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.