Roasting Italian Long Hots and Lacto Ovo Vegetarian Meatloaf

I bought about 10 long hot peppers last week and never got around to roasting them. Today was the day. 

Italian Long Hots

• Enough Olive oil to cover the bottom of an oven safe baking dish PLUS about 1 TBS more to top the peppers once in the dish
• 8 – 10 long hot peppers, washed, dried, stem ends removed. Leave the insides (seeds, etc. – that is where the heat is)
• 4 cloves minced garlic
• salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 F.  Cut the peppers into 3rds and put into the baking dish.  Top with garlic, salt and pepper and 1 TBS olive oil.  Mix around.

 

Put into the oven for 40 minutes, stir every 15 minutes. Remove, let cool and store in the refrigerator in the olive oil they were cooked in.  They are perfect for a pepper and egg sandwich.

Roasted Italian Long Hots with egg on a slice of pita bread. Drop of ketchup on the side.

 Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian Meatloaf

• 12 oz Vegetarian Soy Crumbles
• 
• 5 oz (about 8-9) Baby Bella Mushrooms (peeled and chopped)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup TVP
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 onion, chopped small
• 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
• 1 tsp marjoram
• 1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
• 1 egg + 1/4 cup egg beaters
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice
• 1/8 cup cold coffee (yes…coffee)

Preheat oven to 425 F. Combine all the ingredients and mix well. Spray a large loaf pan (9 1/4 x 5 1/4 x 2 3/4) with non-stick spray or coat with olive oil. Bake for 30 minutes.  Drizzle water on top (or use more coffee) and reduce heat to 350 and continue baking 15 more minutes. Let cool. Serve with salsa or ketchup.  It is great hot, warm or cold.

The excitement of our Sunday was saving a baby robin that had fallen from the nest.  I saw the mother trying to feed it in the garden so I left it alone. When Shane and I went out to play ball, Shane almost ran over it since the baby had moved to the grass pathway in the yard.  I got my gloves and moved it under a shaded tree, out of sight from crows and also Shane’s big paws. 

Later, I saw the mother robin still bringing worms to the babies that had stayed in the nest.  I just couldn’t leave that little baby who had fallen to starve.   When Ted came home, we went looking for the baby.  We found him, got the ladder and put him back in the nest.  There were at least 2 others in there and it was pretty crowded. One of them will most likely take another tumble.  Anyway, about 10 minutes later, Ma Robin had a mouthful of worms and was feeding her hungry crew.  My good deed for the day.

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Watkins Glen Part II-An Herb Cottage and Good Food

While volunteering at the track was so much fun, our short stay at a Bed and Breakfast called The Herb Cottage was a thrill for me.  It was clean, Carolsue was so friendly, it was like walking into a family home.   Everything is natural – she even makes her own soaps.  She is a Vegetarian offering organic goodies. 

In our room, The Rosemary Room, this cute little shelf was on the wall, complete with recipes:

Carolsue offered us a glass of wine. It was a chardonnay with a mango ice cube. 

We were so hungry and there was no way we were waiting until 8pm to have dinner with the PCA volunteers at Falls Motel. We went to the Wildflower Cafe in the village of Watkins Glen and enjoyed the following:

A funky shaped loaf of whole grain bread

Cajun Seafood Stew: Mine in a spicy marinara with asparagus and Ted's in the cajun cream sauce over fettucine

After dinner, we strolled around Seneca Lake front, taking a look at the many sailboats docked and just rocking with the light wind.

We then joined the friendly group at Falls Motel for more wine, lovely conversation and some picky food (I won’t admit that Ted and I actually ate a SECOND time).

Saturday:

Because we were scheduled to be at the track by 7:30 am, Carolsue said she would leave breakfast ready for us.  She prepared: Yogurt with nuts, granola, blueberries and strawberries.  Extra strawberries.  Bagels with rosemary-grand marnier cream cheese.  Coffee.  A wonderful start to the day.

Following our work at The Glen and enjoying Thunder Road tour, we set out to Ithaca, NY.  Ithaca is the home of a very popular Vegetarian restaurant called Moosewood.  They offer many cookbooks, an earth friendly atmosphere and delicious Vegetarian and Vegan cuisine.  I didn’t tell Ted that when directing him to the restaurant.  His first question to the waiter was “Do you have any meat dishes?”. 

In spite of having no meat, the lunch was enjoyable and filling.

Garden Salad with Spicy Peanut-Lime Dressing

Fresh Seafood Ragout: Salmon, shrimp simmered with herbs, saffron and citrus served with toasted baguette slices

Menestra: Broth of carrots, mushrooms, potatoes, peppers, artichoke hearts simmered with herbs paprika, thyme. Served topped hard boiled egg and spanish olives

 

Zesty chipotle pepper hummus with greens and tomato

Following lunch, on the way back to the car, we enjoyed the music of a street musician playing in between tents of street vendors:

Watkins Glen, Seneca Lake, and Ithaca New York.  If you have yet to visit, make plans to get there during the warm days of summer. There is always something going on.

Have a great Sunday.

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