Easter, Vegan Style

It's Easter. Vivid memories of my childhood Easter were filled with lots of meat and candy. I had an art to eating my large chocolate bunny. It was a three dimensional piece of art, but I would eat its back first, then, proceed to the ears, and down. This year, though, there was none of that stuff around--2nd year in a row. I did find a box of Brad's Raw Kale Chips. Something for me to share with the Bunnie, I guess.

My family, you know them, the Carnivorous Connelly's, had some meat stuff planned. I had plans to make a big "meatless loaf" as the main part of my dinner. It was good. Once the conversation began, really, it didn't make any difference what we were eating because it was just fun to be together. Broccoli, salad, grilled Fingerlings...they had meat, I didn't.

So, here's a recipe for my "meatloaf," give it a try. Be be mindful that you can take the mixture and make it into small meatballs, bake them, then, place them in sauce.

Oh, before the recipe, let me say this...way long ago in this blog, I spoke about Ken Meyer, the regional president of the Mid-Atlantic Whole Foods Market. I saw him yesterday for a brief few minutes...always thanking him for the role that meeting with him in September 2009 had on my life as I know it today. My how life has changed. I will always be grateful to him, my employer, and to all the people who have touched my life through the Engine 2 Diet.

It's Easter, and my only beans were fava beans, which I think the Bunnie originally had in mind when he went with this Easter thing.

Happy Plant Strong Easter to all. Keep it real. Power to the Plants. Always.

Easter Meatloaf

-Mire poix, about 3 cups, finely chopped

Saute this in a very small amount of water. Allow to cool once translucent.

-Add 2 teaspoons of garlic powder, and equal amounts of rosemary, basil, and oregano (1 tsp each).

-2 t of reduced sodium soy

-pepper to taste

-one bag of Boca Burger Crumbles (add to mire poix and spice mix)

-add 2 cans of refried beans (I use WFM brand). Mix well.

-Add 1 1/2 cups of old fashioned oatmeal

-Add 2 T of Dijon Mustard and 2T of Reduced Sugar Ketchup.

Mix everything well together (dig in with your hands).

Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. Add in the mixture (should be a nice creamy dough consistency). Pat and fix. Smother with ketchup.

Bake in a 375 oven (covered) for 45-55 minutes. Remove the cover and allow to stay in oven for about five-ten more minutes.

Allow to cool for about 10 minutes before you slice. Serve with salad, grilled potatoes. And a nice side of fava beans, to keep the Bunnie happy.

Meeting More and More Vegans...

It seems, anymore, that more and more people are defining themselves as being vegan. I didn't know what a vegan was until 1999. I worked with a woman, a lovely art teacher, who was tall and thin. She was the first vegan I'd ever met. I remember thinking that her eating practices were odd, to say the least. I mean, I used to think, "Who doesn't eat cheese on their pizza?"

So, last night I went to a Flyers game. Everyone seemed to have been eating pizza. While the game was fun and fast paced (how do they skate on that ice so fast...and with such precision?), I found myself checking out what everyone was eating. Whether it was a gooey dessert, a fat stuffed sandwich, or big vats of popcorn, I found myself on the verge of yacking. And, what was odd is that there would have been a time where I would have consumed all of the junk food available at a game. And now, it all made me sick. I packed apples, seltzer water, and hummus. All healthy snacks. What you remove from your body, soon becomes what you do not want. It is a gradual process. But the attraction to horrible and unhealthy foods will abandon you. I encourage myself to remain patient, and with that patience comes the reality that good food is thy medicine.

There needs to be a "Grains and Veggie" stand at the Wells Fargo Center. Some arenas claim to serve vegan fare, but most of it is junk vegan. And I like the pure and green stuff.

Let's Go Flyers!!!!