Sara's Vegetarian "Meat"loaf

Happy New Year!  

I though I’d start this very cold new year’s day with a recipe for some comfort food. Meatloaf is one of the most popular American comfort foods. When I gave up red meat, this was one of the dishes I missed the most. I love a good cold meatloaf sandwich, and meatloaf with mashed potatoes takes me back to childhood.  

This vegetarian loaf is the closest I’ve come to the actual taste and texture of hamburger, without the grease. Wheat berries are the secret ingredient to the texture. The lentils and yellow split peas are cooked in spicy tomato sauce, and the liquid smoke adds a warm, comforting aroma.  

The recipe might look a little daunting, but the lentils and wheat berries can be cooked in advance of assembling the loaf. They can even be cooked in a crock pot over night.  

Ingredients  

Lentil mixture  

• 2/3 c dry lentils
• 2/3 c dry yellow split peas
• 2 Tbs olive oil
• 1/2 small onion
• 2 Tbs chopped garlic
• 2 c spicy…