Baking for Man's Best Friend

So, my friend Jen writes a blog called The Elka Almanac, and on it, she discusses various training techniques, literature as well as treat options.  She's even made her own no-bake treats before!  Elka is a very intelligent dog, and like most dogs, she loves food.  Quite often when we visit we eat all types of delicious food that Elka wants, so I decided to bake her some treats using a recipe from http://www.dogtreatrecipes.org for peanut butter dog biscuits.

Combine 2 cups of whole wheat flour with 1 Tbsp of baking powder.

Stir in 1 cup of peanut butter, and 1 cup of milk.

The dough came out like a regular sugar cookie dough, just minus the sugar.

Next, turn out the dough onto a floured surface and knead until the dough is together.

Using a rolling pin, roll it flat, to about 1/4-1/2 inch.

I don't have dog bone cookie cutters, so I used bunnies.

For added flare, I gave them eyes using a chopstick...

Bake for 20 minutes in a 375 degree oven.

Once cooled you may serve to your canine friend.

Elka was very interested in these treats.

Mission Success!

Wedding Cake

A good friend of mine is getting married in January, and she has asked me to bake the cake!

(Here is Shannon and her fiance Peter!)

I was flattered and honored to be offered the opportunity to bake a wedding cake for one of my best friends, and I look forward to sharing it here on my blog!

(image from http://rusticweddingchic.com/rustic-wedding-cakes)

(image from http://fandomania.com/fandomestic-15-geeky-wedding-cakes/)

Keep your eyes peeled for wedding cake madness!

Several Ways to Get Rid of Last Year's Pumpkin (or How to Make a Frighteningly Delicious Halloween Treat!)

So, you've seen me bake pumpkin cupcakes recently, and I had a lot of pumpkin puree left over.

Now this is something I enjoy using, and during this time of year, I bake with it a lot, and I buy various pumpkin flavored/themed things...like beer.

(This is Saranac Seasonal...quite good!)

But I had to think of another way to use it.  For one thing, I used it in a savory fashion by making "Yuko's Dream Curry" from http://www.johnnywander.com/ .

Quite tasty!

I also made another batch of the pumpkin cupcakes, but I baked it in a bread and iced it with cream cheese frosting, adding candy black cats and pumpkins!

Finally, my last installment of pumpkin for now will be something I call "Jack'o'lantern truffles."  This is a super easy recipe, and you can make any truffle with this, just remove the pumpkin from the equation, and any other flavor options.

First pour 1 bag of good chocolate chips into a metal mixing bowl.

Next heat up 1 cup of heavy cream with 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree until it simmers.

Pour into chocolate and let it sit for a few minutes.

Whisk vigorously adding 1 tsp vanilla

As well as a generous helping of pumpkin pie spice.

Let cool for 45 min in the fridge.

Using a cookie dispenser, or a set of spoons, scoop out and shape little balls of the chocolate mixture.

Place in the fridge once more, and should you have a Bryan on hand, allow him to clean up the chocolate mess left in the bowl.

Now it's time to coat this ball of goodness in...something.

Could be cocoa powder.

Melted chocolate.

Or nuts.

I chose cocoa powder.

(yes that is pizza in the background...please don't judge...)

Enjoy these deceivingly ugly, absolutely delicious treats, and Happy Halloween!