The Betty Crocker Project : Easy Bacon Cheeseburger Lasagna

A few years back, I was looking at this absolutely just astounding website for MEAT CAKES with my friend Sarah (some of you may know her as the poster grrl from our facebook fan page Vegan Foods = Joy). Gross as it was - and believe me some of them were just sick - We were having a pretty good time coming up with some vegan versions of our own "Meat Cakes". My favorite was little tacos shaped like cupcakes with guacamole frosting sprinkled with green onions and black olives. I was actually inspired that day to create the infamous Fake Bacon Onion Ring Cheeseburger "cake" but then one of us had a realization : Most of these so called "Meat Cakes" were just weirdo versions of lasagna with some candles and spray cheese flowers.

The second I saw this recipe - I knew. I was making a vegan "Meat Cake".

If you are following along in your own Betty Crocker Cookbook, you'll see that there aren't really any vegetables in this recipe. I mean does canned tomato sauce really count as a vegetable? I had pulled some fresh tomatoes out of the fridge to add - I mean - cheeseburgers have slices of tomatoes - right? But here's the thing with a "Meat Cake" : Not unlike regular cakes, "Meat Cakes"  aren't solid until you bake them. If there is too much moisture - they don't get solid. SO! I didn't do it. I may try to tinker with it in the future but because I did have to tinker with this one quite a bit to add flavor and of course replacing the ricotta and taking out the eggs - WELL - this recipe is without a doubt, no compromise, assuredly, beyond question, clearly, a super undeniable "Meat Cake". 

ENJOY! Please eat with a salad. *

• 1 Packages of Vegan Ground Beef (we used LightLife Smart Ground  - it wasn't bad but I would have preferred Boca Crumbles)
• 1 Red Onion (chopped)
• 3 Tablespoons Braggs
• 1/4 Teaspoon Black Pepper
• 1/2 Teaspoon Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning
• Olive Oil for cooking
• Dash of Liquid Smoke
• 1 Package Firm Tofu  
• 2 Tablespoons of Nutritional Yeast 
• 1 Package Fake Bacon ( we used LightLife Smart Bacon but smoked tempeh would be great)
• 1 Package Lasagna Noodles ( we had to use the no-boil version. - all the organic versions were no - boil but if you use another kind follow the directions on the package)
  
• 1 Package Daiya Cheddar Cheese (shredded)

Sauce

• 1 Can of Stewed Tomatoes  (15 oz)
• 1 Can of Tomato Sauce (15oz)
• 1 Teaspoon Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning 
• 2 Tablespoons Braggs
• 2 Teaspoons Onion Powder
• 1/4 Cup Fresh Parsley (chopped)

Preheat oven to 400. 

In a pot, add all sauce ingredients and let simmer - stirring occasionally.

In your trusted cast iron skillet, heat Olive Oil and Liquid Smoke on a medium heat. Once you feel it's hot, add Fake Ground Beef, Red Onion, Braggs, Black Pepper and Creole Seasoning. Mix thoroughly and let cook until it has little crispy corners and a desired texture.

In a bowl, mix Tofu and Nutritional Yeast.

When figuring out the layers, I can give you a ballpark of using around 1 cup for each layer, but your casserole dish might be a different size or depth than mine. So, you'll need to eyeball and ration the best you can. Once you lay your first layer, you'll know about what each layer takes.

In a glass casserole dish, spread about a ladle full of Tomato Sauce over the bottom of the dish. Put down a layer of Lasagna Noodles. If you have a lot of overlap, pour a little sauce over the spots where the noodles overlap. Spread the Tofu Mix over the noodles creating an even layer. Spread the Fake Beef Mix over the Tofu creating an even layer. Cover with a layer of Fake Bacon Strips. Cover with a layer of Daiya Cheese. Cover with a layer of Tomato Sauce. Cover with another layer of Lasagna Noodles. Cover with another layer of Tomato Sauce. Cover with the Daiya Cheese.

Bake uncovered for around 25-30 minutes. Please keep an eye on it; smaller lasagnas will bake faster, so yours might bake faster. Remove from the oven when the Daiya Cheese is melted and starts to brown.

*Pictured with the great Sci-Fi icon The Millennium Falcon** to show scale.

**Not the actual Millennium Falcon.