I know you probably thought I got lost or distracted but no, I’m still here and I’m still loving every one of my friends like you. I was all set for the Christmas season and it was going to be just John and me so I didn’t stress. There were a few parties both here and elsewhere but nothing to get me off track.
Nothing, that is, until we received a phone call from John’s sister telling us that his elderly parents would be visiting us for Christmas – IN TWO DAYS’ TIME! Now I’m not sure how you deal with your mother-in-law but I always stress. She’s a white glove housekeeper who retired ages ago and has plenty of time to keep things tidy.
I’m not a slob but I work full time and have my blog and all the social media that goes with it. I work way more than a full day every day of the year, consequently you won’t find everything in its place 100% of the time and sometimes you’ll find a sandy dog print on the guest bedroom bedspread. (it’s near the front door and he likes to wait for me there.)
I didn’t panic but I was stressing and then it came to me – that little voice that speaks inside our heads. “Maureen, make a choice – do you work or do you spend time with the olds?” (yeah, that’s what the family all calls them) John’s father is 92 today and his mother is 88. This could have been the last time we ever saw them in sharp as a tack mode so the choice for me was easy.
Rather than abandoning my blog, I was 100% involved in showing them a good time. Both of them have a hearty appetite and love big breakfasts, wonderful lunches and terrific dinners. I was so tired by the time they left that I didn’t care if I ever cooked again. A couple of days’ rest and I’m back in full swing and so pleased to catch up with you all.
The last post I prepared never got published before Christmas because I just wasn’t here with you. My apologies to you and to my guest poster, Charlie our cavoodle. Ros McLaughlin, my new photographer friend who did the photos of my cheesecake, is also a pet photographer and she suggested that Charlie and I make dog biscuits for his friends.
The recipe was pretty easy to put together and I already knew my best friend was fond of peanut butter so once he rolled them out I helped him write his friends’ names on the biscuits. I do have to admit that I believe I had a lot more fun doing this than he did. It cost me half a cup of treats to get him to stand on the chair and look interested.
He did try to taste the dough but honestly, don’t we all test the dough or lick the beaters? I’m sure he’s seen me do it.
Once they were out of the oven and cooled, it was time for the ultimate test – did they qualify to wrap up as gifts for Ruby, Frankie, Oscar and the two fluffy dogs I can never remember the names of?
and the verdict??
There you have it, folks, a Charlie approved recipe for peanut butter dog biscuits. He tells me they’d be great any time of the year so if you’ve got a pooch who loves a treat, try Charlie’s recipe.
- 2 cups (250g) wholemeal flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 270g unsalted natural peanut butter (I used what I eat)
- 1 cup (250ml) low fat milk
- Preheat the oven to 170C/325F.
- Line baking pan with paper or grease pans.
- Combine the flour and baking powder and set aside.
- In a mixer bowl add all the ingredients and mix with an electric mixer until well blended.
- Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Roll out to 1cm/1/4" thickness and cut into shapes using cookie cutters.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly brown. Using tongs, turn the biscuits over and place back in the oven for another 5 minutes.
- Remove from baking trays to cool on wire racks before letting your best friend taste one.
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