The Red Dog Inn

• 1 c apricot preserves
• 2-3 Tblsp soy sauce
• 2 -3 Tblsp of water to help loose the apricot preserves or not.
• Add 1/2 c dried apricots chopped
• 2 Tblsp of brown sugar or 1 Tblsp honey.
• a couple shakes of Tobasco or a little cayenne (this will add another layer of flavor. If you don’t care for spice, you may leave it out or substitute cinnamon for a REALLY different flavor.)
• pepper

Today, while I was at the opthlamologist, Butters was having his teeth cleaned at the vet.  Lula was whimpering when I got home. Her buddy, her companion during the day, was missing! She looked at me as if to plead, “We have to go GET HIM!!!”

So when it was time to collect Butters, I took Lula with me. She was quite animated while we waited for Butters to appear.  When he rounded the corner, still a bit dazed from the anethesia, she scampered over to him and greeted him with the enthusiasm once reserved for meeting loved ones at airline gates in the days before 9-11.

We returned home. Butters was out of it. If you ever have had a dog receive anethesia, you may have heart them whimpering as the effects wear. Lula was very concerned. She walked between Butters and me. She would look at him while he whimpered. And when it was dinner time, she did the talking since he wasn’t in the mood to remind me.  Usually they sleep apart. Tonight they’re sleeping rather close.  It’s sweet.

I love that my dogs have bonded and look out for each other.

When I started this blog, I made the Proverbs 12:10 my mission statement of sorts. Proverbs 12:10 reads: The righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.  So when I saw this message from teh Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), I signed the petition.  Give it a read. Visit the site. If you are compelled, take action!

“The Animal Legal Defense Fund is working to ensure that convicted animal abusers are exposed and prevented from harming new victims by promoting model legislation to establish an animal abuser registry in every community across America.”

FOLLOW THE LINK TO ADD YOUR VOICE AND LEARN MORE!  http://www.exposeanimalabusers.org/

This recipe is for humans, cause, we have to eat, too!

So, I was watching Food Network and Melissa D’Arabian made Tunisian Meatballs. Well, I thought I’ll bet I could do the same basic thing with chicken. I found that it’s a good recipe to have in your arsenal to use those ground spices and rotate them out of your cupboard.  Truth be told, I didn’t measure, so these amounts are best guesses. I also left the grated ginger out of my version, but it was fine. You’ll need to adjust the cayenne to your taste.  I layered the spices throughout the recipe and just shook the spices into the dish, eyeballing the amounts.  I’m also going to break my recipe giving rule and just list the ingredients in the actions.

If you’re tired of Italian, go south to North Africa for a night by adding this to your International Dishes. The key is the spice mixture.  So here’s my recipe:

RAID YOUR PANTRY AND BLEND THESE TOGETHER IN A BOWL. You’ll use this as a rub on the chicken and to flavor your sauce.

1 Tblsp Cinnamon

1 Tblsp Cumin

1 Tblsp Paprika

1/2 tsp red pepper (Cayenne) (adjust to your liking)

1 Tblsp brown sugar

1 tsp salt (I use sea salt)

1 tsp + of black pepper

(If you have leftovers and need to store this, store in an airtight container)

*****************************************************

Heat a large skillet and add 1-2 tblsp olive oil to it. I used a brush to disperse the oil around the pan.

Season boneless skinless chicken breasts with the rub (I added poultry seasoning, too) with the dry mix and place in pan.

You’re going to just brown both sides of the meat, but not cook all the way through at this point. The chicken will finish cooking in the sauce.

Move to a separate plate.

*****************************************************

MAKE YOUR SAUCE

Add a little olive oil to your pan. Saute:

1/2 large onion diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp fresh ginger grated (if you must use dried only use 1/2 tsp. Dried tends to be more powerful than fresh.)

When the onions start to soften and look a little carmellized, add some of the  remaining spice mixture (You can reserve some to adjust at the end)

Add 1/2 c white wine

Add 1/2 c. chicken broth or stock

Add 14.5 oz can of crushed or diced tomatoes

Lemon zest and juice

Add chicken back to pan. Cover. Let simmer for 5 minutes covered. Then remove lid and let the sauce reduce and get thicker. 

About 2-3 minutes before serving add 1 Tbsp dried parsley; if you’re using fresh, add it at the very end.

WHAT TO SERVE IT WITH: D’Arabian served her dish with couscous laced with chopped dates and glazed carrots.  The same would work here, or I was thinking some sliced cucumber would cut the heat just a bit.

There are days I would swear I’m merely a pawn in Lula’s world domination plot.  Take this morning for instance.  I was awakened by Butters and stupidly rolled over and went back to sleep. By now, I should recognize an attempt to tattle when it’s presented. 

When I finally did wake up, I noticed crumbs on Lula’s ears as I pet her this morning. Then, I walked into the kitchen for my morning coffee and noticed a shredded bag  on the floor. Upon investigation it was a bag of cashew/almond/pumpkin seed clusters that was behind closed cabinet doors the night before when we went to bed.

So without the benefit of caffeine, I found myself needing Jessica Fletcher to help piece together this mystery:

How does a little basset hound open a kitchen cabinet door, extract a bag of cashew clusters and CLOSE the cabinet door?

Lil Lou may be laughing at my futile attempts to thwart her world domination plot.

She’s resting now… or is she really lying in wait — waiting for the opportune moment to unleash her next plot?

Lately, I’ve been taking part in the I LOVE effort. Today, I found myself making wishes. See, I’m in the market for a new SUV.  My beloved Green Machine (1996 Ford Explorer) is not doing well.

I’m looking for the perfect vehicle for me and my pets.  I think the US Auto Industry could save themselves buy developing pet friendly add-on packages.  According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA) — yes, there is such a thing — the pet product industry grew last year (2009) by $2 billion.  That’s $47.7 billion in 2009.  We Americans love our pets! 

So why haven’t Ford and GM caught on to this?  I’ve been developing my wish list.  Here are the features for my dream pet mobile:

• Pet friendly interior fabric
• An integrated ramp
• Optional lift platform for infirm pets or heavy objects
• Automatic lift hatch
• Crate anchors, like baby seat anchors.
• Bowl holders
• Leash tethers for use with halters
• Rear A/C
• Automatic venting when the car temp reaches 70* to create a comfortable and safe environment (Law Enforcement K-9 vehicles are equipped with this type of feature.)
• Interior temperature gauge that’s visible from the outside
• All-weather floor mats for muddy days at the park or stable
• Cargo holders to keep things like buckets, towels and carrot supplies in place.
• Run flat tires
• Incorporate dog parks, vets and pet stores/services into Sync

It looks as if pets are here to stay. We need our vehicles to consider them, too.  I WISH: Ford Motor Company would develop a pet package for their vehicles… specifically the Explorer.  (Butters, Lula and I will gladly test it!)

White chocolate and carob dipped dog biscuits. (Remember: Chocolate is toxic to dogs. Butters' got into chocolate one Christmas and had to have his tummy pumped. Not cheap!)

I love:

• Dave and Marilyn, the great couple who live on the edge of the park, because they don’t mind when their border collie brings home a few friends and runs them through their freshly remodeled home.  
• The Dogfather (not a typo) who knows all the dogs and their people and helps damsels in distress.
• Auntie Tracy, who spoils my dogs silly.  Case in point: She’s sent Butters white chocolate dipped milkbones for Valentine’s day and overnighted a box of canine chicken jerky.
• Dawn, who rescues basset hounds regardless of their circumstances and finds them forever homes.
• Friends Sonia & Kim who bring their dogs to the park and make me walk with them
• Great neighbors who enjoy my dogs as much as I do and help me when I need it
• Great neighbors who think a basset hound howl is music.
• A great vet
• A compassionate chiropractor who gave me another 12 months with Mr. Finley and rescued a lovely pitbull who thinks she’s my lapdog
• Good friends who force you to bust out a dog in need
• The folks who help find homes for Baghdad Pups
• People who help us understand our dogs better
• Great groomers
• Dog-friendly businesses

I love :: people who love our canine companions.

Butters is my treasure.  Butters path to The Red Dog Inn was an interesting one. 

I learned of Butters through my friend, Amy.  Amy’s boss was fostering this dog, but his golden retriever was driving him nuts.  The dog was left behind when his family moved. Somehow he got to Amy’s boss. I received an email, “Suzi, could you take him? If not, they’re taking him to the shelter.”

I had Finley, a 14-year-old golden retriever.  Oh boy. So I wrote back, “Amy, let me come see him.”

I dragged my pal, Liz, along that day to give him the once over. I should know better than to take Liz.  I had no intentions of coming home with another dog on my birthday, but after seeing him, Liz hit me in the arm and whispered, “We’re busting him out today!” 

So I looked at the lady of the house and said, “We’ll just take him now, if that’s okay?” As soon as she clipped on his leash, he pulled us out the gate to Liz’s SUV and loaded up as if to say, “See ya!”

When we got home, I gave him a flea bath and tried to take out some of the mats from his coat. Oh my goodness… my tub looked like tribbles bred it it!

 The first night, he let me pat him on the head, then he went outside to lay for a few hours.  Finley took it in stride. (I love that dog and miss him terribly to this day.)  The next night, I was able to pat him on the head twice, and he went outside to lay for a few hours before I made him come inside to sleep.

I made an appointment with my vet.  He was healthy, about 3 or 4-years-old, but he was matted, and he had fleas. She body clipped him. Now… I don’t know if he’d never been pet before, but when I ran my hands down his fuzzy crew cut, he melted. Today, he’s a petting junkie!!! 

Butters is a handsome charmer.  He’s quick with a wave and a kiss on the cheek. He’ll charm you out of your last Milkbone or insist that you pet him until you can pet no more. Women are particularly captivated by him. His Auntie Tracy even overnights gourmet dog treats to him!  But, he always knows where his mom is and how to get to her. He’s as polite as can be and a sweet, sweet boy. I even catch him acting like Finley every once in a while.  (Thanks for the help, Fin’.)

In short, Butters is my found treasure. He’s priceless.  He’s going no where.  He’s home… forever.

I LOVE:  Butters… my found treasure.

Have I told you that Lil’ Lula LOVES hockey? It’s true. And she’s become a fairly good barometer of the Anaheim Ducks’ (our hometeam) ability to win games. When she falls fast asleep the team is going to win. If she’s rambuctuous, the Ducks will lose.

It’s gotten to the point where I’ll text message my hockey-lovin’ friends a photo of her sound asleep during the game to get third party verification. Odd thing is that she’s been accurate. One friend has taken to texting me during a game to learn what Lu is predicting for the outcome. I’ve even caught her wagging her tail seconds before her Ducks score a goal. (How does she know?)

Judging by the wagging after his name is mentioned, I gather she’s particularly fond of Corey Perry. Perhaps it’s the name ending in a long ”E” sound; then again, they do share the same hair color.  I’m still looking for the right words to break it to her that he’s playing for Team Canada in a couple weeks.

I suspect the sound of the skates on ice, the slap of the puck against the stick and fast movement on the television screen has something to do with her apparent love of the game.

Maybe she’s trying to get a ride on the Ducks’ Zamboni or maybe she’s scheming to get a team of hockey players to give her belly rubs. (If Lu was writing this the title would be Lu LOVES: BELLY RUBS.) She’ll convince them with one glance of those big, brown eyes that rubbing her tummy will bring them good luck. Or she may try to convince them that they will be a good addition to their training regimen. She’s clever like that.

Whatever her angle is I love watching hockey with my hound because it brings me joy.

My good pal, Vicki (you should visit her blog at birdsandseashells.com), is participating in an I LOVE: : effort this month. The big idea is to write about the things we love in our lives. Things that bring us joy.  I thought… WHY NOT? In addition to getting me to blog more often (sorry, blog. I’ve been neglectful), it’ll be nice to take time out of mi vida loca and focus on the blessings God’s granted to me. 

I encourage you to take a moment out of your day and reflect on the thing that brought you joy today.