Decadent Chocolate Birthday Cake

Chocolate fantasies come true with this exceptional cake. 

On Sunday, a few minor things went wrong. Firstly, I was originally making a round cake, but the spring form pan wasn't secured and a bit of batter leaked on the counter (thankfully, most of the batter was saved). The pumpkin frosting, however, turned to a cottage cheese consistency and couldn't be rescued.
As I prepared Nora's recipe for the best vegan chocolate cake, mild skepticism rose a bit at such a watery batter-- a first for me. She had put a warning disclaimer in her post. Plus, the in-use oven was set at 270 degrees stood in the way of making a successful dessert.
The cake is rich and moist, perfect for chocolate fanatics. One bite transformed a bad day to heavenly delight.

Decadent Chocolate Birthday Cake Ingredients and Preparation

1 cup almond milk
1 tablespoon vinegar
2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup melted coconut oil
2/3 cup pumpkin puree (or unsweetened applesauce)
1 cup boiling water

1/2 cup chocolate (used Chauo Chocolatier Sea Salt Bar)
1/4 cup coconut oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine almond milk and vinegar together. Set aside.
Sift flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together.
Mix in almond milk, vinegar, coconut oil, and pumpkin puree. Add boiling water.
Pour batter into greased baking pan.
Bake for 23-25 minutes. Let cool.
Whisk together chocolate and coconut oil.
Assemble the cake, pouring some icing on the first, putting the second layer on top, and pouring the remaining icing. Chill covered in the refrigerator.

Scenes of a chocolate affair. Is there no greater indulgent love?

The best treat is one topped with Reddi Whip Almond Whipped Cream and Chauo Chocolatier messages.

After the first taste.....

Berbere Spiced Tempeh with Mushroom Couscous

On Birthday Eve, I made a nice simple meal for the end of this age. It hasn't been the best year, but hopefully tomorrow is a significant start of something new and fulfilling-- as fulfilling as delicious berbere spiced tempeh and mushroom couscous.

Berbere Spiced Tempeh with Mushroom Couscous Ingredients and Preparation

1 box Near East Mushrooms and Herb Couscous
2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 cup mushrooms
1/2 8oz tempeh
1 teaspoon berbere spice
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
pinch of parsley

While preparing couscous to package directions, caramelize onions in olive oil for five to seven minutes. Add mushrooms.
Rub tempeh with berbere spice, salt, and black pepper on both sides and pan sear alongside onions and mushrooms.
Serve with couscous and sprinkle dry pasrsley atop.

Baked Pumpkin Walnut Rotini

A baked pumpkin pasta is the perfect start to bringing in that traditional autumn flavor.

Happy October-- my favorite month of the year! I'm looking forward to pumpkin flavored meals, new themed treats to review, birthday cakes (gotta have more than one), and scary movie marathons.
I start off with a dish inspired by bonnie_rabbits Instagram. She had created a scrumptious pumpkin lasagna during Vegan Mofo 2018 commemorating the pumpkin emoji. Now I used rotini pasta as opposed to prepping lasagna-- that's a challenge for another day. 
The simple orange sauce is rich and nutty, complementing the pasta and broccoli beautifully.

Baked Pumpkin Walnut Rotini Ingredients and Preparation

2 1/2 cup rotini
1 1/2 cup broccoli (or any green vegetable like spinach or kale)
1 1/2 cup walnuts (soaked for 6-8 hours or overnight)
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
2 tablespoon almond milk
1 teaspoon garlic
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon basil
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
pumpkin seeds (optional)

Cook pasta and broccoli according to package directions. Pour into a baking dish.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a blender or food processor, combine walnuts, pumpkin, nutritional yeast, almond milk, garlic, turmeric, salt, basil, and black pepper until thick and creamy.
Fold sauce into pasta and broccoli. Top with pumpkin seeds if desired.
Bake for thirty minutes.

Out of the oven.

And straight to the plate.