Vegan Meatloaf (Nutloaf, Mushroom Loaf, etc...)

Tonight's dinner was another basic family

favorite: Vegan Meatloaf with smashed 'taters and garden veggies. YUM!

Although this seems very "brown-shapeless-tasteless-vegan-food", it's really not. Otherwise known as Nut-Loaf, Mushroom Loaf, Vegetable Loaf or many other titles, it's a great basic to throw together on those "meat-and-potato" nights. I thought I'd post it, because I ended up making it four times in ten days while the not-vegan-bottomless-pit-growing-teenage-BOY cousins were visiting!!

I know they liked it 'cause they requested I make it again, it disappeared from the table in record time, and miraculously, it SEEMED to fill them up. (Hard to say, they ate everything that wasn't nailed down...)

This "loaf" is really pretty simple. It may look

like a lot of ingredients, but it goes together quickly, especially with a food processor.

Feel free to vary ingredients as needed, it's quite the flexible recipe; keep in

mind the onions, mushrooms and herbs definitely make this loaf tasty!!

VEGAN MEATLOAF

• 1 onion, finely diced (or in food processor)
• 2 T. olive oil, plus additional to oil pan
• 2 clove garlic, minced
• 2 cups fresh breadcrumbs or cracker crumbs (whiz in food processor) OR 2 1/2 cups corn flakes
• (optional, but good!) 3/4 cup finely chopped/ground pecans, sunflower seeds, walnuts or cashews
• 1 cup oatmeal (uncooked)
• (optional, but good!) 1 cup grated carrot (or beets or celery or potato or more onion or whatever)
• 1/4 cup freshly chopped parsley
• 1 tsp dried sage (or more fresh)
• 1/2 tsp rosemary (crushed - more if fresh)
• 2 cups fresh mushrooms, whizzed until chunky in food processor (2 cups after processing)
• 3 T. nutritional yeast flakes
• 1 Tbsp soy or tamari sauce
• 1/4 t. freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup soy/rice/almond milk
• 3 tbsp flax seeds (OR chick pea flour OR ENER-G Egg replacer)
• 1 cup silken (or any kind) tofu

Mix together all ingredients except soymilk, flax and tofu. Put milk, flax and tofu in food processor and blend well. Pour over other ingredients and mix thoroughly. It should be moist and mooshy but not "soupy". Too dry, add more soymilk, if it's too wet, add more breadcrumbs.

Spread into oiled 8 X 11 pan and bake at 350 about 1 hr. 15 min - until browned on top, and fairly firm. (Sometimes it sets up more than others, depending on the moisture in the mushrooms, onions, etc...)

This is better the next day, but who can wait? Serve with gravy, BBQ sauce or ketchup. Leftovers (sorta) slice for GREAT sandwiches.

ENJOY and have a great weekend!