Taking the meat out of a meatloaf

I watch a lot of TV. And I really do mean a lot. Not so much when I was growing up as my folks were firm about us kids not watching much TV. I think we were allowed one programme  a day on weekdays and not much more on weekends. It was only during school holidays that we had the chance to binge on TV.

Now, I watch TV all the time and thankfully, it's a part of my job. Now, I have to watch TV. The good, the bad ... I have to know whats out there.

OK.  What's this got to do with food?

Well, apart from the plot and storylines, the witty dialogue and clever repartee, i am also attracted to the food on TV. And I am not talking bout the programmes on the Asian Food Channel.

An example,  I love Friends and still laugh            out loud everytime Astro repeats a repeat of        a repeat of an episode. Love the characters,          love the humour. But I also love the food. I          often imagine having Monica's job.

Since I watch a lot of American TV, I have            always been fascinated by American staples:        Roast, Mac 'n Cheese, Apple Pie and even Chinese Take Away! (Would you believe that when I was in  NYC early this year I bought myself several of the cardboard take away cartons -- like the ones you see on TV -- from a Chinese food shop!!).

The one dish I have been dying to try is Meatloaf. The idea of meat in the form of a loaf: cool, right?

[caption id="attachment_147" align="alignleft" width="100" caption="Not this meat loaf"][/caption]

I decided to try it early this year. I found a recipe from Martha Stewart (all hail the grand dame) and made a beef meat loaf (the real meat, not the mock stuff, for my strictly non vegetarian partner) and a chicken meat loaf.

And now I want to try a vegetarian meat loaf.

I regret to say my first attempt was not quite successful. The taste was good but the texture too soft. I used tofu as the main ingredient and added some mushroom, peas, potatoes, breadcrumbs, cheese and seasoning.

[caption id="attachment_150" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="Something's not quite right here"][/caption]

My mission this week or so is to make the perfect vegetarian meatloaf and, pray indulge, I will record my progress.

Here's wishing me luck.