sloppy joe lettuce wraps

march 20th is the great american meatout! if you aren't veg, today is the day to give it a shot! below is an easy sloppy joe recipe i created for an upcoming vegetarian cooking demo for kids. for them, i'll be serving the recipe on buns, but i loved the idea of making them into lettuce wraps for myself.

• 1 can kidney beans, rinsed
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons mustard
• 6 oz. tomato sauce
• 5 lettuce leaves
• condiments of your choice

rinse kidney beans in a colander, then transfer to a large bowl. lightly mash kidney beans with a potato masher (or strong fork) - you don't want to turn them into complete mush, but you'll want to mash so there is a binding consistency. stir in the rest of ingredients and either microwave or heat on stove.

spoon mixture onto a leaf of lettuce, and add your favourite toppings... here with kraut, pickles, mustard, and ketchup.. i went a little crazy, but the end result was so yummy. serve with a side of cider cucumbers or cheesy zucchini.

sloppy lentil burrito

we've been slowly cleaning out the pantry, freezer and fridge, so recipes have been quite an experimental hodge podge around here. luckily i found a bag of green lentils, and was able to throw together a vegan sloppy joe, instead wrapped up in a yummy wheat tortilla.

• 2 cups cooked lentils (1 - 1.25 cup dry lentils)
  
• 1/2 can chili beans (in chili sauce)
• 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
• 1 clove garlic
• 2 tablespoons onion powder
• 2 tablespoons stone ground mustard
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce/nama shoyu
  
• 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper
*(or 1/2 jalapeno)

read lentil package for cooking instructions. while lentils are cooking, heat up chili beans. once cooked, drain as much chili sauce as possible (without washing it off) - if you don't discard some of the sauce, your sloppy joe will be extra soupy. throw half of the can of beans, a little of the chili sauce, and the jalapenos (if using) in the magic bullet or food processor. drain the lentils, then add the chili bean paste, about 6 oz. of tomato sauce, and the rest of the ingredients back in the saucepan and simmer on low for about 15-20 minutes.

wrap in a wheat tortilla and serve up with some sea salt & vinegar chips. makes about 4 burritos.