Lent - Moral support may be needed ;)

ScotinLondon

Good luck to everyone..we not religious either but both OH & I have decided to give up chocolates and biscuits for Lent.

We can but try as we both love the stuff.

SIL

NewShadow

Cappella wrote: »

http://www.food.com/recipe/cheese-and-lentil-loaf-96816

Was just poking around the net and wondered if anyone had tried a recipe like this?

http://www.marthastewart.com/1014059/curried-lentil-and-rice-loaves

1 tbsp oil
2/3 cup rice
2/3 cup lentils
1 onion
2 1/2 tsp curry powder
2 cups water
1 tin beans, drained, rinsed, and mashed
2 carrots grated
3/4 cup tomato puree
1 cup parsley
2 1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs, beaten

I think I'd halve the quantity but keep both eggs, leave out the salt, and maybe add corn, mushroom and peppers - a review said it was dry.

I'm wondering if it's possible to swap the curry powder for something that would make it taste 'meaty' - mustard, paprika, garlic, worcestershire and ketchup is what I use for meatloaf, so maybe that would work with 'lentil-loaf' ?

katkin

Lentil loafs look like they're going to be popular here. I picked up a recipe for a mushroom, cheese and lentil one. It uses marmite and mustard, garlic, mix herbs for seasoning. I'd also cook the lentils in a stock for extra umami flavour.

maryb

Transformers I get very confused about Sundays in Lent. As I understand it, Sunday is never a fast day (so you get to eat three full meals) but if you are abstaining from something for Lent you only get Laetare Sunday off (Mother's Day).

I have several times made it as far as Laetare Sunday giving up wine or whatever. But I never seem to be able to face climbing back on the waggon again. Having every Sunday off would be fatal for me - I'd never make it past the first week!!

Cappella

It would be bland without the curry powder, I'd certainly add mustard and then add smoked paprika for a meatier taste if I was missing the curry powder it out. Or maybe Cajun or fajita seasoning if you have either?
Or you could add oregano, marjoram and basil for an Italian flavour? (wouldn't be especially meaty but would be good with mushrooms and sweet corn).

Transformers

Maryb - in my childhood and youth, the nuns used to drum into us about fasting for the whole period. But then, decades later, a priest told me that the Vatican had clarified that the Sundays should be a 'feast day' so no 'sacrifice' on those days of celebration. That was good enough for me .

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As to lentils - they can be a bit 'windy' can't they? I avoid them or add asafetida to offset the effects .

As a vegetarian I've had nut and lentil loaf overload over the last 30 years.

NewShadow

Is that why lent is 44 days (March 1st to April 13th) when the bible says it was 40 days in the desert?

I don't think I'm taking Sundays off - but that's easy to say now

Transformers

NewShadow wrote: »

Is that why lent is 44 days (March 1st to April 13th) when the bible says it was 40 days in the desert?

Yep - the season of Lent lasts from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday making 46 days.

Take off the six Sundays in Lent and you get '40 days and 40 nights'.

Islandmaid

Genuinely interesting- never knew that about Lent - never been religious myself, but am interested in all religions, spent an hour or so last week talking to an Imam about Islam, was fascinating. Did a study about Taoism at school, enjoyed that too.

Is it cheating if I give up Marzipan (I can't stand it )

No seriously, maybe it should be a starting point for me starting to go walking - I am fat, (nearly) 50 and need to change one of them

maryb

The alternative way of calculating it is from Ash Wednesday to Palm Sunday ie Holy Week is extra