Vegan Mofo VI- Day 7: Cake...It's What's For Dinner

Last night we celebrated my friend E's 4th birthday. It was right after work so I did not have time to eat dinner before I got there. I was super hungry so it wasn't really a good idea for me to be surrounded by cupcakes my sister made. There was also a cake in the fridge that her boyfriend made. It came out fine but he wasn't satisfied with the decorating job so it was hiding in the fridge. I said I would try it since looks are not a factor for me when it comes to food. So many things taste much better than they look, right?

To start, I had my first cupcake and a scoop of So Delicious Neopolitan ice cream. They were both so scumptious, I had to have more. I was going to get a second cupcake but then I remembered, fridge cake! I took it out and cut into it. It was denser and firmer than the cupcakes because it had been in the fridge, I knew I was in trouble! It also had more frosting than the cupcakes, uh-oh. I quickly announced to everyone how bomb fridge cake was, so then they wanted to try it too. I knew I couldn't get away with hogging fridge cake after they knew it was so good. So, I helped myself to another cupcake and the rest of my mom's ice cream she didn't finish.

I jokingly told my sister I would take home any extras. I didn't really need to since I had thirds, but she did send me home with a cupcake and a 4" x 4" slab of fridge cake. I couldn't believe she gave me so much after I already ate so much, but 2 of the 3 kids would be gone the rest of the week and she probably didn't want all that cake at her place. See what I good sister I am to have around sometimes!

If it's possible to overdose on cake, that is exactly what I did last night. I had a terrible tummy ache, but I still stand by my story that it can be blamed on lady time more than the cake. Anyway, I had to get a picture of my leftovers today so I trimmed down my fridge cake into a nice slice, eating the not as neat parts as I went along of course. I tried to unsmoosh the cupcake while leaving it in the wrapper but that didn't work out so well. So it's a little crumby, but it's also very sweet.





Happy Ssert-Day To Me!

Today is my birthday. I had planned on going out tomorrow night but no one seemed interested so I scrapped that a week ago. Then I decided I would rather do something constructive and go for a hike tomorrow morning. I haven't hit the trail in over a month since my partner is out of commission, and I know my sister would love it. I thought this was going to be my "no one showed up to Il Cantinori for my dinner and I had to buy my own cake birthday", but I double checked and that isn't until CB's 35th birthday and I plan on it being much different for KG's 35th. I have a whole year to plan it!

Anyway, I decided I wanted a variety of desserts so I spent most of yesterday and today working toward that goal. I should have had someone else do it for me, but I like to bake and I have a ton of time on my hands these days. Plus it is fun to pretend that I burned a small fraction of the calories I would consume in advance. I mixed two cupcake batters, three icings, and another cookie type mix today. I lost count of how many dishes were washed and how many hours I was standing. I do know I finished a disc of "Arrested Development" .

I made Crimson Velveteen Cupcakes, stuffed them with Fluffy Vegan Buttercream and frosted them with Cream Cheese Frosting, all from VCTOTW. I also made the Coconut Heaven Cupcakes from VWAV, stuffed them with buttercream and topped with icing and chocolate drizzle. I also attempted a vegan version of these s'mores cookie bars. Mine didn't look too much like the photo but they are a gooey sticky delicious mess, so I am okay with it.

I'm enjoy the rest of my day by relaxing, reading and enjoying the gorgeous roses my sister and niece surprised me with this morning. This is going to be my last year of "rounding down" so I have to make the most of it, starting tomorrow.

ketchup

Here is what you didn't miss in the past week:

Monday- My 32nd birthday! I did not end up wearing my summer dress because I did not have a sweater that matched it and cannot go strapless to work. Instead I wore a cowl neck top and denim pencil skirt to show off my hard work and the Tiffany necklace my sister got me (the Elsa Peretti bean one, haha!). I had lunch with friends from work and had dinner with my sister, niece and sister's boyfriend. We were disappointed the Mother's menu had changed so much but went to Native Foods and pigged out. I had a really lovely coconut cupcake.

Tuesday-blah

Wednesday- My parents took me to dinner @ cheesecake factory and I had a delicious Manhattan. The servers also sang to me, so cute!

Thursday- We met up with a friend to celebrate her birthday, but I was still celebrating my own. Two more Manhattans and my first super girly dressed up night of going out. It was fun, will have to do more of that.

Friday-Saturday were a blur of heat and grossness. We watched Night at the Museum 2, which was expectedly more corny for the kids but overall I liked it. I also started a great book about the most famous brothel in America- the Everleigh Club (which is where we got the slang expression "getting laid", it is short for getting Everleighed).

Sunday: I babysat again, played way too much I-Spy and watched Princess Protection for about the fourth time in three weeks. I made "Bitchin' Breakfast Burritos" from Skinny Bitch... and they were indeed bitchin'. Even my pickiest eater asked if she could have it for breakfast and lunch the next day. Were it not for having to leave some for my sister, they would not have survived beyond today. If she doesn't have a burrito tonight I am taking the rest tomorrow, bwahaha.



Yesterday: My dad helped me put together a canopy so that Penny can have it made in the shade. It turned out great. She loves it, I just hope she doesn't start chewing on the pvc pipe. I'd like to think she is over most of her puppy behaviors, but who knows.



I've been trying to cook a bit more but spend less time in the kitchen. I want to cook more often but I need to keep it simpler sometimes, especially now that it is too hot to be in the kitchen. Tonight I am making Quinoa Salad with Mango and Black Beans from Veganomicon. I finally used my super cute cookbook holder I bought a few years ago from a school fundraiser. My mom helped me round up the produce and I am afraid she grabbed Italian parsley instead of cilantro (oops) which I didn't notice until I was almost done with the salad(double oops). Another mishap is that I could not find grapeseed oil at either store I went to this afternoon, one healthy and one regular. I am using canola instead and hoping the red wine vinegar, cilantro and scallions will overpower it. I left it alone overnight to get acquainted so the jury is still out. I'll have to double check everything before I start prep next time.




p.s. this should have been posted last night but awesome cable did not allow, thanks!

wear it well

Ever since I started losing weight earlier this year I had been thinking it would be great to get an adorable dress to wear on my birthday. I wanted to celebrate being comfortable in my own skin and also the work I have been doing to get healthier (with help from Penny!). I hadn't really shopped for anything but did see a cute yellow dress at H & M. I tried it about a month ago but it was all wrong. It had way too much gathering/pleating at the waist, super unflattering the waist I had just recovered and the hips I am still glad to have.

With less than a week to go, I have no amazing new dress. What I do have is a super cute summer dress from four birthdays ago, that I only wore once. It seems more appropriate to give the dress and the "bod" a simultaneous comeback party. I am not sure about the shoes though. The ones I wore a few years ago seem a bit too kicky now. They just might have to do since I don't have time to look for another pair and hopefully most eyes are directed upward anyway. Maybe next year I will spring for a new dress.