Birthday pictures!

[Zena]

Well, I spent all yesterday uncooking my cake and some pesto stuffed mushrooms for the birthday party I was gonna have today, but at the last minute my friend called and said she couldn't come. :rolleyes: Not her fault though, she had to go do something necessary that she didn't know she had to do until just then. So really there's no celebration, but i'm just celebrating the food now! I'm really proud, everyone who tried them(Three SAD and two vegetarians!) said both dishes were just delicious. So I figured i'd share!

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j117/zenaraw/100_3064.jpg Pesto-Stuffed Mushrooms from Renee Underkoffler's book Living Cuisine. Garnished with some sage and oregano from our garden. These were just AMAZING, and I recommend the book too.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j117/zenaraw/100_3067.jpg Unfrosted! The cake is this recipe: http://www.living-foods.com/recipes/birthdaycake.html We had no bunt cake pan, so I made it in this big rectangular container. I put saran wrap in first though! If I didn't, I don't think we would've ever been able to get it out.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j117/zenaraw/100_3069.pnghttp://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j117/zenaraw/100_3070.png Frosted and decorated in all it's glory! The frosting is the Vanilla Cream Frosting, once again from Living Cuisine. I think everyone here should be able to tell what the decorations are. :D

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j117/zenaraw/100_3071.png New icon. :p

I've made stuff from the leftovers, too! The leftover fig puree didn't last very long because we used it to dip fruit in. I froze some of the extra banana puree for ice cream, and took some of the leftover frosting and blended it with water and carob for chocolate sauce! Then I took more banana puree and blended it with strawberries and... more carob, and put it into popsicle molds for strawberry-banana fudgesicles. Mmmm. I'm actually making the cake again for the birthday of one of my friends who tasted it! And this week I want to make some soup, or pad thai... or both... and then next weekend my friend is FINALLY coming over, and i'll make 'macaroni and cheese', so expect more pics from me~

[Conscious Midwife]

WOW

Looks absolutely yummy!!!

[Mookie]

Everything looks so good! :p

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!

[mbf]

WOW ! Great Job !

Mara

[Isabelle]

Well, first of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! :D And second of all... WOW! They look absolutely delicious, Zena! Congrats! ;)

[JennaBoBenna]

WOW ! That cake looks delicious!!! :eek:

[Elouet]

Wow. That's all I have to say. I rarely see gorgeous raw food pictures, because although raw tastes wonderful it doesn't usually present as nicely. You did such a great job imitating SAD foods it image, but I'm sure the taste was 1,000xs better! Congrats!

[Cinnamon]

What a beautiful cake, you did a fabulous job on it! And a very happy birthday to you!

[rawpriestess]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

and what a beautiful cake, YUMMMMY, it looks good enough to eat.LOL

also the pesto stuffed mushrooms, mmmmmmmmmm I love those guys, I can practically smell them from your pics.

thanks so much for sharing.

[Punky]

Wow those are really yummy looking! I will have to check out those recipes in "Living Cuisine". I have the book but haven't gotten around to making anything from it yet. The cake really is spectacular looking.
So beautiful and vibrant :)
I love the pics, keep them coming!!!!
And Happy Birthday to you Zena!

[misslinda]

You're such a pro!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday and I love the banana slices idea on the side of the cake! :)

[Punky]

I like your happy happy pretty face glowing proudly behind the cake.
Makes for a more personal cool picture.

[jenjenn]

I must say I'm impressed!!!

How did you get interested in raw food at your age. I think that's great your eating so healthy early in life. Do your parents eat the same way?

[Zena]

Thank you so much for the compliments and birthday wishes, everyone!

Elouet, that's a huge compliment! Thank you!

RP, thank you, I love the mushrooms so much that I might just have to make them regularly!

Punky, yeah! Post whatever you make from it, can't wait to see. All the recipes look pretty great. And thank you!

MissLinda, I hope to be one day! :D Thank you.

Jenjenn, my mom's been vegetarian since she was 16 and raised me to be too. She just heard David Wolfe talking on the radio one day and decided to look into it, so we went raw for a week as a 'test' and I found that it was for me and just started looking more and more into it! I was really unhealthy before though, even veg. Sadly, my dad AND stepdad are total carnivores. :rolleyes: But my 4 year old sister is at least being raised vegetarian. I'm glad i've impressed you, lol.

Once again everyone, thank you, i've had a WONDERFUL birthday, made even better by everyone's niceness. It's so great to have a place to share this! :D

[Rawkinlocs]

Happy Birthday and what a DELICIOUS-looking cake that is!!

Had me thinking about it and craving a slice all day!

[aromaticwings]

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! The cake looks fabulous!!! Did I miss the Vanilla Frosting recipe.. I looked on the site mentioned and did not find it... help?? :confused:

[Zena]

Nooo, the frosting was from the book! I just totally worded that wrong, sorry. :o

Thanks Rawkinlocs, wish I could give you some. :D

[honeybee joy]

That is a beautiful looking cake. I am sure it was yummy! :p

Happy Birthday!

[shelah]

zena,
great blessings to you on your birthday!!
your food looks delectable -- thank you for letting us share in your celebration!
with love,
shelah

[aromaticwings]

Nooo, the frosting was from the book! I just totally worded that wrong, sorry. :o

Thanks Rawkinlocs, wish I could give you some. :D
Is there anyway you would post that recipe? I do not have that book.

[Pansy]

Dear Zena,

You are so cute and what a BEAUTIFUL cake! You did an excellent job!

It looks so yummy!

HB,

Pansy ;)

[BerryGirl]

Wow, that cake looks fabulous. I may not be able to wait until a birthday to try that! You are such an inspiration!

[Zena]

Is there anyway you would post that recipe? I do not have that book.

Well sure, one little recipe wouldn't hurt. ;) I do recommend the book though!

1 cup whole cashews or cashew halves, soaked for 30 minutes to an hour
4-6 pitted dates, soaked for 5-10 minutes
1 tablespooon raw honey or maple syrup
1 tablespoon cold-pressed organic extra-virgin olive oil or cold-pressed coconut butter (optional)
1/2 fresh vanilla bean

Blend everything. Add date soak water 2 tablespoons at a time as needed to blend smooth.

I just finished off the leftovers by itself this morning. Delicious.

Thanks again everyone!

[IamLoved]

Hi!

Happy Birthday!

Thank you so much for sharing those pictures with us! Your cake looked absolutely scrumptious! Wonderful!
Thanks too for posting where you got the recipe.

[EastCoastie]

Zena,

Happy Birthday to you! You are a remarkable young lady with a great outlook on life.

Thanks for being such a wonderful example (you too, Lunar Fey, in the event you see this post.) You both really are special and I greatly enjoy reading all the things you share...

Blessings,

EC

[maydolphin10]

sry im so late but had to say happy birthday anyway!! wonderful pics!

[tvillemom]

I just saw this post, linked from someone elses....YUMMY. the cake looks great. I think I'll save the recipe to make for my birthday at the end of May.
Wendi

[Green Life]

I just discovered this post today! Please excuse my absentmindedness. I got lost somewhere between the shuffle of the new posts and the links to other sites altogether. That's the internet for you. Can't believe how many hours can be spent on this computer without even realizing it. It's so easy to get side-tracked, LOL!

Happy be-lated Birthday to you, Zena.

The cake looks delicious. The decorations are very colorful, to match your personality, I presume?

Green :D Life

[Zena]

Thank you! Tvillemom, if you make it please post pictures!

Green Life, i'm glad you discovered it at all :D Thank you! I consider myself pretty colorful, heheh. :p

[eachpeachpearplum]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

My daughter BDay is coming up nad I was at a loss as what to make for her. This is a godsend!

Would you recommend it for a child (6yrs)? :rolleyes:

Cheers, EPPP

[Zena]

Thank you EPPP! My 4 year old sister liked it, she had a whole slice and pieces of our leftovers whenever we ate them, normally she eats like a bird and never finishes anything :D So i'd say go for it! And post pictures!

[tvillemom]

OH GOSH! I forgot to wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! You are such a smart girl! How great of your mom to allow you to be creative, and eat the way you know is best for you!! I wish someone had introduced me to RAW when I was your age! Keep posting those great recipes....and if I can figure out how to post pictures from my camera phone, I'll post my birthday cake pictures too!!! :D
Wendi

[madmel]

What a lovely cake, Zena!

One question: how large was the container you made it in? Any chance of guessing how many servings that cake had approximately?

thanks, mel

[Zena]

Thanks mel! It was some tupperware-type container(without a top), I would take a picture but my stepdad is using it to store some sort of grilled dead animal... :( I managed to get the measurements though, it was 7" long, 5" wide, and 3 1/2" tall. There were 15 servings in the cake, we sliced it using the strawberries and where they would be in the center as guidelines since it was so tall, thick and filling. So there should be three pieces in one section across the width, two with strawberries and one wihout. And five across the length, so 15. Yeah. :D