1 cup flour 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/8 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup natural peanut butter (Do NOT use a peanut butter with Xylitol, as it is very toxic for dogs) 3/4 cup applesauce go with plain, unsweetened 1/2 cup pumpkin puree 1 egg FROSTING 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt 1/4 cup peanut butter
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine flour and baking soda. In a separate bowl mix together vegetable oil, peanut butter, applesauce and pumpkin puree. Once combined, mix in egg and mix well. Mix wet and dry ingredients and stir until no dried bits of flour are visible.
Pour mixture into an 7 inch square pan that has been greased with oil. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the cake springs back when pressed lightly. Allow to cool on a wire rack prior to removing from pan. After cooling, add frosting if desired.
For the frosting: Mix Greek yogurt and peanut butter until well combined. Spread over cake. If not serving immediately, store in refrigerator.
Comments: This is a super easy treat to bake, and we actually tried the cake (without the frosting) and it is not bad at all! We cut three circles to offer the pups, and the leftover was cut in cubes and saved for later. Tiny Milk Bones to decorate are optional, but dog-appreciated… Our Birthday girl gave it two paws high up!
In My Kitchen posts are hosted by Sherry, from Sherry’s Pickings. Please visit her site to see whateverybody else is sharing this month. I join four times each year, on the first day of January, April, July and October. If you are a food blogger, considering taking part of this fun event. It is chance to share those little things you bought or received as gifts and that make your life in the kitchen easier.
Starting with gifts….
From our dear friends Heather and Tad, all the way from their garden in California, the most spectacular Meyer lemons, that we put to use in macarons, cookies, marinades, and buttercreams! The smell before we even open the box was amazing! THANK YOU!
From our friends Keith and Sarah, a very special mug that I’ve been using every evening for my tea… I did NOT to get to be a Star Baker in the tent, but I can be one in our kitchen!
From my virtual friend Toni, the CUTEST Dalmatian golfer plush toy! Can you believe all the details? He carries a bag with golf “bones”, and I have absolutely NO WORDS! Approved by both resident Dalmatians, one yet to set paw on a golf course, the other a very seasoned caddy for his Dad. This little golfer has fun jumping around our kitchen, showing up in the most unexpected spots, never failing to give us a smile! A little like Elf on the Shelf…
Cannot thank you enough, Toni!
In our kitchen…
A new mat to replace one that lasted for many years, but could not resist the teeth of a certain Dalmatian puppy that attends by the name of Prince… oh, well……
In our kitchen…
I have a weakness for small tiny colorful dishes, and these jumped into my shopping cart the other day. What can I say? I needed them in my life…
In our kitchen…
A cupcake carrier that is a must-have if you need to transport cupcakes around. Almost every week I’ve been including mini-cakes in my donation box, so I use it often. It is sturdy, very convenient. Available here.
In our kitchen…
I found those at Marshalls and of course, was forced to bring them home. How could I possibly resist them?
In our kitchen…
I got this set of flavoring oils from LorAnn straight from amazon. You cannot choose the flavors, they just assemble a dozen. I thought it was a good deal so I can try them and the ones that please me I can order later in a bigger size, although they are so potent that each little bottle will last well into their expiration date, I suppose. I was hoping Key Lime would be in the mix, but unfortunately it did not make it. ‘
In our kitchen…
Someone turned 1 year old on June 12th, and we had a special bake… Dog cookies, made according to this recipe.
In our kitchen….
A silicone mat normally used for fondant, but I rolled it over chocolate cookie dough (without any leavening agent) and used to form a pattern over the cookie, as shown below. There are countless versions available in sites such as aliexpress.
In our kitchen…
I normally hate single-function gadgets but we are loving this one! Hubby often makes açaí bowls for his lunch and the banana slicer works like a charm. Also great for strawberries, but a no-no for dried apricots, in case you are wondering. Available here.
In our kitchen…
A little ceramic container for olive oil. We had a different, fancier one, but it kept cracking because it was a bit too big to handle. This one is perfect for our needs. It does not hold as much oil as the previous one, but it is easier to use. Several colors available here.
In our kitchen…
From Sweetsticks, a paint activator to use with all sorts of luster powders and also to dilute gel dyes. If you like to have the watercolor effect on the surface of an iced cookie, this is really helpful because it does not dry nearly as fast as alcohol-containing solutions. I won mine in a little cookie contest, but it is available here.
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In our kitchen… a teaser little thing….
I am not going to explain what those are, but these are super cool! Wait for a blog post putting one of them into use… Of course you are more than welcome to try and guess what these are…..
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And now, it is time to let our pups do the barking…. and the most vocal by far is our Little Star, getting less little each and every week!
Prince and Star are pretty much inseparable now… She follows him, imitates him, adores him, and the feeling is definitely mutual…
Many thanks to our friend Jen, for quoting the phrase “Get your own Star!” Indeed, it says it all about their bond… Too cute for words. Oscar, however, has a slightly different take on the situation.
But, Star knows how to play the cute-card…
And she is incredibly cute even when slightly confused about the proper way to negotiate her bed…
Although we did not find it that cute when she decided to get up close and personal with mud, just an hour after we gave her a bath (and THAT was not easy, trust me).
But of course, things got much worse a few days later…
Still, not a chance to stay mad at her…
Prince has been the best Big Brother a pup can ask for… he is patient, loving, caring, and so so happy to have a playmate. They play non-stop from the moment they wake up until they crash side by side at night…
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Osky is Osky. He is in many ways happier now that Prince leaves him alone, and Star is quickly learning that inviting him to play is a no-no. He is also very happy with his Summer look…
This is me, around The Black Spotted Deviants
This is me spared of their Annoying Presence…
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Star is shaping up as a True Defender of her Brother’s Kingdom!
And, if you still need a little hit of The Cute… I am here for you….
Before I close this post, a little shout from the past. Today BUCK would be 16 years old. I miss you, Bucky Boy.
We have great news! On May 20th, we brought home a little bundle of joy, an 8 weeks-old female Dalmatian called Star. Full name is Ziggy Star Barker, a play with David Bowie and Star Baker. She is feisty, sweet, and the boys accepted either very enthusiastically (Prince) or kind of reluctantly (you know who). We are thrilled to have her join our home!
This is a very simple recipe based on peanut butter and pumpkin puree, super easy to put together, and it will receive two-paws up by the most discriminating canine palates out there. Woof, woof!
1 Cup Pumpkin Puree 1/3 Cup Peanut Butter, smooth 2 large Eggs 2 + 1/2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour ¾ Teaspoon Cinnamon
Heat the oven to 350° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In the bowl of a mixer use the paddle attachment to combine the pumpkin, peanut butter, and eggs at medium-high speed. Add in the flour and cinnamon and mix until a stiff dough has formed. Turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface and roll out to ¼ inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut your desired shapes.
Bake for about 20-25 minutes, until the edges begin to turn golden brown. Cool on a rack.
Comments: Make sure to use peanut butter that contains only peanuts and salt, no additives. Xylitol, which is present in some brands, is very toxic for dogs, so do not use it. The classic shapes are obviously bones and paws, but you can cut in squares, even using a knife or bench scraper and it will be even easier and faster. Pups won’t mind!
Bewitching Kitchen 