MICROWAVE Cottage Cheese Loaf/Special K Roast, a Quick Vegetarian Recipe

I have been experimenting with making one of my favorite vegetarian recipes in the microwave. It goes by several names, Cottage Cheese Loaf, Special K Roast, and others but the recipes for it are almost the same with a few variations in some of the ingredients. I have been making this recipe for more than 20 years and I love the flavor.

The original recipe (posted in AC here) is great, I mean it tastes great once it's cooked but the problem with it is that it takes a long time to cook in a regular oven. It has to cook for 45 minutes and then it MUST sit for another 20 to 30 minutes or longer. Now that's great if you have plenty of time but what if you don't want to wait that long for your main dish?

Over the years I have tried to microwave this dish and it never turned out quite right but recently I believe I have found the right way to microwave it and still have it taste good! The secret to microwaving it is simple; make a small batch, use a pie plate to cook it and stir it at five minute intervals.

Here's the adapted recipe:

Ingredients

1/4 Cup Butter or Margarine

1/4 Cup finely chopped Onion [Optional; can use more or less depending on taste]

2 teaspoons of a powdered Vegetarian Bouillon like McKay's Seasoning, Broth, or Worthington [this can be to your taste, add a little more or less if you wish]

2 Beaten Eggs

1 small container of plain Cottage Cheese (or half of the large one)

2 1/2 to 3 Cups of Special K Cereal

1/2 Cup of Walnut Pieces [I put mine in a bag and hit them with a can until they are very small pieces]

Directions:

Use a glass pie plate to cook this in the microwave. The size of the dish is important for this recipe to work. Spray the glass pie plate with a non-stick spray.

Melt butter or margarine in a mixing bowl. Add the two beaten eggs, cottage cheese, the powdered vegetarian or chicken bouillon, onion and walnuts. Mix well. Add the Special K cereal and mix carefully.

Scoop the cottage cheese/cereal mixture into the glass pie plate and press flat with the back of your mixing spoon. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on high for five minutes.

After the first five minutes, fold back the plastic wrap and stir the cottage cheese/cereal mixture carefully. Put the plastic wrap back on and microwave for another five minutes.

After the second five minutes, fold back the plastic wrap and again stir the cottage cheese/cereal mixture carefully. It will be hot so be careful of steam burns.

Put the plastic wrap back on and microwave for one last five minute interval. At the end of this five minute interval, leave the dish in the microwave alone for approximately 10 to 15 minutes before eating.

Notes:

*This will serve three people a generous serving.

*Serve with a side salad or steamed zucchini, vegetarian beans (similar to pork and beans without the pork) and garlic bread.

*Total cooking time is 15 minutes, done in three five minute intervals; stirring after the first two five minute intervals.

*You can use chicken bouillon instead if you don't need the dish to be completely vegetarian.

*The onion is optional; the recipe tastes good either way.

*I have heard that some people use Corn Flakes for this recipe so I tried it. Don't do it! I had to throw away the entire batch because it tasted horrible!