Handmade Custom Dog Scarves

Choose your favourite patterned materials and start whipping up a bunch of stylish scarves for your best friend!

Sizes:
Small dogs - 14" square
Medium dogs - 18" square
Large dog - 22" square
Ex-large dogs 26" square

A 22 X 22" square folded in half or 2 triangles with 32" on the long side fit my 50 lb boxer/sharpei baby with an almost 20" neck. Remember when deciding on a size you need a little extra for tying.

Fold the square over to form a triangle or place two triangles (with coordinating patterns) good side in and sew along the edges. Leave an opening of about 4" so you can get your hand in and turn it right side out.

Trim extra off the edges and snip the corners so there is less bulk in the corners then turn it out and sew all the way around.

Gotta go make a pile of these!

Ice Birthday Cake for Dogs

It's Karma's 5th birthday so of course I had to make her favourite treat!

You can mix whatever treats your dog likes and freeze them together. Or you could freeze layers (think layer cake😉).

First layer had sweet potato, then spinach leaves and finally carrot slices with some kibble.

I even froze her best ball in the middle!

So refreshing and fun!

Miso Grilled Eggplant

Continuing the search for ways to incorporate miso into our diet, I came across recipes for grilled eggplant. Simplicity and deliciousness right here! And I'm sneaking in that protein-rich miso too!

Ingredients:

1 medium eggplant, sliced 3/4" thick
1 tbsp miso
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsps orange juice
1 tsp garlic, minced
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp orange zest

Whisk all the ingredients together and spoon onto the top of the eggplant slices. You can refrigerate for several hours or grill right away.

Grill on medium heat 10-15 minutes. Flip slices and spoon on more glaze, grilling an additional 10-15 minutes.

Serve warm or at room temperature

Seen here alongside my Sweet Potato Kebabs

http://hotandcoldrunningmom.blogspot.com/2018/07/sweet-potato-kebabs.html

Sweet Potato Kebabs

These kebabs are so easy to make and when they hit the barbecue with that hint of allspice...WOW!

Ingredients:

1 medium sweet potato, cut in 1/2" slices
2 tbsps olive oil
1/4 tsp salt
pinch pepper
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp allspice
sprinkle paprika

When you slice the sweet potato, don't peel it! Just scrub it clean then thread each slice of sweet potato onto the skewer through the middle so that they lie flat. Twist a little to get them through and even though some skewers ended up a little close to the surface instead of being evenly through the slice they turned out fine. And they stay flat when you flip them. Even this slice top middle below where you can see a slight crack stayed nicely on the skewer. 

Mix the olive oil, salt, pepper, cumin and allspice together and brush on both sides of the potato slices. Then sprinkle tops with paprika.

Grill on medium heat about 7 or 8 minutes per side. Check to see if they are soft. You may need a little longer if your slices are thicker.

Brush with a little more olive oil and serve warm or at room temperature. Don't forget...eat the skin! It's full of nutrients!

You can also try Miso Grilled Eggplant seen here

http://hotandcoldrunningmom.blogspot.com/2018/07/miso-grilled-eggplant.html

Easiest Way Ever to Cook Corn on the Cob

No lie! This is hands down the easiest way you will ever cook corn on the cob!

Thanks to my friend Di for passing on this invaluable information!

Pull out the extra silk from the top of each cob, then pop 3 ears in the microwave. Power on high for 7 minutes.

Then, wearing oven mitts, cut about 1" off the stem end and slide the husks right off!! Really!!

Coffee Mocha Buttercream

Light on the cocoa, with a little coffee fix!

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, at room temperature
2  1/2 cups icing sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1  1/2 tbsps strong brewed coffee, cooled
1 tsp cocoa powder

Cube the butter and beat in a mixer until smooth.
Gradually add the icing sugar and beat until fully combined.
Add the vanilla extract and the coffee, again a little at a time so that the butter mixture can easily absorb the liquid.

Makes enough frosting for a 2-layer 8" round cake.

This one was a chocolate fudge cake which complimented the buttery frosting perfectly!

Heatwave Salads

With a record-breaking heatwave coming, I got prepared for alot of salad cold plates for dinner. Boiled a bunch of eggs and I had some cooked chicken, canned tuna and sliced meats ready to go. The mercury hit 35C/95F by Sunday with a humidex making it feel like 46C/114.8F!!! Oy! Be careful what you wish for 😎

First up, what came 1st? The chicken or the egg?

Just a simple garden salad tossed with Healthy Miso Salad Dressing along with cheese, cold bbq chicken and hard boiled egg.

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Another hot summer night supper...coldplate. Did you say "Coldplay? No, ColdPLATE!" We have a weird sense of humor here, or the heat is getting to us!

Some deli coldcuts, coleslaw, mac salad (both store bought) and this potato salad...

6 white potatoes
2 tbsps vinegar
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 hard boiled egg
1 tsp dry mustard
1  1/2 tsp celery seed
2 green onions, sliced
salt and pepper to taste

Bring quartered potatoes to a boil in a large pot of water, then simmer 10-15 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Toss with vinegar and refrigerate until cooled.

Combine the remaining ingredients and toss with cooled potatoes.


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Today's supper was Sunflower Rice Salad with spinach, strawberries, feta and tuna.

Hope this heat wave breaks soon, somebody is missing his meat and potatoes!!


Here are the links to the Sunflower Rice Salad and Healthy Miso Salad Dressing:

http://hotandcoldrunningmom.blogspot.com/2015/04/sunflower-rice-salad.html


http://hotandcoldrunningmom.blogspot.com/2018/06/healthy-miso-salad-dressing.html