Welcome, my friends, to the 2nd annual vegan MOnth of FOod. Over the next 31 days this blog, and many others in the vegan blogging universe, will step it up a notch and post about the wonderfulness that is vegan food at least 5 days a week.
Here are a few posts to look forward to:
- Texas Veggin' Out Days
- Veganizing Mamaw's Kitchen
- TV show themed dinner
- Veganized Presidential Cookie Bake-Off
- Daily eats in Palo Alto and Santa Cruz, CA (I'll be there for a week!)
- Top 10 inside the 610 loop (Houston vegan dining)
And since I couldn't leave you without some food in my first MoFo post... here is a recent cake wreck and a cake hit.
First, the cake wreck. For our one year wedding anniversary, I wanted to recreate the top tier of our wedding cake, with a few different embellishments (a fondant bow instead of buttercream roses). I baked a vanilla & chocolate marble cake in my mom's kitchen and took it home to frost with chocolate mousse and cover with fondant. Even though I felt rushed to get it done before the sun went down (this was back when we didn't have power), I was pleased with my first fondant bow and the ivy leaf border on the sides of the cake. Little did I know that the fondant would melt into a puddle in the heat of the night....
After that massive failure I needed the next cake to redeem myself. Success came in the form of macadamia ginger carrot cake from VWAV with cream cheese frosting (which was flavored with orange oil). The top border was piped to resemble carrots. Hopefully the cake was enough to impress Kristen (the birthday girl and our SOP president). But I'd have to say that the cutest thing was watching her son pick out all the macadamia nuts and then proceed to make a "gingerbread house" out of the remaining cake by piling leftover fruit and rice from dinner on top.
By the way, if you haven't made this carrot cake yet... you should!! The macadamias and crystallized ginger really make this cake stand out compared to other carrot cakes I've sampled.
More Vegan MoFo tomorrow!
36 comments:
Oh no!
Your carrot cake looks (and I bet tastes) FANTASTIC!
TV show themed dinner & Veganized Presidential Cookie Bake-Off??
i'm getting excited!
All of your ideas sounds AWESOME! I can't wait to read!
I'm doing VeganMoFo too on Vegansaurus and don't know how to get the RSS feed...am I dull? Actually, don't answer that but if you know how, I would love to subscribe to it! It sounds like so many people are doing awesome things!!
i can't wait for more of your fun-filled vegan mofo posts! i'm curious about the tv themed dinner, too! yay! that stinks that your first cake didn't workout. sadface! but i was most happyfaced when i saw your adorable and super tasty looking carrot cake. mmmmmmmmmm! i need to make that cake! and i really super love the little carrots! you're just too good at cake decorating! wahoooooooooooooooo! and happy vegan mofo! :D
that is my favorite carrot cake ever!! Isa Rocks!!
Even though the fondant on the cake is all melted, I can still still you did a great job on it!
And I'm so excited that you're participating in VeganMoFo! I love this time of year because, while I don't have enough time to participate myself, it's great when my favorites blogs post everyday for an entire month :)
wait! what!?
you're coming to Santa Cruz!? That's where I live! If you have time, look me up! When are you coming?
ameyfm at yahoo dot com
lemme know. I could show you some of my favorite vegan spots.
:) amey
Argh! I had a cake-melting experience, once.. it's so sad, huh? we still ate every last bite of that baby, though, including my dad who usually refuses to even try anything with the word "vegan" in it (he ate about 1/4 of it in the middle of the night, the sneak!)
It still looks pretty cool, though, and the carrot cake looks great! What a good idea to pipe a carrot border...
I have no doubt that first cake was outstanding before the unfortunate meltdown. . . must have been horrible to wake up to that! But that carrot cake definitely redeemed. That carrot border is the cutest! And I am looking forward to your MOFO posts (esp. the presidential cookie bakeoff--ha ha!!)
Oh my...I've wanted to try that carrot cake forever. Now I have even more encouragement - it looks fantastic! Happy Anniversary and Happy MoFo!
That carrot cake sounds awesome! Oh, and congratulations on your one year wedding anniversary.
I'm really looking forward to your posts during Vegan MoFo :)
I am so sorry, Amanda, but I couldn't help but laugh at your cake wreck. I am such a mean friend!
I guess it probably wasn't so funny at the time...
But your redemption cake looks tres grand!
HOORAY FOR MOFO!!!!!
Ahh, sorry about the first cake; but I LOVE the carrot cake!!
I love the carrot cake - it is so pretty with the jaunty little carrots. I must need carrot cake really bad because I am dreaming of diving right into that bad boy!
That carrot cake was one of my first recipes from VWAV. Yours looks amazing!
Sorry about the fondant, I often have melting issues, I can sympathize there.
Even though your first cake was a wreck I know from your other cakes that it was beautiful. The carrot cake would make my dad smile. He loves it! I have to get that book from the library.
PS. Happy Anniversary!!!!
Macadamia ginger carrot cake... That sounds so good I don't even know what to do with myself. Oh my gosh, that could be some heavenly cupcakes too! Even though I don't think you needed to redeem yourself (the fondant bow is sooo cute, even amidst the fondant puddle), Kristen's cake looks amazing! The decoration is flawless.
too bad the first cake's fondant melted! the carrots on the second cake are UBER adorable! it looks sounds so good =D
I think you've inspired a budding pastry chef in Kristen's son!
I can't wait for the TV show themed dinner!
That cake is a beauty.
Great start to VeganMoFo! Your cakes keep amazing me.
oh no! I'm so sorry about the first cake! but hey, the second was good enough to make up for both, wasn't it? I'm excited about your posts for VeganMoFo!
happy vegan mofo! I look forward to reading your posts... and jealous you'll be in the bay area! I spent a lot of my teenage years browsing used bookstores in palo alto...
I love your cakes. what does it say about me that I think your "wreck" cake looks totally tasty and appetizing??
your cake flop still looks incredibly delicious...
i just had a microwave carrot cake flop.....not edible...
tear to this mainly ovenless society.....
i still want carrot cake....
your carrot cake (well i guess in this case Kristen's)
Mmm.. I LOVE CARROT CAKE! Def. my fav!
Sorry about the other cake, still looks yummy to me!
The carrot cake is beautiful!
so sad about the first cake... but that second one definitely redeemed you! the little carrots are adorable.
TV show themed dinner sounds interesting.
I really like the cake wreck for some reason. Very Dali-esque.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the macadamia ginger carrot cake from VWAV! Isn't it amazing??? It's definitely my favorite cake ever. I should make it again soon! Thanks for the reminder!
Sorry about your fondant. Even though it turned into a puddle, I can tell it looked great beforehand!
I love the VwaV carrot cake. Pretty decorating job, too!
Woo hoo for Vegan MoFo! There is no way I'm going to be able to keep up with everyone's amazing posts! I'm so sorry about the melted fondant! How horrible...but you're so zen about it!
What a bummer about your wedding cake recreation. Did you eat it anyway? You totally redeemed yourself with that carrot cake! YUM!! I'm glad your impressed with my new job position. I hope one day when you open up your vegan bakery you'll consider looking at my resume! ;)
Sorry about your first cake! It happens to all of us, trust me you'll laugh about it later. Your carrot cake looks good though. Good choice! (Carrot cake is my favorite)
that carrot cake recipe is the best. I typically don't care for carrot cake, but I love VWAV's recipe. Bummer on your cake disaster. I'm sure it tasted good despite the slumping fondant.
I love the cake you made, but your melty wedding cake bums me out!
I hope I can come eat with you in Palo Alto. They just got their 1st vegan restaurant- Loving Hut. There's also some raw places nearby in San Mateo & Kokila's kitchen in Sunnyvale.
I can honestly say the carrot cake ROCKED!!! :-) The best vegan carrot cake EVER, especially with the macadamia nuts! It was very special because it was made with love!
Kids really do love to play with their food (which is why meals can take an hour or more!) and I'm glad you enjoyed watching the little guy use his "creativity"! Sometimes, his vegan food combinations are pretty radical! : )
I'm still part of your loyal following, awaiting the opening of your vegan bakery! Your cakes & cupcakes are the BEST!!!
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