Lentil loaf / mock meatloaf

i'm always skeptical about faux meat and animal products (veggie dogs, tofutti, etc.), but this is from scratch, and really makes no comparison with beefy old meatloaf. it's got it's own thing going on.

ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups red lentils
  (soaked if you like; try 1/2 cup of some other lentil/legume if adventurous, and let me know how it turns out!)
• 2 or 2 1/2 cups cooked rice (again, mix it up with brown if you like)
• 3-4 cups broth
  (i used two veggie bouillon cubes and water; a miso or kombu broth might be nice; so might a broth from veggie scraps)
• 1-2 onions, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tbsp. olive oil
• 1/4 cup ketchup/catsup or BBQ sauce, plus more to top
  (the smokiness of a hickory BBQ sauce is nice)
• 1/2 tsp. italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp. sage
• other seasonings, spices, etc.
  (to taste; i added a bit of cayenne and black pepper - 1/4 to 1/2 tsp each)

directions (about 1 hour, 40 mins. total cooking time)

1. simmer lentils in broth, 25-30 minutes or until cooked. drain excess liquid and mash as needed
2. preheat oven to 350° & oil up a loaf pan
3. soften onion and garlic in oil on med-low, about 5 min or until transparent
4. mix all ingredients and slather into the loaf pan
5. top with as little or as much BBQ sauce or ketchup/catsup as you like
6. bake at 350 for 1 hour
7. let set at least 10 minutes before serving (and anyway, that first slice might be mush)