September 4, 2012 • 3 notes • joythebaker.com
Pancake for One? Yes, please!!  This recipe makes the best pancake I’ve ever had - made by me or anyone else.  Light, fluffy, and just the right amount of sweet.  As written, it makes one very large pancake.  I’ve tried doubling it, with varying degrees of success - once I did and it was fine, the second time the mix was so runny, the pancakes were impossible to flip.  Both times, though, I kept the oil the same as in the single pancake version. Every time I’ve made it, I’ve used 1% milk rather than buttermilk (because who keeps buttermilk on hand?) and it has been yummy.  Chocolate chips are great, so are dried blueberries.  Either way, top with butter and maple syrup - sooooo good! Photo and recipe courtesy of Joy the Baker.

Pancake for One?

Yes, please!!  This recipe makes the best pancake I’ve ever had - made by me or anyone else.  Light, fluffy, and just the right amount of sweet. 

As written, it makes one very large pancake.  I’ve tried doubling it, with varying degrees of success - once I did and it was fine, the second time the mix was so runny, the pancakes were impossible to flip.  Both times, though, I kept the oil the same as in the single pancake version.

Every time I’ve made it, I’ve used 1% milk rather than buttermilk (because who keeps buttermilk on hand?) and it has been yummy.  Chocolate chips are great, so are dried blueberries.  Either way, top with butter and maple syrup - sooooo good!

Photo and recipe courtesy of Joy the Baker.

September 2, 2012 • 2 notes

Housetraining

So we are, for the first time, trying to housetrain a dog.  All three of our dogs that we had before Biko came along were adult dogs and already housetrained.  Needless to say, it has been a learning experience. 

We are trying to do all the things the training books say to do - taking him out often, copious praise when he goes outside, etc, but there are still a lot of accidents.  Every rug in our house has been “baptized” and most of our floors.  One of our biggest struggles is to get him not to go in his crate.  Everyone says, “Oh, they won’t go in their crates” - not true.  Part of the problem, more or likely, is that his crate is too big for him.  I know you are supposed to get one only big enough for them to turn around in, but we are trying to avoid buying two crates (the one we currently have is a loaner).  I know you can get them that have a divider, but we don’t know how big he is going to be.

So we’ve been getting up at 4:00 or 5:00 a.m. to let him out at night, but he still usually doesn’t wake us up until he goes.  Until last night - when he let us know BEFORE he went, and managed to go all night without going in his crate!

I’m sure we just need more patience - it has only been two weeks - but I will be glad when this part of puppyhood is over!

August 30, 2012 • 3 notes • recipe-diaries.com
Bubble Up Enchiladas This is one of my favorite easy recipes.  It’s straight up GOOD and only 6 Weight Watcher points (10 points plus).  5 ingredients - ground turkey, enchilada sauce, tomato sauce, refrigerated biscuit dough, and cheese. I like to top with sour cream - yum! I always have to cook at least 5 minutes longer to make sure the biscuits are done. Photo and recipe courtesy of recipe-diaries.com.

Bubble Up Enchiladas


This is one of my favorite easy recipes.  It’s straight up GOOD and only 6 Weight Watcher points (10 points plus).  5 ingredients - ground turkey, enchilada sauce, tomato sauce, refrigerated biscuit dough, and cheese. I like to top with sour cream - yum!

I always have to cook at least 5 minutes longer to make sure the biscuits are done.

Photo and recipe courtesy of recipe-diaries.com.

August 30, 2012
OK, so terrible phone pic, but I love how 13 pound Biko has to drink out of the big dogs’ bowl.

OK, so terrible phone pic, but I love how 13 pound Biko has to drink out of the big dogs’ bowl.

August 27, 2012 • 2 notes • smittenkitchen.com
Another Smitten Kitchen recipe - her baking recipes are just so good!  I also love that she includes weights with her ingredients - I vastly prefer to weigh my dry ingredients rather than measure - so much more precise. I love Blondies - prefer them to brownies, even.  This recipe was so incredibly easy - it took about the same amount of time as it would to make some from a mix (not that there are blondie mixes, at least that I’ve seen).  I threw in half a bag of butterscotch chips, and sprinkled chocolate chips on half for the hubby.  Very, very good. Photo and recipe courtesy of Smitten Kitchen.

Another Smitten Kitchen recipe - her baking recipes are just so good!  I also love that she includes weights with her ingredients - I vastly prefer to weigh my dry ingredients rather than measure - so much more precise.

I love Blondies - prefer them to brownies, even.  This recipe was so incredibly easy - it took about the same amount of time as it would to make some from a mix (not that there are blondie mixes, at least that I’ve seen).  I threw in half a bag of butterscotch chips, and sprinkled chocolate chips on half for the hubby.  Very, very good.

Photo and recipe courtesy of Smitten Kitchen.

August 27, 2012 • 2 notes

Crochet Hook Found!

Crocheting may recommence!

August 26, 2012
Extreme puppy closeup! (Taken with Instagram)

Extreme puppy closeup! (Taken with Instagram)

August 24, 2012 • redheart.com
Currently crocheting this blanket - except I’ve lost my H hook.  Grr.

Currently crocheting this blanket - except I’ve lost my H hook.  Grr.

August 19, 2012
And, our brand new fourth dog - Biko, an eight-week-old Avuvi.  Avuvis are an aboriginal African breed - Biko’s mom’s (Scout) owner was a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali, and brought Scout home along with seven surprise passengers.

And, our brand new fourth dog - Biko, an eight-week-old Avuvi.  Avuvis are an aboriginal African breed - Biko’s mom’s (Scout) owner was a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali, and brought Scout home along with seven surprise passengers.

August 19, 2012
My three dogs.  Left to right, Petey, Sadie, Ruby.

My three dogs.  Left to right, Petey, Sadie, Ruby.