I didn't die!

Yes, folks! I survived the face-melting that was cooking a "meat"loaf on a hot, sunny day. By the time we got around to eating it, the wind had picked up a little so we threw open the back door to let some air blow through the house. Turns out the wind picked up a little too much because, as we were eating, the door slammed shut with such force, our dogs stopped begging for food for almost an entire second. That is a new record!

Anyway, onto the food! So, as I previously mentioned, yesterday's meal was Oh She Glows walnut lentil loaf, and because I was unwilling to make yet another trip to the grocery store, I had to sub in rolled oats for the bread crumbs. And because I am apparently illiterate, instead of shredding the apple, I diced it. It was not a particularly juicy apple, so that might have also worked against the recipe, if I am being honest.

Here, you can see the diced apple failure.

The end product was indeed tasty (to quote my husband, "It's quite obviously not meatloaf... but it tastes really nice, so who cares?"), but it was not as moist as I was expecting, so if/when I repeat this recipe, I will make some changes. I will also follow the existing directions like someone who can actually fucking read and follow a recipe. 

Naked loaf, pressed and ready to be glazed & cooked.

The apple balsamic glaze really is the star of the show, in my opinion. I may put that shit on everything, forever.

Looks enough like meatloaf to trick most people!

Since I had a salad for lunch, and it was too goddamned hot to make much else, we opted to break out the ActiFry and do some frozen fries we've had in the freezer for too long to go with this. I am glad I only had a few fries on my plate because what this loaf lacked in properly shredded apple it made up for in being a very filling gut-buster of an entree. One slice would have been plenty, and I will know better for next time! Our after-supper walk was a necessity after eating this. Neither of us had room for seconds, or anything else all night. No snacking, just water. I didn't even have room for wine! 😓

This morning, however, was another story altogether. See, in preparation for breakfast, last night I mixed up some overnight oats: rolled oats, vanilla soy milk, cinnamon, flax seeds, and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. This morning, I pitted and quartered some cherries and layered our bowls with cherries and oats, then topped with a little maple syrup. Damn, it was good! It tasted like dessert for breakfast, and who doesn't like that? 

I got on the scale this morning and I am down 10.4 lbs total since starting over, and I feel amazing. I can't really see the weight gone, minus some inflammation and water retention lessening, but I feel better physically, as well as mentally. I feel like things are going in the right direction.