healthy

We've been eating meat free meals for a couple of weeks and there are many delicious vegetarian recipes around. This one is from years ago and I'd forgotten how tasty it is.

Lentil Loaf
225g red split lentils
2 bay leaves
1 clove of garlic crushed
1 onion finely chopped
100g cheddar cheese grated
150ml tomato juice/passata
2 eggs beaten
fresh or dried mixed herbs
salt and pepper to taste

Put lentils in a pan and cover with water, add bay leaves and garlic and boil until tender (approx 15 mins). Drain very well and remove the bay leaves. Chop the onion finely and mix with lentils and grated cheese. Add the tomato juice and well beaten eggs, season heavily with herbs and add salt and pepper to your taste. Mix well and put in a loaf tin which has been lightly oiled and lined with baking parchment. Bake for an hour at gas mark 4/350F/180C. Cool slightly before turning out and serve at room temperature.
We ate the loaf with a vegetable slaw. If you try it, I hope you enjoy it.

Celebrations

It was my Mum's birthday at the weekend and as a family we always make a big deal of these days. After all, they are kind of special. It was the first truly hot day of the year and so we were able to be outside for the evening - a real treat.
My sister made her 'speciality pudding/cake' which is simple and delicious - I am going to have to share it here:
She buys a ready-made large sponge flan base which she cuts into 3 - horizontally - you are left with 3 thin layers. Don't worry if you muck this up - it is very hard to do - you can easily patch it up later! 
If it is an adult dinner, douse the sponge with peach liquer (Archers). If not just layer it with sliced strawberries and softly whipped double cream. When the final top of sponge goes on, cover with more cream and decorate with strawberries. Leave for a while before serving to go all gooey.
As you can see - 3 of us contributed to this and we had drunk too many glasses of the pink liquid on the left! Plus my nieces were throwing strawberries at it from all angles. Rather artistic I think, and my Mum loved it!

Equipment

I think this speaks for itself. I've added the recipe as Gra makes the very best bread, so this is worth a try!

© nicky linzey 2010 for Illustration Friday

Recipe by Graham Wilkins