Since 2011, a bit of a birthday tradition has arisen on the blog (I lost post from '07 through '09 and for whatever reason made risotto for 2010- not sure what I was thinking). However, in the past few years I have typically made my own cake, talked about the year before and held some sort of giveaway of some of my favorite things (I'm not a big person on receiving gifts and much prefer to give). While the cake and giveaway is still happening, I'm at a bit of a change in my life as I sit on the precipice of a new chapter, with baby. So instead of reflecting on what has happened, I'm just here, soaking it all in (and doing a modicum of looking forward, I mean, we are having a baby).
M and I headed out of town for the weekend and flew up to Seattle (which was pretty obvious if you follow me on instagram). We've eaten some lovely food, saw a few sites, and for my birthday are taking a drive to see a bit of scenery and eat more wonderful food (the perfect day). In honor of this trip, I decided to do a sweet 'Seattle bundle' giveaway of a few items I picked up when we walked to Pike Place along with some Marge granola and two cookbooks by two lovely Seattle ladies (I wish I could giveaway all the cookbooks by people from Seattle but I've determined that Seattle is land of magical cookbook writing + there are tons).
Oh, and this cake? You can find the instructions on The Fauxmartha. She convinced me this cake was the bomb (and she wasn't kidding). I decided to go with a simple chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and this cake recipe is from the book, Cake Love. As Melissa describes it- the tight crumb on this cake is really what makes it (and also, subsequently makes this cake amazing to eat with a scoop of vanilla ice cream because all birthdays deserve a little cake and ice cream.)
Below are the instructions on how to enter (and a few of my photos thus far from around Seattle!)
Those croissants! 🙂 Looks like a great time.
Happy Birthday! It has been years since my last visit to Seattle. I need to make it there again!
gorgeous photos!!
I hope you are enjoying Seattle. It looks amazing!
Happy birthday, lady! May it be filled with plenty of love and all of that beautiful cake!
Have you tried the crumpets at the crumpet shop in Seattle? Ricotta+honey+walnuts was really good 🙂
I just visited Seattle in September! Gorgeous city and Pike Place market is (obviously) incredible
Hello! Love to see a woman doing what she loves on her birthday!
Happy birthday!! Seattle looks lovely!
Oh my goodness the date night in cook book is too too cute!
Happy Birthday! I love Seattle!
Looks amazing! I've never visited Seattle but my aunt and uncle live there. Definite wanderlust-ing over this post. xx
Happy Birthday! Gorgeous photos of Seattle, it's a wonderful city with great people and food.
Happy birthday! I was just talking about wanting to go Seattle and this is another push in that direction!
Happy Birthday! A chocolate cake is perfect, and what a great straightforward recipe! Love a chocolate cake to celebrate
Lauren x
Britton Loves | Lifestyle Food Fashion Beauty - http://www.brittonloves.blogspot.co.uk
Happy Birthday!
Helloooo! That cake is calling my name 🙂 Love your photos too, looks like a nice place to visit!
Happy Birthday! This post makes me want to go back to Pikes Place so badly. When I visited 10 years ago, I wasn't interested in traveling, plus the life situation that occurred around the trip had me hating the whole thing before we left home, so I didn't really grasp everything Seattle had to offer.
ohmygosh love all the flowers
I honestly was looking forward to your cake post!! Really excited about trying this one out. As a matter of interest, have you tried this cake with dutch process cocoa?
I used cocoa powder from frontier that had been treated with alkali (which if I understand correctly, makes it 'dutch'). So yes 🙂
I love all things cake related and Seattle related! Yum!
Happy Birthday!
Your photos are beautiful! Happy birthday!
Beautiful photos! Great post about Seattle! Makes me want to go!
looks amazing! i'd love to go to seattle at some point!
This looks like the perfect cake to make for Valentine's day!
Happy Birthday! I adore your blog
Seattle is the greatest! Thank you for this contest opportunity!
Ps- I misspelled my Instagram name on the contest entry. It's really "michellekc41_13"! Thanks!
I love Seattle! It looks gorgeous in your pictures. Happy Birthday!
Hello and happy birthday! Glad you're enjoying these last months before baby comes!
Happy birthday to you! I have become a repeat visitor to Seattle because I love it there- I also went there for my birthday last month! These photos are lovely and reflect what I love about the city.
Thank you for the delicious cake recipe! I would be especially excited to receive your Whole Grain Mornings book, of course, but all of the treats look so special.
Happiest of birthdays to you!
Your photos make me so hungry!
Happy birthday!! I love the picture from Seattle, especially the flower bouquets! One of them looks similar to my bridal bouquet and totally made me smile.
I'm from Portland so I've visited Seattle a bunch of times. It's such a great city to wander in. Happy Birthday!!
Happy birthday! Thank you for all that you do- I love reading your blog and your recipes and stories.
Happy Birthday! Wish I was eating that chocolate cake with you! Beautiful photos from your trip. I especially love the picture with all the flowers and the barrel 🙂
Hola! Happy Valentines Day!
Have a wonderful birthday and Valentine's Day! What a delicious cake!
omg....that cake!!!!!!
http://www.shopsaul.blogspot.com
I've never been to Seattle but have always wanted to go, even more so now seeing all your lovely photos. Happy Birthday!
Beautiful cake! I hope you have a happy birthday!
Happy birthday Erin!! Hope you had a lovely day! Looks like a wonderful cake!
Happy birthday, and happy Valentine's day! I hope the next year is filled with love and happiness!
Happy Birthday! Enjoy Seattle!
Hello! 🙂
Such gorgeous pictures. I would love to retrace your steps one day! Congratulations on your blog anniversary, keep up the wonderfully inspiring and delicious work!
I have no idea why I wrote blog anniversary...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
That cake looks delish, hope you enjoy it. Happy Birthday!
I want to go to there!!
Happy birthday! I love the photos of Seattle -- I moved to Portland a few months ago, and have yet to take a trip up there. Now I really want to visit!
happy birthday!
Happy Birthday to you! Have a fabulous day! And I wish I could have a piece of that cake...OMG YUM!!
Sounds like you've got a lovely birthday day to look forward too! Love your blog and beautiful cake shot 🙂
Hello! This cake looks lovely! Happy birthday!! 🙂
What a wonderful looking cake! Happy birthday!!
Gorgeous photos! Everything edible looks amazing. My goodness. Enjoy celebrating! xo
http://www.ithappenedonemorning.com
Happy Birthday! And thank you for the giveaway!
Hello, Happy Birthday! Great looking photos, now I'm hungry!
These cookbooks have been on my list forever!
Hello, and happy birthday! The cake looks delicious!
Hi! I have so many good memories of Seattle. I used to live in Anchorage and every year my mom and I would fly to Seattle for a girls shopping trip in the Spring.
What a beautiful cake!
Happy birthday! That cake is gorgeous and sounds delicious!
Erin, a little bit late to wish you happy birthday but I hope you had a very beautiful day!
The bundt cakes with chocolate, do you fill them with chocolate too? I am thinking about the famous "Chocolat fondant" made by the frenchmen which drives me crazy as anything with chocolate 🙂
Thank you for your reply.
Ahhh those flowers are beautiful! Happy Birthday!
Such beautiful pictures! I hope that you enjoyed Seattle. We've had great weather this week!
That cake looks delicious!
love love love! and Happy Birthday 🙂
Happy birthday! Thanks for the lovely giveaway'
Beautiful looking cake! Will try it soon:)
Happy Saturday!
Looks fantastic! I'll be making the cake sometime soon 🙂
Hello! Happy birthday! Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
Hello and happy birthday! Being a relatively new pacific northwesterner, this bundle looks amazing!
that cake looks amazing!
Happy birthday!
looks like fun! Where did you eat in Seattle?
Happy Birthday Erin! Seattle looks so gorgeous; the perfect way to spend a birthday, in my opinion. And this cake is absolutely lovely. Your piping is so refined and elegant.
Also, I know that 'looking forward' might be difficult, what with your little one coming, but I have a feeling that when that time comes, everything will become completely innate. Change is scary, but holds so much potential! Sending you my best wishes for the future!
Oh my word, what a phenomenal cake! Thank you for the chance!
The cake is stunning! Happy birthday!
Happy birthday.. Seattle looks beautiful..
Happy Happy Birthday and simply chocolate—always the best
Beautiful photos! I want to visit Seattle again! Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! Seattle looks fab ... Been wanting to go there forever!
I love your blog! I am always checking it for Recipes to cook for my husband and I
Happy Sweet BirthdaY!!!
Hello & Happy Birthday! I will surely be checking out this chocolate cake recipe as my birthday is in a few weeks & nothing beats a chocolate birthday cake 🙂 xxx
Chocolate cakes with cocoa are divine and this one looks as lovely as the city of Seattle!
Happy Birthday! I make my own Birthday cake too, thought it was odd but apparently I'm not the only one 🙂 Incredible pictures of Seattle, I just want to step into the photo and smell those flowers and croissants!
love the photos!
Happy Birthday! Beautiful pictures 🙂
Happy birthday! That cake looks wonderful!
Happy Birthday! That cake looks amazing. Thank you so much for sharing your weekend with us and for offering such a lovely giveaway.
Amazing photos! Really makes me want to go to Seattle.... if not just to explore the different food! 😀
Hello! Great photos! and last but not least, Happy Birthday!
Birthday Greetings !
Beautiful pics! HappyBirthday!
That croissant looks div. ine. Happy Birthday 🙂
Happy birthday! I love all your recipes and your photography is outstanding! Enjoy Seattle! It's beautiful!
Great visuals - makes me want to go there!
Hello and happy birthday Ella! 🙂
Hi
Happy birthday ! The photos look amazing and make me want to go there !
The cake looks yummy too... I definitely have to try the recipe !
Happy birthday. I can't wait to try this cake and I love, love, love Marge Granola.
Happy Birthday! That cake looks gorgeous - enjoy Seattle, my favorite US city!
Happy (belated) Birthday! Your photos are astounding! Seattle is deff on my list of places to travel to.
Hello and happy birthday. The cake looks and sounds delicious. Thanks for the opportunity.
That cake looks amazing! Happy birthday! I've always wanted to go to Seattle too. Looks fun.
Happy Birthday! Happy to know that I'm not the only one who makes their own birthday cake 🙂
Happy birthday. Chocolate cake- nothin' better
Agreed: Seattle is 'da bomb! Happy birthday: enjoy it!
I'm so glad to have found your blog a few months ago. We have made so many of your recipes. Thank you for sharing with us.
Happy Birthday ! Hope you had a great time in Seatle, your photos aree amazing! as always 🙂
Happy Birthday!!! I'm not a big fan of cake, but this one looks amazing. Glad you had a good time in Seattle. Everyone should celebrate their birthday well.
LOVE your blog! Your photos and recipes are amazing!
I loved your photos of Seattle. Great giveaway!
Happy Birthday! The cake looks so yummy. Seattle looks yummy too. I have never visited Seattle, but if I win your bundle is the next best thing. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thanks for the reminder of Public Market. Driving from San Francisco to Ellensburg for my nieces graduation this spring and will add it to my stops on the road trip.
The one time I visited Pike Place I loved watching the fish guys throw and catch the fishes! And the flowers are stunning! Happy BIRTHday!
Oops posted my last comment as a reply to someone else's comment. lovely photos of Seattle! Thanks for the giveaway.
Hello! It sure looks like you had a great time celebrating your birthday! It's been 6 years since I've been to Seattle and I am long over due for a visit.
Happy Birthday! Thank you for the lovely photos of Seattle...it is on my list of places to visit, and the pictures help remind me why I want to see it for myself.
Your photos are marvelous! I didn't know Seattle was so nice. My birthday is on the 21st so Happy Birthday, fellow February girl! People always put February down because of the weather (I'm outside Boston) but it's one of my favorite months, for obvious reasons!
I am not sure anything can beat a classic chocolate cake! Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday to one Auquarian from another! Thanks so much for all your recipes and another reason to celebrate!
Hello and Happy Birthday! And a big thank you for this giveaway 🙂
Lovely giveaway and cake. What a fantastic way to celebrate your birthday!!
I live on Vancouver Island but have yet to go to Seattle! It is definitely first on my list for travels- Pike Place Market looks like a dream! Thanks for doing this great giveaway.
What a gorgeous looking cake! i bet it's scrumptious too! makes me wish i could have some. Great giveaway also. Your photographs and recipes are always great and inviting. Thank you!
Happy birthday! I've only been to Seattle once but am dying to go back!
Happy Birthday! Thanks for the awesome giveaway.
Yum!
I love Seattle! I have semi-regular trips to Everett for work and I always make everybody schlep back to Seattle for dinner when I am there. So many good places to go and things to see!
Congratulations and happy birthday! Thanks for filling our lives with lots of food love.
Thanks for the give away! Happy Birthday!
Thanks for all the yum!
I've never been to Seattle even though I have relatives who live there. Beautiful pictures of a beautiful city!
Happy Birthday!
Hello! 😀 These pictures are wonderful!
Love your blog! It's gotten me through many nights of "what's for dinner, honey?" Thank you for having lovely, healthy, and inspiring recipes! By the way, recent red lentil masala was fantastic. The homemade garam masala took it to the next level, and it is now under the "go-to" category of recipes in my head!
Happy Birthday! That cake looks so so delicious and decadent! It's been a long time since I've been to Seattle. Looks like a fun trip! Thank for the opportunity on your lovely giveaway!
If I didn't already want to visit Seattle... 😉
Such gorgeous pictures! Taking a weekend trip to Seattle in a couple months and I'm even more excited now! Hope you had a beautiful birthday.
Happy Birthday! Great photos 🙂
Happy Birthday!
Hello & Happy Birthday! That Cake sure is the "Bomb"...it's beautiful! Thanks for giving us the chance to win this great Seattle Bundle 🙂
Beautiful pictures! Seattle is gorgeous.
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday! The cake looks wonderful!
Hello and Happy Birthday.
Hi!! Happy Birthday!! I'm loving your photos, they are beautiful!!
Happy Birthday! Beautiful photos.
Happy Birthday! Those recipe books would fit so nicely in my library.
You take such amazing photos and the food always looks so divine...:)
Happy B-day! Love exploring new cities. Thanks for giveaway.
Happy Birthday! That cake looks ahhmazing!
Happy birthday! ^_^
I love the powdered cocoa on top!
I've only been to Seattle once, so I am super jealous of your trip. Happy birthday, and thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
Love the photos! I have always wanted to go to Seattle.
Happy Birthday! Beautiful cake!
What a fun trip! Happy birthday, friend!
Happy Birthday. Love the pictures. Donna
Hello and happy birthday!
Spectacular photos of the market and a positively beautiful and professional cake. My cakes may be tasty but never (no, really and truly NEVER) look anything but a mess. Bread is much more my baking medium!!
Happy birthday!
Hi Erin, I used to live in Eastern Washington and love love love Seattle. My favorite is the Queen Anne area... I love Delancey pizza, Cupcake Royal, local coffee shops, the parks along Lake Washington, artisan breads, I could go on forever.
Congratulations on the baby!
Hello and happy birthday!
I lived in Seattle for 5 years, such a beautiful city. So glad you enjoyed your visit, and Happy Birthday!
The perfect celebration cake. It's Tuesday right? I think that's worth celebrating!
Sal
http://www.the-fit-foodie.com
Love Seattle!!!
Well hello there. Good luck with the wee-one and happy birthday. Whilst I hope you will still inspire us through your blog, don't ever feel guilty if you don't have time once you give birth. Enjoy it and remember that we'll all be happily pottering in the kitchen until you are able to return.
Happy Birthday! I am going to Seattle in August this year and it cannot come soon enough.
Happiest Birthday! Amazing photos! And that cake looks really yummy!
hello :)))
beautiful photos! makes me miss seattle so much!
Hello, happy birthday! Beautiful pictures - I live in Portland and love weekend trips to Seattle 🙂
Hello and happy birthday!
happy belated birthday! seems like you had a wonderful time in Seatle...and this year im thinking of making my own cake as well. i am pinning this for next month 🙂
Such pretty photos!
Happy Birthday!
My husband and I went to Seattle in December for 10 days. Every time I see a picture pop up on a blog or instagram I get excited - it was amazing! I miss the PNW!!
Happy Birthday to you! Enjoy this year ahead!
Hello and happy birthday from Memphis, Tennessee!
Happy, happy birthday! I am smitten with Seattle and jealous of your getaway.
Happy birthday! A trip to Seattle sounds like a wonderful way to celebrate!
Looks amazing! Happy belated birthday!
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday, and thanks or this wonderful giveaway!
dang that cake looks good
Love all of the flowers from the Market! Seems like a great Birthday!!
Cake looks awesome-as does all of your food!
Hello 🙂 Happy birthday!
Have a wonderful birthday!
Happy Birthday!!! Planning a trip across the ocean in a couple of months... Seattle will be the first stop... The bundle would be a nice sensorial preparation for the trip 😉
Hannah
I lived in Seattle for 4 years and I miss it every single day! It sounds like you had a lovely birthday. Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday! I've always wanted to go to Seattle, and your beautiful pictures give the the travel bug!
Oooh, I live in Seattle! Love it so much 🙂
Now that's a joy filled give-away! And the chocolate cake looks and sounds amazing.
Happy Birthday Ella, stumbled upon your blog while looking for keywords 'spinach, pasta' to make for dinner. Just made your 'Garlic-Butter Pasta with Spinach and Parmesan'. So easy and good. Thanks! 🙂 Lovely lovely pictures!!! I'm going to be checking back here often! 🙂
Your Seattle pictures are gorgeous! What a lovely post... you remind me I must get back there soon!
Happy Birthday... and I feel I should thank you again and again for your work on my blog. I adore it!
Looks amazing!
Hello, and Happy Birthday!!
hello! and happy birthday!
Beautiful cake and gorgeous pics! Happy Birthday!
congrats and happy birthday! beautiful photos as always.
xo
Happy Birthday to you! Thanks for the ever so lovely Seattle pictures, and such a great giveaway!
I'm finally taking a moment to thank you for creating a lovely space for sharing your inspirations, thoughts, and delicious recipes. Happy birthday and here's to many more blog years!
my fiance and I love cafe umbria coffee! Happy Birthday
I love Seattle! I've only been there once, but want to go back sometime soon. It has such character! And, amazing food. Thanks for sharing your time there!
Happy birthday! Seattle is on my list of cities I need to visit soon-- it looks amazing!
I'm glad you made it to Seattle! I grew up here and just moved back and am so excited to explore again!
I've always wanted to visit Seattle!
enjoy your day! happy birthday!
Happy Birthday!!. I love reading your blog and trying your recipes. Your pictures are fantastic.
Thanks for doing a give-away. And thanks for sharing your stories.
Happy Happy Birthday! Seattle looks amazing, but not quite as amazing as that cake! I've really been enjoying working through your book and milling my own flours. I'm on a buckwheat kick right now, soon to be replaced by black bean excitement. What would you suggest for this cake? I might have to throw some hazelnut meal on top, too! Mmmm...
I think Einkorn or Spelt would be lovely (or a mix a GF flours- like oat, sorghum, and millet!)
Thanks Erin! Sounds like I'll have to make a bunch of these cakes just to try out the various flours. Oh darn! 🙂
Happy birthday! I bake myself a cake on my birthday, as well. The first year it was the pistachio cake from the Momofuku Milk Bar cookbook (AMAZING, but a labor of love for sure). I am already planning the flavor for my birthday in June. I am thinking about something citrus or raspberry. Glad there are others out there who do this too!
I have always loved your site. You are a fantastic blogger!
Can't wait to make that cake!
Hello! 🙂
And happy birthday! 🙂
Also your pictures are amazingly beautiful! May I ask what lens you are using?
Hi Nina, for most of those photos I was using the Canon 24-70 lens (and maybe the 50mm, but only on 1 or 2)!
I miss Seattle!
A very happy birthday and a beautiful cake.
Happy birthday! As someone living in the PNW, I am glad you enjoyed your time in Seattle.
i was just in Seattle 1 1/2 weeks ago and had a great time. Picked up our new puppy and got to spend time with my best friend. Hope your birthday is as wonderful as your recipes are!
Hi! Happy birthday!
My husband and I both have been to Seattle before we met, but I think we need to make the trip together!
Happy Birthday to you! Your cake looks absolutely divine, and I love hearing about how your pregnancy is going, and all your food cravings 🙂 I have a 4 month old little girl, and it's fun to reminisce about my pregnancy with her. The joy that a baby brings is indescribable! I would love to visit Seattle someday!
i'm not a huge cake person but i've been eyeing carrot cake recipes, although this cake is making me re-think that game plan. or just a ham and cheese croissant with a candle... happiest of birthdays!!
We've been talking about a Seattle trip for a long time now... I think it's time we go! Love the pictures (& the cake)!
Yum!!!
This chocolate cake looks amazing! Congratulations on having a baby and Happy Birthday!
Great photos!
Your photos have such character. Inspiring!
Happy birthday! If I made cakes have as beautiful as this one, I'd make my own cakes too!
Hello! And Happy Birthday to you 🙂
Pretty pretty pictures from the farmers market!
Happy Birthday! I just made a chocolate birthday cake for my fiancee yesterday 🙂 maybe we'll have a second one with this recipe though! Thanks for sharing!
Happy happy happy birthday!! Seattle is so much fun, especially if you like food. Hope you're having a great time!
So pretty!!
Love your blog! That cake looks delicious!
I think I need to visit Seattle for a "food" trip! I hope you had a fantastic Birthday!!
Lovely! Happy Birthday!
Beautiful photographs -- as always!
Happy Birthday!
hello
Hello there!~
Happy birthday! Love Seattle and all of their yummy food! Hope you had fun!
Hello Hello! I recently moved away from Seattle and MISS IT! This is awesome. 🙂
Happy birthday!
Hi there! That book, "Date Night In," sounds like it would be really cool! Thanks for the giveaway.
Your pics are lovely! Makes me want to go on vacation. And eat...
Hello and Happy Birthday! Thanks for being one of my favorite go-to food/lifestyle/photography blogs... appreciate your wisdom and your spirit.
Love the picture. I wish I had that cake right now!
hello!
i always have so much fun just going through all your posts and trying out these recipes - so fingers crossed! 🙂
I don't get to Seattle as often as I should, living so close in Portland! Lovely photos!
Happy Birthday!!! Gorgeous photos <3
This makes me want to go back to Seattle!
The cake looks so delicious, wish I could grab it out of my computer screen lol. Looks like you had a lovely trip to Seattle as well, beautiful photos 🙂
P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY from a big fan!!!
I am having major cake pedestal envy! Could you please tell me where you found the marble top/wood base cake pedestal on the chocolate cake + birthday giveaway post? Many thanks!!!
World Market!
Hi, I absolutely love the cake stand with the wood foot. Do you have any idea where I can find one like it?
World Market