happy birthday, Em! (strawberry cake & penne with pumpkin sauce)
This post will have to be updated at another time (you know, when I don’t have a bunch of studying to do . . . so . . . . in June 2011?), but I wanted to make sure to celebrate Emily’s birthday while it’s still her birthday. I’m missing the East Coast deadline by a few minutes, but it’s still her birthday in her hometown.
Tonight, we celebrated Emily’s birthday with some penne with pumpkin puree and some strawberry cake.
Frankly, the girl’s such an awesome friend that she deserves an 8 course meal with a dessert that somehow requires being set on fire. But her birthday was on a weeknight this year. More on these recipes later. . . . Happy Birthday, Emily!! We all love you!
And it’s unclear why I’m holding the cake at knife-point in this photo. . .
emandam 
This Emily sounds like someone I’d like to meet.
Well, we’re all just grateful she was raised by that amazing mom of hers 😉
While this meal does look great and it is for a very deserving person; I’m not sure it is as awesome as the things Amanda cooks for me. I’m just saying. – haha.
Damn, I can’t wait until 2012 then, when my birthday’s on a Friday! Flaming dessert in T-729 days.
I tease. Last night was perfect. I’m so lucky to have such great friends in my life. Also, Chris is just mad jealous that he was stuck in DC and couldn’t enjoy this amazing pasta and realize how much better it is than any meat dish. If meat were a phrase, it would be the cacophemism of the food world.
This was a gorgeous cake for a gorgeous girl. Thanks for making this all come together, Amanda. And thanks for giving us a day to celebrate you being in our lives, Em! This dish seemed perfect for the occasion: it was hearty and filling for season without being too heavy. Further, it met our needs as a group with members who are vegetarian, dairy free, and generally picky eaters. The rich pumpkin flavor for a birthday girl on a pumpkin kick was just the cherry (or pumpkin?) on top that made it a fantastic choice.
And of course, thank you for cooking it in my kitchen so I can abuse the privilege of having leftovers and eagerly eat them in only a matter of hours.
Yea I was a little upset when people kept throwing meat cake ideas back and forth. Pepperoni cake just didn’t sound like a good idea, but what do I know…
Also, my PI thinks this looks like mac and cheese in the picture. I disagree (as someone who’s never had mac and cheese), but even if it does it only means the first bite will be a fantastic surprise.