It’s my birthday today! Are you guys big on celebrating your birthday? For as long as I remember, my birthday has been an obsession of mine. It’s probably just a bit (okay, a lot) egotistical, but I just love the idea of a day celebrating me. I like planning elaborate themed parties with tons of friends (DIY grilled cheese party anyone?), but I also love the flip side of that – spending a day celebrating, just me and my boo.
No matter what I end up doing, there is one absolute must: eat ALL the things. It’s the one day you shouldn’t hold back. I know, I know, veggie sandwiches aren’t what one usually thinks of when they’re thinking about birthday eats, but when I saw this glorious picture of the ultimate veggie sandwich on Instagram, it had to be mine. I’m all about veggie sandwiches (and pizzas too, to be honest). I love the the different textures, the crunch, and the freshness.
This sandwich was truly epic – perfect for a pre-birthday treat!
The Ultimate Veggie Sandwich Recipe
makes 1 sandwich
- 2 slices bread of choice (I used multigrain)
- mayo and mustard, to taste
- 6 leaves romaine lettuce
- 1 small carrot
- 1/2 small cucumber
- salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 1/8 head red cabbage
- 1 avocado
- handful of sprouts
- 3 slices tomato
- thin slices red onion
Start off by prepping your vegetables. Trip the lettuce leaves to the size of your bread. Julienne or shred the carrot, thinly slice the cucumber and cabbage. Pit and peel the avocado and thickly slice. Toast the bread and let cool (so it doesn’t get soggy). Spread on mayo and mustard to taste and build your sandwich: 1/2 of the lettuce leaves, carrots, cucumber, salt and pepper, cabbage, avocado, sprouts, tomato, onion, then the remaining lettuce and top slice of bread. Wrap tightly in parchment paper or wax paper and slice in half. Enjoy immediately!
i put a candle in it, because birthday :)
Giveaway: I hope you guys like chopping vegetables (and everything else) because for my annual birthday giveaway, I’m giving away a shiny sharp Shun Nakiri knife and a Walnut Boos Block Cutting Board from cuttingboard.com. I absolutely LOVE my nakiri and there’s nothing better than chopping and slicing on a beautiful wood cutting board.
To Enter: Leave a comment below with your favorite birthday memory. I want to hear ALL the details! I’ll randomly choose a winner and notify them through email. Open to US residents only. (Sorry international friends!) Also, if you’d like some extra entries (one per follow), follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest (and let me know in your comment). Contest ends September 17th at 12pm PST. Good luck!
Update: Congrats Willow! Get ready to get your knife skills on! Keep an eye out for an email :)
Fave bd was when I ate with my dad who is now in heaven. I miss him dearly. The gift of time with my dad was a gift!
I had an ice skating birthday party when I turned 10. I thought I was pretty cool because I had been taking lessons… I ended up falling straight back and hitting my head on the ice!! Haha. Pretty sad but memorable nonetheless!!
On my twenty-first birthday, I first went to a microbrewery in North Seattle. My older brother, who was working there as a chef at the time, brought me to his favorite spot in Greenwood that featured more than 100 beers brewed either by themselves or another local brewery. Because my knowledge of beer was limited at that point, my brother recommended all of his favorites, including one of the best IPAs I have every have. Not only was the beer excellent, but the brewery had a full view of the outside storm and some of the best pub food I have ever had.
After the brewery, we went to one of my brother’s favorite restaurants for seafood. While my tuna steak was wonderful, the most memorable part of this dinner was the power going out for about 10 minutes. At this point, I was already eating so I didn’t have to wait for my food, but the rest of the restaurant was either confused about how to pay or worried they were never going to receive their food. Also, eating in the dark is interesting after a quite a few drinks, especially when you try to figure out what exactly you’re eating.
Best Memory: Eating fish in the dark while drunk.
My favorite birthday memory is my 9th birthday. 4th grade. My mom invited all the girls from my class and we had a pool party which was awesome because my birthday is in FEBRUARY! We were members of a country club that had an indoor pool and it was so fun. Afterwards ,we went to our house for pizza and “pop” (soda in the midwest). Looking back, I have no idea how my mom pulled this together without my help. She spoke very little English and didn’t know any of my friends’ parents. She passed away several years ago and many times I think of how she made the seemingly impossible happen for me and I can’t manage to scrape together a decent party for my 2 kids and I speak perfect English…. I appreciate all the birthday parties she threw me but that one was my favorite…. I follow you on all 4 platforms (instagram, facebook, twitter and pinterest)! :)
I just celebrated my 40th with my nearest and dearest girlfriends (and some last minute surprise arrivals) in a fabulous house on the Battery in Charleston SC. Plenty of time to relax and laugh accompanied with lots of delicious food and wine. New friendships were made and old ones were strengthened. I couldn’t have imagined a better birthday.
Happy happy birthday! Hope you are being spoiled! My favorite memory is the surprise weekend my husband planned for me for my 30th. I’m not big on surprises but he pulled it off with a night away at the coast followed by a lovely get together with friends and family. Couldn’t have asked for more! I’m now following you on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest because I’m new to your blog and loving it!
My favorite memory was eating chocolate cake for breakfast as a kid on my birthday!
Bowling alley and arcade. I think it was somewhere around 2nd grade. They had a parrot that sat on your shoulder and you could get a kodak taken with it. I was terrified.
i had to work on my 30th birthday and figured everyone had forgotten. but two days later, my brother threw me a surprise party. i had no idea! it was pretty awesome because he made all the food out of edward lee’s smoke and pickles. freakin delish. and, i was a happy girl :)
My favorite birthday memory was actually my 21 birthday, for reasons other than what you might think! I was pregnant with my first child, happily married, but had never, ever had a pinata. My best friend surprised me with my very own giant birthday pinata to bust open, all by myself. It was wonderful!