice according to the package instructions
3. Saute' the carrots, pepper, celery, onion, garlic until the onions are transparent
4. Add in the mushrooms and cook completely
5. Once the veggies are cooked, add in the spices, aminos and tomato paste, mix well
6. Add 3/4 of the cooked veggies, oats, cooked rice, chickpeas and black beans to a food processor. Keep the last 1/4 of the veggies in the pan (not heated)
7. Blend the ingredients in the food processor by pulsing. You may have to scrape the edges of the container to mix in between pulses
8. Add the blended ingredients to the remaining veggies in the pan
9. Mix them together thoroughly, add salt and pepper
10. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and pour in the mixture
11. Mix the ketchup and maple syrup in a small bowl
12. Coat the top of the 'meat'loaf mixture with the sauce, reserving extra for drizzle before serving
13. Cook the loaf for 50-55 minutes
14. Let 'meat'loaf cool a bit before serving, otherwise it may fall apart
15. Drizzle with extra sauce and serve
16. SCARF THAT LOAF!
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