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 fondest birthday memory is pretty simple, nothing fancy. I woke up to breakfast in bed made by my lovely husband who hardly cooks so that was impressive. It was a complete breakfast, eggs and toast with a side of bacon, freshly squeezed orange juice and topped with a vase of flowers. After which, we took a walk in the park and cuddle up at home watching all our favorite comedy re-runs. It was simple but nonetheless the best birthday in my opinion.
My favorite birthday memories have been baking cakes together with my son. Every year he chooses a new cake for us to bake together. Most have been so delicious that we have made them for others. One year we made a layered carrot cake with a lemony cream cheese frosting. It came together just like the picture. It was so tall we couldn’t fit the cake stand lid over it! Even after eating it for dessert and breakfast the next morning, we only got halfway through it. The chickens were happy campers the next day. My son, age six at the time, was delighted to share it with his favorite hens, whose eggs helped bake it.
What a beautiful veggie-filled sandwich! Mmmm!!
When I turned 6, I had a “farm birthday” (I’ve always loved animals!)- all my friends brought their favorite stuffed animals and we competed in all types of farm-related games (watermelon seed spitting contest, egg and spoon race, three-legged races, grain sack race). We had chickens at the time and a few other types of animals :-) Everyone was outside the whole time, playing, running around, and enjoying nature.
For my 11th birthday my dad took me out to breakfast before school. I ordered the swedish chocolate chip pancakes–yum! It was such a special treat and a great memory with my dad!
There is nothing like a bunch of fresh veggies nestled in some good bread. I dig the playfulness of your documented food life. Take care and please keep sharing your world, peace.
It ate my first comment! Trying again :)
My partner and I went to Vancouver, BC two years ago for my birthday. Amazing food, adorable bed and breakfast, everything was walking distance. There was an annual fireworks competition put on by several different countries so we got to watch that at the end of the night. It was perfect!
One year I was at a conference for my birthday, which sounds terrible…But it was in Puerto Rico, at a resort on the beach, and they had an open rum bar that night. #winning
I’m always looking for a good ( or great) veggie sandwich recipe that doesn’t use “fake” meat substitutes. This looks awesome. Thanks for posting! I’m now a follower of your blog!
Right, you said a birthday memory comment. I remember the rule at parties if you tore the wrapping paper you had to go through a line of everyone spanking you. So the last present was my friend Amy and it was a huge purple box. (purple themed party) inside was another purple wrapped box, in that was another one getting smaller and smaller. And i couldn’t rip the paper! finally, it was a tiny box that had a bracelet in it and i tore something because the next thing i know I’m crawling through all my friends legs getting spanked. I think we were 8 or 9 years old. Definitely memorable!
Awesome for a lunch time option.
My favorite birthday memory started in a library. When I was in college, my birthday would always fall right smack dab in the middle of finals period. My 21st birthday was no different and I found myself eyeballs deep in neuroscience textbooks while silently singing “Happy birthday” to myself. My friends had other plans, luckily. Two of my closest friends were on the college rowing team. They made all the (very fine) freshman rowers dress up in flashy outfits and deliver cake and wine to me. It was the best and sweetest birthday surprise (and I think I actually did a-ok on finals for that term!).
~B