Bow Wow Birthday Cake

Directions

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in the middle.
2. 2
   Lightly grease two round 9-by-3-inch cake pans or a very large metal dog-bone mold.
3. 3
   (If using a mold, place it on a greased baking sheet.)
4. 4
   In a large mixing bowl, mix the ground turkey, brown rice, carrots, celery and parsley.
5. 5
   In a small bowl, mix the beaten eggs, garlic, olive oil and vanilla extract.
6. 6
   Add to the turkey mixture, blending well with your hands.
7. 7
   Stir the baking powder with the whole-wheat flour and add to the turkey mix, blending well.
8. 8
   Pack the mixture into the prepared pans, and bake for about 1 1/2 hours, until completely cooked and crisp on top.
9. 9
   Turn out of the pans and let cool on a rack.
10. 10
    When completely cooked, ice with 3 1/2 cups mashed potatoes, making a layer cake or two separate cakes.
11. 11
    To decorate (or to write the birthday dog's name on the cake), add beet juice to 1/2 cup of the mashed potatoes, and transfer to a pastry bag.
12. 12
    For additional decoration, edge the cake with carrot rounds topped with beet-colored mashed-potato rosettes.
13. 13
    Or mix shredded carrots and red cabbage, and sprinkle on the top, like confetti.
14. 14
    Serve with the appropriate number of candles.