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 :)
My favorite birthday memory was probably when I turned 13. I was grounded at the time, the first and only time I ever had been grounded, so I kind of enjoyed the excuse to have a family-only birthday dinner – I was so self-conscious and shy as a kid that it was very stressful to consider inviting my friends over to celebrate ME. It was simple, but I love having a nice, fun dinner with my parents and grandparents.
Birthday Memory: I had to work night shift in the hospital for my 30th birthday. My co-workers arranged a surprise party, along with having someone cover my patients for an hour so I could have a break. It was so sweet and amazing to know people cared that much!
Also, I follow you on all of Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest ;)
Happy Birthday! Hope all of your wishes and dreams come true!
My 30th birthday (my last birthday) was pretty memorable! I wanted to do something different and involving food so I reserved a table at Tatiana in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. Tatiana is a huge old school Russian restaurant and nightclub. Me and about 20 of my friends ate Russian food and sipped vodka and danced all night. There was also an AMAZING show, which was nothing like I ever experienced. My sisters made a cake and cookies. It was a great evening.
My favorite birthday memory was this year when my wife and I went with another couple to Alinea in Chicago and tried the tasting menu with wine pairings. It was an early birthday present over the long labor day weekend, but I certainly will never forget the meal and don’t even need my birthday after it.
One of my favorite brithdays was my 21st while I was in college. I was the first of my friends to turn 21, so my friends and I all went out to dinner but couldn’t go out after. We had all driven over in separate cars so when I arrived home, the rest of them surprised me with a kiddie birthday crown set and a cake. They had set up a huge birthday bash at home since we couldn’t go out together. The entire apartment was carpet so we taped trashbags to the floor and had everyone over for a party. My voice was totally gone the next day and we had such a good time.
Looks yummy. I’m working on teaching knife skills to my kids so that they can enjoy it all too!
Birthday memory – my bday is Christmas Day so often very overshadowed, few birthday parties, etc. Do remember getting a watch from my grandfather when I turned 6 and loving it and the time it meant we spent together learning to wind it carefully (he thought you should have a traditional wind up watch as your first watch) and learning to tell the time.
I also follow you on all 4 – IG, Twitter, FB, and Pinterest. Thinking we need to make nutella bears at home soon.
None for us Canadians :( Hahaha.. either way, that veggie burger looks DELISH! I’m always looking forward for your posts :D
Yum! I love sandwiches filled with fresh crunchy veggies. My birthday memory: for my 10th (I think) birthday, my family and several of my friends’ families drove up to Mount Hood (in Oregon) and went intertubing in the snow! We returned home to hot chocolate/ cake/ presents. It was a blast.
It was my 6th birthday party and my aunt had made two beautiful butterfly cakes (one yellow and one pink – I think). My “friend” Ruthy was so jealous of the beauty of my birthday cakes that she grabbed a handful of one of the cakes before I could blow out the candles. She got in big trouble and I still had one perfect and one slightly not perfect birthday cake. I think my parents still have the pictures hidden away in a photo album.