Apricots & Magic Loaf

It was a little picnic just for mom today, while shmoo took an afternoon watercolors class at an art gallery near a park.

I packed my usual lunchtime green salad: romaine, leaf lettuce, spinach, carrots, celery, sunflower seeds, apples, and raisins, with a small container of super sweet-tart pomegranate balsamic vinegar for dressing.

I also packed a wedge of my latest Magic Loaf creation; this one is made with lentils, amaranth, almonds, flax, nutritional yeast, and a touch of sage. I'm crazy for the flavor of teeny tiny amaranth, and it has enough binding power to really hold a loaf together (and did you know that amaranth has twice as much iron as wheat and is higher in protein and fiber?). Shmoo loved it, too, and ate two wedges at home before class, heated and covered in barbecue sauce.

For dessert, two ripe apricots stuffed with juicy golden raspberries (all hail the fruits of summer!).

Speaking of the Magical Loaf Studio, I finally got around to making a picture link in the sidebar that will take you right to it. Pretty nifty, huh? I've also updated the site with a few additional ingredients and instructions, thanks to several helpful comments I've received. One writer recommended uncooked polenta as a nice binder, another suggested using an 8x8 square baking pan for a crispier loaf (I tried it and agreed that the loaf had a drier, firmer texture and a nice crunchy top). I also cut down on the amount of liquid suggested, as my loaves never seem to require more than a tablespoon or two of liquid.

Verdict: I would give it 5 stars, but then I'm no picky shmoo. I sat in the shade by the river and watched teenagers jumping off the dock, and crazy people taking brisk walks in the 110ºF sunshine. I ate and knit (speaking of crazy, who knits when it's 110ºF outside?).

Meanwhile, shmoo created some fabulous works of art in watercolor class. This one is titled "Meteors".