Last night’s Birthday bash was a good time! I was a bit slow moving when I got up this morning, but it was nothing a little juice, water, hot yoga, and Union Square Café Bar Nuts couldn’t fix…

Eric asked me to make the famous Union Square Café Bar Nuts -a double batch! Everyone always raves about them and they make the house smell intoxicating…a great appetizer. I followed the recipe to a tee, except substituting the butter for Earth Balance.

Karly, Dan, Jesse, Zac, Jaime, Henrick, Steve, Ange, Nienke, Preena, Morgan, Sarah, Adam, Lisa, Nicole, Blake, Stephanie, Ricki, Cameron, Nancy, Jen, Eric and I made up the group. It was a full house!

We had a few organic red and white wines, Corona, Organic Mill Street, Sangria, and some hard liquors for the alcoholic bevs.

And some Kombucha, pop, and juice for those not drinking.

The potluck was a success…so much good food! Lots of vegan and gluten-free options as well.


On the menu:
- Mediterranean Salad
- Kale salad
- Scalloped Potatoes
- Chickpea sunflower burgers
- Edamame Caviar
- Lentil Stew
- Fresh-inspired layered spinach salad
- Red hot chips & salsa
- Homemade Edamame hummus and veggies (I used my fav hummus recipe and added 1 cup cooked edamame)
- Samosas


Ange’s Whole Foods Re-Creation, Edamame Caviar:


Check out the sweets! Everything was vegan and a lot of it was also gluten-free.

The desserts:
- vegan chocolate cake
- raw cookies
- Raw crepes with berries & cream
- Happy Hemp Two-Bite Brownies
- Lemon poppy seed Bundt cake
- Raw triple berry fruit crisp
Also, check out the vegan chocolate cake from Whole Foods that Karly brought. It was absolutely delicious. Moist and super chocolaty. :) I had no idea that Whole Foods made vegan cakes!

I was birthday song serenaded. :)
Raw crepes from Lisa:

I will be hounding her for the recipes and making these crepes stat!







I also got spoiled with thoughtful cards and gifts. :)

After beer, wine, and Sangria last night, I was not feeling so hot when I woke up this morning!
I made myself a big juice to start the day off right…

About half hour later my headache was gone. It’s a miracle. Then I had a breakfast of leftover raw crepes with fruit crisp, water, and finally, hot yoga late morning. I almost bailed on yoga, but I was glad I went because I felt human afterwards.
Today, was more prep & cleaning and then potluck #2 with family. We were celebrating Mother’s Day, my FIL’s birthday, and my birthday. May is a busy month!

We kept it simple with salads, a BBQ, and a few leftovers from last night.


Shout out to my BIL, Dave! (He reads my blog every day) :)

I had 3 more glasses of wine tonight…hopefully I won’t regret this tomorrow. ;)

I had a veggie burger, Ezekiel bun, ketchup, BBQ sauce, and a few salads all mixed together.


[Do you notice that these photos are a bit fuzzy? I wasn’t using my tripod…it makes a big difference.]

I had some leftover vegan chocolate cake & a brownie bite for dessert. :) There is one slice left and I’m hoping Eric doesn’t bring it to work tomorrow…
Well, after a fun weekend, I need to rest up for my Birthday tomorrow.




Hmm, it looks like someone has already beat me to it…

Happy Birthday! What fun pics and wonderful eats. The chocolate cake looks wonderful!
Happy birthday! Looks like a great party with lots of yummy vegan food!
Happy Birthday Angela!! I love your blouse!
Happyhappy birthday Angela!! Looks like a great start to a new year for you :) These pics are making me miss all my Toronto blogging buddies!!
Happy Birthday,Lady!!
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday, love sketchy, so cute.
Happy Birthday, sweet Angela! Looks like you had a wonderful time– food, family, and activity really are the best, aren’t they? :)
Happiest of Birthdays to you!!! Thanks for spreading your beautiful ‘glo’ each and everyday! You are an inspiration! :)
Everything looks so classy! I prefer avoiding crazy nights out for my birthday.
Good choice on yoga. And happy birthday, looks like you had plenty of vegan treats!! That cat is gorgeous, I’ve never seen one spotted like that. Exotic.
Happy Birthday!! Looks like you had a great time!!
Happy Birthday Angela! Looks like you’ve had some great celebrations with lots of delicious food!
Wow – you really do glow! :) Happy birthday!
Happy b-day! Juice and yoga – great hangover cure! Lovely looking spread of food :)
Happy Birthday, Angela!! Hope this is the best year yet! You looked gorgeous as usual!
Just now catching up with my reader… HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGE ! :D What a great party you threw. …and the food looks outstanding!!
Happy Belated Birthday Angela!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday!!! The bash looks amazing :) You’re so adorable to have kombucha for the guests. I hope 28 is everything you ever dreamed of! I’ll be finishing my 28th year next week. In the past year I’ve passed the bar exam, married my lover, honeymooned in Tonga, roadtripped across the US, moved to another Continent, sold a car, bought a car, and worked the nightshift for the first time. The years just keep getting better!
Aw. i love it! Makes me want to celebrate my birthday 6 months early. :)
My favorite is the last picture.. so sweet!
Better late than never: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
It looks like you had a really good time, you do look lovely!
Okay it is official; I am adding you to my blogroll! :) I love your blog! I have the Healthy Strawberry Oat Squares with Homemade Jam in the oven right this moment! I had to make some substitutes so I hope it still works out! Thanks so much for all your fun recipes and post! :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! :)
First – Happy birthday!! Second – your cat is SO cute. Third – Can you invite me to your next get together? The food looks AMAZING!!! haha
Happy Belated Birthday Angela!!!
Can you share what was in the Fresh inspired tempeh salad?????
I dont have the recipe but I will post it if I get my hands on it!
Angela, first of all, thank you so much for being an inspiration to me! Your blog is my go to place for my transition to veganism (and hopefully a 50lb weight loss too – 30 are already gone because if this switch! :-)) Anyway, I really rely on your recipes and your wonderful spirit so much!
Otay, I didn’t read all of the comments and the food looks nummy-licious, as usual but oh my GOSH your cat is gorgeous!!! What kind is he or she? Looks just like someone we’d see in our local zoo!
Thanks again for everything, Angela!
(((HUGS)))
~ Molly D.
San Diego, CA
Thank you so much Molly!
Sketchie is a Bengal :)
Happy Bday Angela!!! Many, many more to come ;)
Happy Birthday! Your food looks fantastic and I LOVE the decorative plates you arranged on your wall :)
Glad to see you included some pictures of Sketchie too he he
Take Care,
Fanta
It looks like you had such a great time! Happy Belated Birthday!
Hi Angela,
Happy belated birthday!! Looks like you had a fabulous celebration. I LOVE the wall hanging you have in a couple of your photos… The one in the green room with the plates. Where did you find it? It is gorgeous! Thanks.
Thanks! Its from Pier 1 :)
Happy Birthday!! your party looks fun and the food AMAZING!
I used to (think?) I had a pretty steady hand… we are on vacation and while I did bring my tripod, I haven’t been using it a lot – I think I rely on it now and my ‘steady hand’ went away! :)
Happy Belated Birthday!!
Happy belated!! Mine is also the 16th and just saying….best birthday day EVER!! I turned 25 this year, so I was a little scared about my birthday actually approaching, but now, it’s only a number :D Hope you had a fantastic bday (minus the rain :() and fun with family & friends!!