Doggie Treats, anyone?

I've been making Ruby's doggie treats for years.  One reason is economical, but the most important reason is, Ruby absolutely loves them.  She turns down Snausages, Bacon treats, Milkbone, and almost any purchased dog treat on the market. 

Even if your dog likes name brand treats, you might give these a try.  They're so very easy to make.

2 C. flour
1 C. grated cheese, any cheddar will do
1/2 tsp. salt
1 individual size serving of apple sauce
water

Mix the above ingredients until a somewhat soft dough forms.  The exact porportions are not important. 

Pat or roll out the dough until approximately 1/4 inch thickness.  Parchment, Silpat, or use a cooking spray of your choice.  It should form somewhat of a rectangle.

The dough can be scored lightly with a butter knife or a pizza cutter.  I forgot to take a picture of the scoring part.  You can skip this part if you want, but scoring makes the cooked treats a little easier to cut after baking.   Bake at 375 for about 30 minutes or so.  It should be brown around the edges and the cheese bits on top should be starting to brown too.

Cut into 1/2 inch pieces.  Here's the important part:  Since there are NO preservatives, they should be kept in the freezer, in a ziplock bag.  I usually portion about 10 at a time in a little container in the refrigerator and use those for Ruby.  As many treats that can be used up in about 5 days is a good amount for the fridge.  The rest of the treats will stay nice and fresh in the freezer.  Re-fill the fridge supply as needed.

Doesn't your dog deserve homemade treats? 

Cinnamon Rolls

There's something about the aroma of cinnamon that just knocks me out!

Saturday, after pampering a mild cold that kept me sleepless at night, and sleepy during the day, I decided to do some baking.  Baking always makes me feel better.  Maybe it's the sweet aroma and warmth surrounding the kitchen, creating a homey atmosphere.  Whatever the reason, it works for me.

Oh my!  My husband was close by, cup of hot coffee in hand, waiting patiently.

Labor Day, Hoorah!

Strawberry Shortcake, for breakfast?  It's Labor Day, after all, and finding a reason to have strawberries has never been a problem for me.  Strawberries are fruit, and full of anti-oxidants, and the biscuit (leftover from last night's dinner) is a grain, right?  Tie it all together with calcium from the whipped cream and we have a winner!

Tea Time

My afternoon tea, complimented by orange flavored butter, with just a touch of honey.  What could be better?

Homemade scones, with a sprinkle of cranberries....now, that's better.

Checking gauge

Yes, I actually swatched!  New yarn from Cherry Tree Hill was begging to become a pair of socks. I'm hoping this tiny bit of knit will be sufficient to check for correct needle size.  That's if I can unroll this baby.

As you can see, number 1 US needles swatched out at exactly 8 stitches to the inch.  Perfect.

Whew! After all that work, I need a snack.  Is anything better than fresh strawberries, right from the roadside stand?  I think not.

Now I'm ready to begin a pattern I've never tried before.  More on that, later.

It's Cheesy

There are many things I could say about a grilled cheese sandwich, and you just know I'll be saying them at a later date.  Ruby wants a bite, and she's unapologetic about staring at me while I'm trying to enjoy my sandwich.  Is there a chance she'll get a taste?  Is the Pope Cath.....well, you know the rest.

Vine Ripe

At last, my first summer tomato is just ripe for picking.  I could hardly wait to taste this glorious gift of nature.

A simple preparation was called for, so I grabbed some extra virgin olive oil, fresh basil, and a sprinkling of course salt. Husband said, "yum" and daughter agreed.  Simple and sweet.  Now, I only wish I had planted more. 

Good Morning!

Last night, I made coffee cake.  This was no ordinary coffee cake, the recipe promised, but 'the best coffee cake in the whole wide world', so I thought I'd give it a try.  The results:  Very good, very, very good, but is it the best?  It's very moist, which is sometimes a big miss when it comes to homemade coffee cake.  They tend to crumble, and are very dry, even right out of the oven.  This one is sweet, with a kind of creamy cake-like texture.  I like that a lot.  Another big plus, in my book, is that it has lots and lots of cinnamon crumble throughout.  Coffee in the morning might never be the same without this cake sitting in front of me.  That is a good coffee cake!

This little sweetie pie is almost ready, almost.  Two more days should do it.  I don't think road-side farmers need to worry about the competition, but it is so darn satisfying knowing that I've actually grown something this delicious looking.  I suppose I'll have to share with hubby.  After all, he likes tomatoes too.