While channel surfing, I caught a few minutes of the Friends episode where Rachel turns 30 and they flashback to everyone else's 30th birthday (i.e. Monica getting drunk before surprise party, Ross and his fancy car that is trapped via parallel parking). This felt a bit surreal knowing that I am fast approaching (a tad more than 16 months away) the age of the Friends characters that I watched a teen and in my early twenties. And it just so happened that this weekend we also helped a good friend celebrate her impending 30th birthday with a surprise party. I was in charge of the cake, chocolate with chocolate mousse filling and mint frosting. The candle set also came with a red "OH NO" which I chose to leave off. Like my top border? It's one I just learned in my second cake decorating class (which wraps up this weekend), so it still needs lots of work.
In addition to cake, I also brought a salad (my favorite roasted fennel with hazelnuts and creamy shallo dressing from V-con) and a vegan main dish. I tried to recreate the lasagna I had recently at the PPK Texas Gathering, since Crystal posted the recipe on her new blog, Vegan Explosion. I really wanted to leave the olives out, since I usually dislike them, but I stayed true to that part of the recipe and I think they really added a great flavor to the tofu ricotta. The only thing I did change was using fresh sauteed mushrooms instead of canned. If you notice my new twittering updates (sidebar), you'll see that I enjoyed leftovers of this for lunch today.
Now I know I've posted about Mighty O's several times before, but I just had to brag one more time. My mom brought these back for me after spending a week in Seattle helping my sister move to her very own condo. One of them was the special seasonal flavor; chocolate oreo. But I didn't hog them all to myself, I brought them along to an art car decorating party. I can't wait to show everyone the car (less than two weeks till the parade!), it is amazing, but here's a sneak peak at one unfinished part.
And finally, while we were driving to the birthday party, I saw this bumper sticker on a Texas-colored Ford truck "Live Longer, Eat Beef". I scrambled so fast to get a photo of this, I just couldn't believe it. I didn't know whether to laugh or scream. I ended up laughing with the birthday girl (a vegetarian) about it. Laughing and not eating animal products is what really helps you live longer.
Here's hoping that none of you are following this bumper sticker's advice....
Monday, April 28, 2008
Living Longer
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44 comments:
The cake you made looks gorgeous. I love that subtle pattern in the icing!
And don't worry about the upcoming 30. It's 31 and up that really gets you ;)
You rock at cake decorating!!
I love the irony of that bumper sticker. Haha. The fact the person is driving a gas guzzling truck just makes it even worse, yuck!
Great piping, the cake is really impressive! I always get stuck doing the same exact borders on my cakes, so I'll have to remember this one.
Wow, your friend is quite lucky to have you, to make such a gorgeous cake for the birthday surprise party!! Your frosting skills are so incredible - I can't get over it!
That bumper sticker is ridiculously ironic.
That cake is stunning--I love both the chocolate piping and the "embossed" pattern in the mint! The lasagna looks great, too (but I think I'd prefer the cake) :) .
i just love reading your blog! it's currently making the last hour of my work day cruise along a bit faster!
mmmmmm...mighty o's! i just had some yesterday as i was up in seattle. they only had a few flavors left, but still goooooooood. oh, and i ate at pizza pi too. you're right, the cheese on top is useless...
that cake is beautiful! you really should open a bakery.
30 is nothing to fear...i just had my 31st a few months ago, and i haven't deteriorated yet! (yet!)
How interesting that two Texas vegans (you and me) saw two opposite bumper-sticker messages around the same time period!
Oh my goodness gracious, not only is chocolate-mint my FAVORITE flavor (as a little girl, mint chocolate chip ice cream was the only flavor I'd ever eat), the cake is also my favorite colors (blue and green).
I know I'm not turning 30 any time soon, but can I still hire you to make me a similar-looking cake for my next birhday (in September)???
That cake is BEAUTIFUL! I love that pattern... I never would have thought of that. Come teach me. :)
I have yet to try Mighty O's, but they always look so tasty.
I am definitely NOT following that bumper sticker's advice. Yuck! No, thanks.
The decorating job on that cake is great! I love the border- it looks very elegant. And I hope your friend had a good birthday!
As for the bumper sticker, I guess it really is pathetic yet comical how ignorant some people are.
That's one outstanding looking lasagna,lady!
Thanks for mentioning my little blog.
Also, your cake.. geesh! Absolutely beautiful!
I want to comment on the rest of your blog, but I'm laughing too hard about the bumper sticker...
Surprising i haven't seen that before, being from Ohio and all...
what a beautiful cake! well done.
man, i want some of that lasagna! it looks soooooo good.
GORGEOUS cake! I love the print on top & your border is lovely!
I still can't get my husband to bring me home Mighty O!! He was in Seattle last week too! ugh.
Arggh! that's why we Texans will be forever stereotyped!
Your cake is fantastic! I would never have the patience, much less talent, to do that decorating.
Save the "oh no" for the 40th birthday!
Your cake looks stunning! Seeing that bumper sticker on the back of that truck just gave me flashbacks of living in Texas.
What an awesome cake!
Okay, so 18 people said this before me, but maybe we can't all say it enough? That cake is just insane! I'm dying to know how it tasted! You're skills Vegan Noodle are just mad.
your cake looks fabulous! oh, and mighty o's from seattle! mmm!!!
I have to laugh at your post, being 43 and all. But honestly, I feel 16. Don;t think too much about age. Just enjoy every minute of your life.
The cake is gorgeous. I'm so impressed.
What I really would have liked to have seen is a photo of the person driving that pickup. I betcha' he was big-n-fat...er, I mean fluffy.
Seeing that bumper sticker is just one of those roll-your-eyes moments. We can't change those people by screaming, even though I'd love for everyone else to be vegan, too. To each his own...
I definitely noticed the little swirly border on top of the cake. It rocks! I cannot believe that cake has chocolate mousse and mint in it, that is absolutely heavenly.
Chocolate Oreo Mighty-O's!? I'm so missing out by never having been to Seattle.
Your b-day is the 8th?! Mine is the 6th!!! We seriously should have a week-long celebration! (September birthdays are the best!)
Don't fear 30! Okay, so I'm just over 4 years away from it but I'm pretty sure I've still got a whole lifetime ahead of me. Anyway, you're only as old/young as you feel.
PS the cake looks fabulous including the top border.
Wow, your cake looks beautiful! So professional looking! I could see that for sale in a cute vegan bakery...
Oh yeah,
30 is the best. I LOVED turning 30. The 30s are a great time.
Your cake is fantastic! I wish there were a cake decorating class here in Santa Cruz. I LOVE that super beautiful design on the frosting. Wow. I'm super impressed!!
:) Amey
Awesome cake! And that bumper sticker is completely ridiculous!
That cake made me stop in my tracks to go oooooh! and then I had to show it to my mom who went ooooh! too, and it's really really beautiful! how did you get the spirally pattern on top?
ugh and arful at the bumper sticker, though... gosh I hope most people have good sense about this (as in, don't believe a word of it). Even though most people *don't*. sigh...
That is one of the stupidest bumper stickers I have ever seen (when it comes to health). So sad!
On another note, OMGOODNESS that lasagna looks devine, heavenly, delish.... on and on I could go...
I must try this!!!!!
I hate when I see things like that bumper sticker! But, it just makes me feel better about my animal-friendly lifestyle. That cake looks so good! You are very good with decorating!
I can see you have heard it alot of times already but that cake is GORGEOUS!!!!
MOM
that cake is so gorgeous! I can't stop staring at the little dot patterns on the frosting- enthralling!
I'm turning 30 next year, and it does seem unreal. I remember that episode of Friends, and reassuring myself that that would never be me. Ack!
That cake is so perdy! I had no problem with 30 at all, it was 25 that hit me so hard...I turned 34 a bit back, and it was no biggie at all. I'm learning that what I used to think was old isn't really so old anymore...
And that bumper sticker...Oh my dog...
The cake looks beautiful!
Also, holy hell the beef industry is ridiculous. Isn't it illegal or something to sell bumper stickers that tell outright lies? If it's not, I'm going to start selling ones that say "Mindy looks just like Giselle Bundchen".
Wow I wish I could decorate cakes that well! I bet your friends really appreciate it. Plus, I mean, chocolate + mint = love, always. :)
I so wish that I could get my hands on some Mighty-O donuts. That bumper sticker made me laugh - and then I cried. That cake looks incredible...love the subtle pattern in the icing :)
You did a wonderful job on your cake. It looks like you thoroughly enjoyed your cake decorating class.
Natalie @ Gluten a Go Go
Awesome cake!
Your cake looks awesome! I can't believe that bumper sticker. I think I would drove right into it! ha ha
I love getting Auntie Anne’s at the airport! Makes plane trips so much better.
Hi there Amanda, I think you are going to be the one giving the cake decorating lessons soon! Gorgeous, gorgeous cake and I too would like to know how you made the pattern on top?
I'm always on the lookout for a great lasagna recipe, so thank you for that. The cake you made is amazing! How did you get the top icing to look like that? Absolutely gorgeous!
That bumper sticker.....I just don't know (shakes head)
the border is great but the frosting blows my mind. how did you do that pattern????? *speechless"
What a silly bumper sticker. I just found your site from Veggiechic. Nice work your doing here. I was vegan for 6 of my 15 nonmeat eating years. Been thinking about going back for health reasons.
Love the blog! I'm not sure why I haven't been here before...I can totally relate to your Southern vegan experience! I'm pretty sure I've seen a bumper sticker or two like that in Memphis....and that cake is lovely!
Can't agree more. Noone should follow that bumper sticker. These people should be fed with their own family's flesh & dead body (yea, I call meat ad dead body, as it is dead) then PROBABLY they will understand what it is to kill other living being.
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