Tuesdays At The Table - Homemade Frosty Paws

Happy Tuesday, everyone!  Did everyone have a good weekend?  I did! Kind of...  Friday I did a whirlwind tour of New England (MA to RI, RI to MA-NH-VT and back again) and got to help pick up a little of chiweenie pups for Furever Dachshund Rescue. It also provided me a few interesting moments:

• Bringing a finch into Olive Garden for lunch with me and Laura.
• Holding a puking puppy on the highway.
• Tripping over an alpaca "toddler" and hurting my knee.
• Getting spit at by a llama.
• Meeting miniature horses, a donkey, a few types of chickens & ducks and a pair of peacocks.

Because I hurt my knee on Friday, I got sidelined the rest of the weekend.  Which honesty stunk.  I love the pups, but at a certain point, you want someone who's going to talk back to you!

Anywho...I'm sharing another pup-tastic recipe this weekend.  I think all the pups in your life will enjoy it! (Taken from the Furever Dachshund Rescue FB page)

Homemade Frosty Paws

Three 6 ounce Containers of Plain, Low-Fat Yogurt (or greek yogurt)
1/2 Cup of Peanut Butter (Low Sodium)
1 Four Ounce Jar of Banana Baby Food
1 Tablespoon of Honey


In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients. Blend well. Pour mixture into small cups (pictured: Dixie
Cups).

Place dog bone in mixture (to serve as the handle). Freeze. Once frozen, peel away paper cup
and serve!

What's cooking in your kitchen?

3 on Thursday - The Name Game

Hi! Everyone having fun during this heat wave?  Oh...you're one of the few parts of the country that isn't having a heat wave?!  I don't like you.  {Kidding!!!} And neither does my amazing co-host Andrea.  {Still kidding.  She loves everyone!}
A huge THANK YOU to the lovelies that played along last week.  I know it had the potential to more thought provoking than our usual topics.

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Back to something fun this week! Our topic this week is:
Names you would or absolutely would NOT name a future child.

I'll give you three for both sides of the question.  But feel free to just do three names you love or three you really dislike if that's what floats your boat.  :-)

Before I do - let me tell you a little name story.  When my mom was pregnant, my parents picked out the name Mariah. Right before I was born, my mom's cousin got a poodle puppy...and named her Mariah!  So obviously, my parents had to go back to the drawing board.  I'd like to credit my dad for picking the name I got.  Good job, dad!  And, a pretty hefty thanks to cousin Judy for naming her puppy Mariah...cuz I am NOT a Mariah! {Note: If I was a boy, my name would be Robert.}

Not happening:
Traditional names. Lord help me if I get a husband that fights for traditional names.  Don't get me wrong - there are a lot of really pretty names out there.  I just don't want my child to be one of three Jennifer/Mary/Lisa's or Michael/Joseph/Matthew's in their class.

Locations.  I've seen a wave of people name their kids after cities lately: London, Dallas, Houston and Phoenix.  I'm not knocking it... It just isn't for me.

Fruits or inanimate objects. Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin can get away with naming their child Apple.  Beyonce and Jay-Z can make Blue Ivy sound cool.  In real life - um, no.

Names I like:
Classic names. You may think differently than I do, but I view classic names as something that people won't blink twice when they see...but you won't have more than one or two in your high school or college graduating class.  I like Audrey/Hope/Clara or Lucas/Henry/Nathan.

Celtic names. I'm mostly Scottish... so, to me, it just makes sense.  I'm a fan of Fiona/Ainslie/Maeve or  Lachlan/Callum/Keegan.

Biblical names. Sensing a trend?  Like the others, the names aren't really weird, but they aren't amazingly common either.  On my list are Noah/Caleb/Gabriel  Claudia/Hannah/Chloe.

OK, now have some fun, link up and be sure to drop by and visit Andrea too!

A Word From Paisley

Hi.  I iz Paisley! Beckett says he gets to post on Momma's blog sometimes and that if I waited until Momma left for her state CNA test - he'd share da password.

Hmm... what do you want to know about me? Oh - my new nickname is Houdini!  Iz so tiny that I can slip in between a gate post and the back gate.  It's so funny to see Momma scream!  She's buying bricks, whatever they are, after the test so that can't ever happen again.

I haz an underbite.  Beckett and Meadow told me I need braces.

I think that Momma needz to keep the Brady boy.  He's my favorite litter mate, and he snuggles almost as good as me.

Beckett is the funnest to play bitey-face with.  I iz his shadow.  We long-haired dachshunds gotta stick together!

Anything else you want to know about me?  Ask, and I'll hijack da computer for a follow up post!

Tuesdays At The Table - 7Up Biscuits

Howdy, ladies! Is everyone have a good week so far?  I'm prepping for a really busy week - my CNA state exam (pray for me, if you're so inclined!), a trip to VT to pick up more foster pups and bring them to their foster home, the March of Dimes walk this weekend and a whole boatload of errands.  Add potty training and socialization of two puppies and I'm exhausted just thinking about it! :-)
We're heading into almost 100 degree weather this week too.  Which to me, means salads - and LOTS of them.  I like a roll with my salad, and this recipe is quick, easy and pretty frugal. {Recipe and picture are via Pinterest.}

7Up Biscuits

2 cups Bisquick

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup 7-up

1/4 cup melted butter

Cut sour cream into biscuit mix, add 7-Up. Makes a very soft dough.

Sprinkle additional biscuit mix on board or table and pat dough out. Melt 1/4 cup butter in a 9 inch square pan. Place cut biscuits in pan and bake at 450 degrees until golden brown (about 15 minutes).

What's cooking in your kitchen?

3 on Thursday - Act Your Age. Kinda.

Hey there, ladies!  I'm really growing to love Thursdays.  It gives me such a thrill when people play along with the questions that Andrea and I post each week.  {Have any good topic ideas?  Let us know!}

&<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span></span>;center>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span></span>;a <span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">href</span></span>="http://<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">allthesmallstuff</span></span>-<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">cole</span></span>.<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">blogspot</span></span>.com/" title="3 on Thursday">&<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span></span>;<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">img</span></span> <span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">src</span></span>="http://i909.<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">photobucket</span></span>.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">BlogDesigns</span></span>/Buttons/3ThursdayButton.<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">png</span></span>" alt="3 on Thursday">&<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span></span>;/a>

This week's topic:
Things you like best/worst about being your age.

I know, I know.  This week's topic isn't quite as light and airy as last week.  Sometimes, you learn more by asking a quasi serious question!  So keep an open mind, please. :-)

To make things fair - I'll break from the three format and give you four.  Two things I like best and two things I like the least. And yes...I cheated on the "best" list!
Best:
Confidence and perspective.  I'm still a pretty shy person.  But with age has come the confidence that I really am as smart, funny, and lovable as some fabulous people have told me.  Honesty, I'm a heck of a lot smarter than some people have given me credit for.  Just because they have advanced degrees does NOT make certain people smarter than me.  Education does NOT equal intelligence.

Freedom.   I'm sure that all adults appreciate the ability to make their own decisions and only need to justify their purchases, TV shows, cooking taste, etc. to only themselves or their partner.  :-) How many of you said  during your teenage years "Just wait until I'm an adult, mom and dad!"?

Bonus: Being my age puts me in the position that I can cook some great meals, know how to check my car oil, speak intelligently about politics {amongst other things}, and best of all be able to be active in dog rescue. 

Bonus again: I look young enough that I get carded {most of the time} and don't get called "ma'am"; look old enough that I get taken seriously.
Worst:
Being alone.  I'm thrilled that all my friends and family have found their mates!  Getting to see the family {either blood or chosen family} grow is wonderful.  It's equally joyous getting to help welcome the kids into the world.  I love almost all of the kiddies in my life! Seriously!!!!  But, I'm still single and don't have kids. And sometimes the mommies and kiddies get together and I get forgotten.  Or I get invited but feel a little awkward because I can't contribute to the "aren't the toddler years the worst" convo or the "wow, you have 11 month old twins and are pregnant with another set of twins stuff". I absolutely know that people accept me for who I am...but I've always wanted to be a mom.  I really feel like I'm missing out on a big chunk of life... *Note: I'm kind of sensitive about letting people know that I feel sad about the lack of a husband and kids in my life.  Please be nice.*

Bills. Really, why are there so many freaking bills?  As you go from your twenties into your thirties, the bills seem to multiply!  Mortgage, property tax, home insurance, car insurance, cable, electricity, etc.  Dear companies, please do us all a favor and don't increase your rates this year! Ha!

 You're turn! While you're at it, drop by and show the love to my fabulous co-host, Andrea!

Wordless Wednesday - Puppy Pics

Hey Mom, Paisley's collar is really tasty!

Is this my best side?!?!

A rousing round of bitey face!

Momma, I'm pretty and ALL the toys are for me, right?!

Tuesday At The Table - Forgotten Kisses Meringue Cookies

Happy Tuesday!  I hope everyone is having a good week.  Things are still busy in my little house.  Having two new puppies in the house is exhausting!  But, in a good way!
This week I'm sharing an Emeril Lagasse cookie classic.  These meringues are so light and delicious.

Forgotten Kisses Meringue Cookies

2 large egg whites, at room temperature

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

2/3 cup superfine granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips or finely chopped semisweet chocolate

1 cup finely chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and beat until fluffy but not at all dry. (Be careful not to over beat.) Add the sugar gradually, about 3 tablespoons at a time. When 1/2 of the sugar has been added, add the vanilla extract. Continue beating and adding remaining sugar in batches, until all of the sugar is dissolved and the meringue is very shiny and tight. Gently fold in the chocolate chips and chopped nuts. Working one teaspoon at a time, push a teaspoonful of meringue from the tip of 1 teaspoon with the back of another teaspoon onto the lined baking sheets, leaving 1-inch of space between cookies. Place baking sheets in the preheated oven and turn the oven off. Leave the cookies (undisturbed) in the oven for at least 2 hours and up to overnight, or until cookies are crisp and dry.

What's cooking in your kitchen?