What's for breakfast? Crepes, of course! My favorite. I like them with apricot jam and a squirt of fresh lemon juice. And also a few peaches from the farmers' market. What a fun way to start the day.
For dinner, my family came over for a festive little gathering. We had a super hot day today, which I always love... so we actually got to eat dinner outside in the backyard. We picked up some delicious pizzas from Engfer's Pizza here in Santa Cruz. They're a great local spot that makes wood-fired pizzas, including delicious vegan pizza. Musty got two vegan pizzas and two veggie pizzas, so that I wouldn't have to spend my whole birthday cooking dinner for my family.
I made a big giant salad to go along with the pizza.
And my mom made up some delicious grilled veggies: asparagus, eggplant, summer squash and onions marinated in olive oil, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. Seriously good. Thanks Mom!
Instead of a birthday cake, I just wanted a giant bowl of cherries. One of my favorite things about my birthday is that it coincides with cherry season.
To go along with the cherries, I made some great cherry chocolate cookies. I used the Double Almond Explosion recipe from Vive Le Vegan! (by Dreena Burton), and added in dried cherries. Then, I replaced the almonds with pecans, and used cherry extract in place of the almond extract. Sooooooo good!I had a great day... all my favorite elements: a nice early morning yoga practice, crepes, a walk on the beach with the dogs and Musty, an afternoon nap, some time in the art studio, cookies, and time with my wonderful family. What a lucky gal. It was fun to have my birthday on my day off!
Next up: Food and photos from my art exhibit this weekend!
happy birthday, sounds like it was idyllic! and those crepes are gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday! Lots of love and peace to you, lady <3 <3 <3
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! Looks like you had a fun and delicious time.
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday!!!! What a FABULOUS day you had; and such delicious food!! Everything from the crepes, pizza, and salad, to the grilled vegetables, cherries, and cookies, looks incredible.
ReplyDeleteHave a happy year Honeybear!
ReplyDeleteHappy (belated) birthday Amie!! So glad that you spent the day doing things you love, that's what birthdays are all about. I wish my bday coincided with cherry season!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday!
ReplyDeleteAnd oh that vegan pizza... it looks amazing! whenever I buy a vegan pizza, I notice that pizza in germany doesn't have a lot of ingredients besides cheese ;-)
Yum! Love the crepes for birthday breakfast. And the giant salad.
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a fantastic Birthday, Amey! You sure do make a beautiful crepe!!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday! Looks like a tasty way to celebrate! :)
ReplyDeleteHey there! Just wanted to wish you a very happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, everything looks delicious. (And I'm super-excited about cherry season, too :)
Anyway, I hope you're still basking in the glow of a wonderful b-day!
Yay!
sounds stellar! Happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteHi Amey, happy birthday! That farmer's market peach looks divine, I can't wait till it's summer here in Aus again!!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I read your blog a lot but have never commented before. The reason I am writing now is that I have a question for you. I know you love India and Indian food so you were the first person who came to mind... I have started working at an animal shelter this year and the girls i am working with are all lovely people but mostly omnis! A couple of vegetarians but no vegans (and definitely no raw vegans, lol). I know iam awakening them all to new ideas just by being there but i really want to show them how truly delicious vegan food can be.
They all LOVE indian food but no one in my family likes spicy food and chickpeas are my dad's mortal enemy, so I have never cooked indian before. I consider myself a reasonably good cook but because I am not familiar with any good recipes, i don't know what a good curry should be like and i am raw foodie so I don't really want to taste test, I am a bit worried!
I would love it if you could recommend some really good curry recipes! If you don't want to share recipes from cookbooks that's okay, I will try to source the book from my library or buy it if necessary.
Thankyou, sorry this comment wound up so long!!
Freedom :-)
Happy belated birthday! Did you you get every birthday wish? Hope so! That pizza & salad look great!
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday! Sounds like you had a good one. All the food looks good, especially the cherries and cookies.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a very relaxing, happy, delicious day. I think it's great you opted for the healthier option- cherries. Cake is wonderful, but nothin' beats nature's candy!
Happy belated birthday! Looks like you had a fantastic one, this post makes me all happy. Mmm, the cherries look beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday! It sounds like you had an amazing day. :-) That pizza looks so incredible!
ReplyDeleteHAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMEY! Oh man, I wish I'd have known sooner. It sounds like we need to have a birthday celebration date. Could more pizza be involved? Maybe a birthday cake will somehow appear!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday (belated) everything looks so good but I am drawn to that pizza!
ReplyDeleteHAPPY BIRTHDAY AMEY!!!! It sounds like you had a perfect day. Can't wait to see you soon!
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday! That pizza is a work of art!
ReplyDelete