Happy Birthday to ME! (part 2)

So to continue on with the birthday festivities.... Brenton and I went over to my parents' house for dinner!


Presents for Brenton and me (his birthday is tomorrow).  That polka-dot package on the right is a cast-iron skillet.  HEA-VY!  

Dinner-

On the menu was whole wheat pasta with sun dried tomatoes, garlic, onion, olive oil and arugula and salad.  VERY YUMMY!


For dessert, papaya and almond flour cake:

Happy Birthday to ME! (part 1)

Hi everybody!  Yesterday was my birthday!  I decided to treat myself (and Brenton) with some Vegan Pancakes!!!  Seriously, easiest pancake recipe ever.

Vegan Pancakes

1 C Flour (whatever flour you want!  I used Whole Wheat)
1 T Baking Powder (Aluminum Free, of course!)
2 T Oil or Apple Sauce
1 T Agave Nectar (I used Honey instead)
1 C Milk (whatever milk you want!  I used Almond Milk)
Any seasonings/fruit to taste.  I added a dash of Cinnamon, but blueberries would have been fabulous!

Mix all of the dry ingredients, then mix the wet.  Spoon into a pan over Medium High heat, and cook until the top bubbles.  Flip, then cook until the edges are golden brown.

I made an oopsie...

Hahahahaha....

I ate the oopsie pancake (the one on the top of the pile HA!).  Topped with fruit...OMG so good.

There's a pancake under there somewhere!

After breakfast, I opened my present from Brenton.  He got me Fancy Love perfume by Jessica Simpson (the BEST smelling perfume I have ever had.  Ever.  ...ever.) and Ani's Raw Food Essentials (among other things that were spread out throughout the month LOL)

















I'm addicted to this book.  I can't put it down!!!  You have to go get it-  there are TONS of easy raw recipes that all look so yummy!!!

Stay tuned for part 2! 

Happy Birthday! Real Cake!

So we've made it to Wednesday, huh?  What a a BEAUTIFUL day in Central Ohio!   The sun is shining, no clouds in the sky, about 86 degrees for the high- LOVELY! 

Speaking of lovely, my mom's birthday was this weekend!  I decided to try a newb birthday cake recipe!  My version of the recipes is not (gasp) RAW or VEGAN (I know... that's so not like me, right?!), but the original recipe IS vegan.  It all depends on the sweetener you use.

Whole Wheat Applesauce Cake

Ingredients:

1/2 c. oil (I used olive oil, about 1/4 of a cup)


3/4 c. granulated brown sugar (I used 1/2 of a cup of brown sugar and 1/4 cup of honey)

1 c. unsweetened applesauce (I used 1 1/4 cups to make up for the 1/4 cup of oil I left out)

1 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 c. unsifted whole wheat flour

1 tsp. cinnamon (I also added a dash of vanilla and a dash of apple pie spice)

 
Directions:
 
Pre-heat the oven to 375
 
Grese and flour an 8x8 baking dish.

Mix together the applesauce, oil, and sugar in a large bowl.  Then add the spices and baking soda and mix well.  Add in the flour and mix until you get a thick batter.  Pour into the baking dish.





















Bake at 375 for 30 minutes.






















Ta-da!!  Before serving, I drizzled a little bit of cinnamon, powdered sugar, vanilla and water glaze to give it a little something extra.





















Blowing out the candles.

I WOULD SO MAKE THIS CAKE AGAIN.  Next time, I want to try no oil at all and instead use 1 1/2 cups of applesauce.  I bet it would work!
Enjoy your Wednesday!

OH!  Don't forget to check out http://ohsheglows.com/2010/05/25/savoury-oats-return/  for the Shop 4 A Cause II- bid bid bid!!

Happy Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY bloggies!  It's hard to believe, but today is Annie'sSimpleLife's 1st birthday! WOW time flies!  In celebration, here is the recipe to my all time favorite birthday cake (raw, of course!)

Cake:


3 c Walnuts
2/3 c Coco Powder
1/4 t Sea Salt
1 c Dates


Filling:

3/4 c Raspberries (fresh, or thawed frozen)

Frosting: (yeah... I said frosting! can you believe it?!)

1/3 c Soft Dates
1/4 c Honey or Agave
1/2 Large Avocado
1/3 c Coco Powder


First, blend all of the cake ingredients together in the food processor:

For my cake, I wanted it round and birthday cake-ish, so I lined a Pyrex Round bowl with plastic wrap for ease of removal.

Divide the cake 'batter' in half, press that half in the bowl, and set the other half aside.

Then, put all of the Frosting ingredients in the food processor and blend until smooth. Sometimes you need to add a little water to get it to the right consistency- just add a little at a time. I'm telling you, this frosting tastes like it came out of a tub from the grocery store. I like to eat the leftovers with a spoon. Actually, when I made this cake, Brenton caught me. He said "uh... you have chocolate all over your face". (HAHA!!) Ok, back to the recipe, sorry! Coat the pressed in cake layer with a thin layer of frosting, and top with the raspberries (I used thawed frozen, so it looks gooooey!)

Then, press the other layer of set-aside cake on top. Press down really well!

Carefully, put a plate on top and flip the bowl over. Release the plastic wrap, and, like jello (GROSS) comes out of a jello mold, the cake will kinda... slurp... out. And this is what you'll have!

Ta-da!!! Then, ice the cake with the rest of the frosting. Devour immediately. Or put it in the fridge and eat it later. Even over the next few days- if it lasts that long.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Happy birthday!!!!