Vegetarians get hungry too!

My husband and I eat a lot. We are the people that some choose to hate because our metabolism doesn't know when to stop and the hunger pains crop up again right after we eat. That being said, we eat some pretty hearty meals around here. All this talk about veg head food being "rabbit food" is silly. I love produce- love it- but that does not mean we live off of watercress. Looking for a yummy, fiber-filled, protein-packed, and comforting meal? Read on!

Spicy Bean and Lentil Loaf

• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 crushed garlic clove
• 2 celery ribs, chopped
• 2 cups red kidney beans (buy dry, soak overnight, then boil)
• 2 cups lentils (buy them dry and just boil them until they feel soft)
• 1 egg
• 1 carrot, grated
• 1/2 cup cheddar, grated (use cheese that is organic so you know you're not pumping your body with Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone. also choose a block of cheese and grate it yourself; the kind you buy shredded usually has added preservatives)
• 1 cup fresh whole wheat bread crumbs (just rip up a piece of toast)
• 1 TBS tomato paste
• 1 TBS ketchup
• 1 tsp each of cumin, coriander, and chili powder

1. Saute the chopped onions, celery, and garlic for 5 minutes with the oil. Let cool for a sec.
2. Fill your food processor with the beans and lentils (rinsed and drained), all the stuff from step #1, and an egg. Let the machine mix it all up!
3. Move the mixture to a bowl, add everything else, and mix.
4. Fill a greased loaf pan with the mix. Bake it at 350 for an hour.

Makes for easy and filling left-overs too! Just serve it with some salad greens and/or whatever fresh veggies you happen to have. Let me know how you like it!

I got this recipe from one of my new favorite cookbooks. Vegetarian:Over 300 healthy and wholesome recipes chosen from around the world. Consultant Editor: Nicola Graimes. I found it on the bargain table at Barnes and Nobles. Book stores are great.