Peanut Butter Puppy Treats

My Pug is one year old!! My how time flies! lol 

So, for his birthday, what else do you get a little doggy? TREATS!!!


INGREDIENTS

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup smooth peanut butter
1 cup milk
1/2 cup oatmeal

1. Preheat the oven to 375F.

2. Mix all ingredients until it forms a ball. It should not be too sticky.

3. Roll out the dough and cut with a cute cookie cutter or, like I did, pull off small pieces, roll into a ball and flatten.

4. Bake for 20 minutes or until the treats start to brown.

My Dex didn't sit very still with the aroma of peanut butter in the air!

Can I eat them yet??????

He just couldn't stay away!!!!

They smell just like peanut butter and are crunchy like a regular do treat. He loved them and I hope whatever pooch you make them for loves them too!

Anniversary Cake and Frosting Images

I had the honor of making a 25th wedding anniversary cake for a coworker of mine. It was a surprise too so it was that much better!

I'be always liked images on cakes. Yes, it's kinda cheesy but who doesn't love eating someone's eye, nose or ear? The kids especially always want a "part" of someone!

So I got a hold of this beautiful pic from their wedding album, very sneaky like, and took it in to have a rice paper made. When I got there the clerk told me they make the images on a "fondant type frosting" sheet that has much better resolution than rice paper.

Of course I went with the frosting sheet and it was beautiful! (I apologize for the pics I have posted. At the time they didn't seem to dark, then again it was 11pm!) Until I had to put it on the cake... it was almost stretchy when I removed it from the sheet it was adhered to. It gave me a panic attack and tore just between their heads. Luckly that part was black and any little white that showed through I tapped with a toothpick dipped in black food coloring.

Crisis averted.

Anyway, I'll have to research how to better apply this type of decoration because it really was beautiful. Just like the couple!!

Happy Anniversary Dan and Vikki! 

Whole Wheat Pasta Dough

Last year for my birthday my mom got me the pasta attachments for my kitchen aid mixer. Then for Christmas, my dad and step mom got me a lesson with their neighbor on how to make homemade ravioli with homemade pasta dough.

 Those were amazing and ever since then I've tried a few times to make pasta again. Mostly it has turned out tough or too thick and more like a dumpling but I found a good recipe that was soooo close to the right thickness this time! Pasta has to be really thin!!!

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup water
1 cup white flour

1. In one bowl mix the two flours.

2. In a second bowl mix the eggs and water with a fork or whisk.

3. Create a well in the flour and pour in the wet mix. Using your hands, slowly mix the eggs into the flour and create a loose dough ball.

4. Turn out the dough ball and kneed until smooth. DO NOT OVER KNEED!

At this point, it's up to you. Roll it into sheets for ravioli, cut it with a knife, through a machine, pinch some bow ties... endless.

I made some fettuccine. The dough is sticky of course so I had some boiling water ready to go.

I improvised when drying the pasta. :)

Then of course we topped it with my BF's signature pasta: olive oil, mushrooms, garlic, cherry tomatoes, yellow peppers and secret seasoning!

 My pasta was still a bit thick but it was cooked perfectly and the taste was great. Just a notch thinner next time... and there will be a next time!

I just love that as much food as possible is homemade and good for me. I know what is in this dish. And when I can it's from my own garden or organic or local even. It's not easy. No way. But it is delicious! 

And on a side note, drying pasta on a chair is a bad idea. the thick bend in the pasta was going to make it hard to put in a bag so I gently bent it and let it dry on the table. Some stuck together but it still cooks up great.

Man I love pasta!!

Chocolate Roll Out Cookie Dough

Now, a good homemade sugar cookie is a classic. But sometimes we want a little something... more. So here is a great chocolate "sugar" cookie roll out dough. You can roll it out, cut it and frost them if you want! I think I might do these at Christmas instead of my usual sugar cookie! This recipe I use is from the Martha Stewart Magazine (yes I'm the girl who tears pages out of magazines whether they are mine or not, keeps them until she forgets then finds them and is giddy like a kid on Christmas!)

INGREDIENTS

2 2/3 Cups flour

1/3 Cup cocoa powder

3/4 Teaspoon baking powder

1/2 Teaspoon salt

2 Sticks unsalted butter

1 Cup sugar

1 Egg

2 Teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Beat butter and sugar in a mixer until fluffy. Add in the vanilla and egg. 

2. Add all the dry ingredients slowly until it forms a dough ball. 

3. Chill for a few hours, I did it over night. 

4. Preheat oven to 350F. 

5. Roll out the dough with a little flour and cut desired shapes.

 6. Put cut shapes on a non stick baking sheet or parchment paper.

7. For the small sized cookies I made, I baked the cookies for 7 minutes. Larger cookies will need a few more minutes. 

I thought the cookie was a little plain as is so I dipped the edge in chocolate gnache. You can buy it already made in a store or make your own. I did option 1. These are soft and have a rich dark chocolate taste to them. I took a few to work each day and my sweet tooth was definitely satisfied!! Enjoy!

Avocado Pesto Pasta

I love pasta. I love pesto. I LOVE fresh avocado. Obviously this recipe was a no brainer. I had to try it. I have it printed out in my stash of "must try" recipes but there is no indication of where I got it from. But just for reference, this is not my original recipe. 

INGREDIENTS

1 pound pasta

1 bunch fresh basil leaves

1/2 cup pine nuts

2 ripe avocados peeled and pitted

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons chopped garlic

1/2 cup olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Fresh tomatoes to top the dish with

1. Boil your pasta as directed.

2. Meanwhile, blend the basil, pine nuts, avocados, lemon juice, garlic and oil in either a blender or food processor.

3. Season with a little salt and pepper. 

4. Drain the pasta when it is done cooking and mix in the dressing. Top with the tomatoes and enjoy! 

This is another pasta dish with warm noodles and a cool sauce. The avocado is so creamy and delicious with the basil. I bet I could add a little grilled chicken and have a dinner right there. Mmmm... :) So easy and so tasty!

Happy 4th of July!

I hope everyone is enjoying today with friends or family... or like me, relaxing with some good food. Since I had to work all weekend I didn't have time to come up with something red white and blue but here is my recipe from last year!

Red white and blue sugar cookies!!

And if I had the time (maybe I'll just make it this weekend!) the recipe I have been eyeing...

Here is the link.

Either way, I'm happy just to be home and having my BF grilling up some ribs for dinner, followed by ice cream and some lazy tv watching!! 

Happy 4th!