Hello everyone!
We hope you all enjoyed the recipes in to last article. Did you taste them before you gave them to your four legged kids? I taste almost everything I make for my kids. The only complaint I normally have is that it needs more salt!
This article is for Sky's birthday. We will feature Sky's birthday menu.
Sky will be six years old August 6th. She has had beautiful years and many more ahead!
The story of how Sky and I came together is a beautiful one. I was pregnant to have a child. My due date was October 10th 2002. I lost the baby when I was three months along. Seven months went by. On October 10th 2002, my first husband and I were in Phoenix, Arizona. I had forgotten all about my due date for the child I lost.
My husband, at that time, was a truck driver. I had wanted a small dog to be my companion on the road and when I was home alone. I started searching the paper for small dogs. I called one number but the puppies there where not quite ready to leave home. I called another and these where long haired, not what I was looking for. I called one more number. The lady that answered the phone told me what they had, how much, and that they where ready to go to new homes. I then told her that I would like to see them and she gave me directions.
We borrowed a pick-up from a friend to go to look at the puppies. It was early in the evening. It was around eight o-clock when I picked out Sky. She was actually my second choice; the one that I liked the best was a boy. I wanted a girl. We headed back to return the pick-up with my new little girl!
I spent the next day picking out a name for her. I also needed to get her AKC papers filled out. We where on our way to Los Angeles and then back to Phoenix. The Sky on the way to L.A. was beautiful and my new baby was just staring at the sky, she did so for over a hour. The name came to me, Mary's Thundering Sky Shadow. "Sky" was a light grey, with a very thundering way of doing things!
It was about a month later when we went home for a some time off the road. That was when I went to mark the day that I got Sky. To my surprise, it was already marked. I picked up Sky and just hugged her. I did have my little girl, maybe not the way that anyone thought I would, but I had her!
Sky has had a exciting life. She has been across the country more than 20 times! She has even been able to stop and see the sights!
One of Sky's favorite things to do while on the road was to feed wild birds. We would have shredded wheat to throw out to them. Sky would sit quietly and watch them eat. When we would be some place that she remembered feed birds at she would ask for the shredded wheat and to go out!
Sky has helped raise three litters of kittens. She has had her own companion. He was a rabbit named "Hoppers".
After about a year and a half Sky and I went our own way. My spirit was lost for awhile and Sky remained my beloved kid and my best friend. Sky went everywhere with me and we started finding our way together. That was when I met Jason (now my husband for 3 years). Sky hated Jason; she would find any excuse to try to bite and to growl. I normally would take this as a sign. I thought to myself about this situation. Sky liked every other man in my life and sooner or later they turned out to be a real butt head! Sky did not like Jason so I went against her and spent any extra time with him. After about two weeks, Sky jumped into his arms. We both about died of shock! She is just as close to Jason as she is to me now.
Sky now ends up needing to stay home a lot of times. She still does many things. She has never had any puppies of her own. We are planning to adopt one. Until then she seems to be content with her brothers and sister Shadow, Jade, and Lil' Bit.
Sky, my baby girl and best friend for life.
Sky's birthday menu includes: Jalapeno Poppers with a side of Rice Bones. For dessert we have Simply Carob Mini-Cakes!
Per popper: Calories: 509, Carbs: 2.5g, Protein: 29g.
6 Jalapenos
1 Ib. Bacon (thin or medium sliced)
6 String Cheeses
Several Tooth-picks
Prepare your grill or broiler pan.
Remove tops and vein of jalapenos. Stuff the jalapeno pepper with the string cheese. You may need to cut a little off to make it the same width as the jalapeno. If you cut some of the cheese off the top, use that to fill in empty spots.
After you stuff the peppers with cheese open you package of bacon, and get some tooth-picks ready and handy. You will need about four tooth-picks per jalapeno.
Wrap two slices of bacon over and around the pepper. Use the tooth-picks to hold the bacon in place. Make sure you cover the top with the bacon so that the cheese does not run out while cooking.
After you have wrapped all the peppers, cook them on the grill or under the broiler until bacon is done and crispy. This will take approximately 15 to 20 minutes. You will need to turn them and make sure they don't burn.
Let them cool.
If you plan on enjoying these you can eat them hot. They are good cold too!
Any left over cheese can be given as a treat.
NOTE: When choosing jalapeno peppers try to get large and straight ones. Try to find picture perfect ones!
Rice Bones
Nutrition facts for six servings: Calories: 91, Carbs: 19g: Protein: 3g.
2 cups Brown rice, uncooked
1 cup frozen peas
Cook the rice as directed.
As soon as rice is done, stir in the frozen peas. Let stand for five minutes before you shape and serve.
Place the amount to be served on a plate and shape into a bone.
Let cool to room temperature before serving.
Yield 12 servings. Calories: 380, Carbs: 48g, Protein: 5g.
2 cups All-purpose flour
1 ¼ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
1 ½ cups sugar
½ cup butter, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
¼ cup Carob powder
1 cup milk
Heat oven to 350* F.
Prepare muffin pan with papers (12 muffin papers).
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, and carob powder.
In a large bowl, beat sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and eggs.
Alternately add dry ingredients and milk, beating well after each addition. Spoon into muffin cups.
Bake at 350*F. for 27 to 35 minutes or until tooth-pick inserted in center comes out clean.
Remove muffins from pan. Cool completely.
I used commercial cream cheese frosting for a few of the muffins and decorated with colored sugar.
