Happy Valentine's Day!

I'll spare you the details of my terrible, horrible, no good, very bad (moving to Australia kind of) day and just mention that today I really needed some comfort food.  And what is more comforting than spaghetti and meat (lentil) balls?  And for good measure, even some chocolate cake!

Anyone that knows me, knows that I LOVE lentils.  I firmly believe that you can make anything with them.  So while searching for some kind of non-meat meat balls a few months ago, I was most excited to find this recipe.  Super simple, super delicious, and super consistency when mixed with the sauce.  Its one of my favourite vegan recipes!  I also made a side salad and a very chunky vegetable tomato sauce.

Chunky Pasta Sauce

Olive oil

1 chopped onion

3 cloves of finely chopped garlic

3 sliced carrots

3 sliced celery stalks

1 chopped red pepper

as many tomatoes as you can find! (chopped and seeded)

1 tsp each cumin, parsley, basil, oregano

salt and pepper

1 cup of vegetable broth

Tomato Paste

1 tbsp brown sugar

*Saute onion and garlic in oil until translucent

*Add rest of the vegetables (minus tomatoes) and continue sauteing until soft

*add spices, broth, paste and sugar and bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer until reduced

*add tomatoes and simmer on low for as long as you can (at least 45 minutes in this house)

*Use immersion blender (or food processor or blender) and blend until desired consistency!

Lentil Balls 

I usually have to double this recipe to feed our family

1 cup cooked lentils
2 tbsp olive oil, plus more for spraying/brushing on lentil-balls
2 tbsp soy sauce
1/4 cup vegetable broth
1/2 cup vital wheat gluten
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs 

1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried parsley

(and I always add cumin 1/2 tsp)

*preheat oven to 375

*In a blender or food processor or using an immersion blender, puree the lentils with the olive oil, soy sauce, and vegetable broth

*mix together the dry ingredients and the spices

*Add the lentil puree to the dry ingredients and stir until a ball is formed. Knead the ball for a few minutes until the gluten is stringy. The ball will also "pull together" a little at this point. If it seems really wet and isn't coming together, add extra gluten 1 tbsp at a time until you reach the desired consistency

*Roll out about 2 tbsp of dough into balls and put them on a cookie sheet lined with a silicone sheet, or sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Spray or brush the balls lightly with olive oil, then flip them over and get the bottom oiled too

*Bake for 20 minutes, then turn them over, and bake for another 15 minutes. They will firm up more once they're out of the oven 

 I know I said we don't usually eat dessert.  But, today was an exception! Mini heart shaped chocolate cakes with delicious butter cream icing.  Just what I needed!