Lentils: Good Enough for Meat Club!

My husband is in a Meat Club.  Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like—a group of guys (of course) who get together and eat meat.  Most of the time, they check out a restaurant that has, say, all-you-can-eat sirloin or is well-known for a particular dish.  However, one of the members recently had a house-warming party and invited the Meat Club over for a barbeque (family and vegetarians welcome!).  What’s a vegetarian to do at a Meat Club event?  I decided to consult my trusty “Quick Vegetarian Pleasures” cookbook (no joke, not one recipe has yet let me down) and make “Crunchy Lentil Salad” to share.  Pretty simple—lentils, finely diced veggies like celery, carrots, and onion, tossed with some lemon juice, olive oil, and herbs, but soooooo delicious!  Although my husband was certain that others would scoff at my meatless contribution, I’m proud to say that it was a big hit.  The host even asked to keep the small amount that remained at the end of the evening.  Move over bacon, now there’s something “meatier”!