A Side of Sweet

Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits

You may have caught a glimpse of her in some other posts, but I want to officially introduce the newest member of our little family – Maddie, short for Madison (Wisconsin, duh!). We adopted a rescue puppy a few weeks ago and her energy and curiosity ensures there is never a dull moment! She just turned three months and is a Labrador Retriever/Australian Shepard mix. Adopting her is one of the best things we’ve ever done. We’re so proud to have rescued a dog instead of getting one from a breeder.

It’s amazing to compare the photos from our first days with her to now – she’s gained 7 pounds in the last month and is definitely starting to look more like a grown up dog. We think she’ll be around 60 pounds when she’s done growing, meaning that she’s going to be quite a handful in a few months when she’s adult sized but still acts like a puppy! She loves to cuddle and I love to catch her when she falls asleep with her head on Pat’s lap. Cuteness overload.

Because we live so close to Ocean Beach, we often take Maddie there. She’s getting braver when it comes to chasing waves and meeting other dogs. We came across this enormous German Shepard/Mastiff mix a few mornings ago. Although he is clearly a gentle giant, I have to admit when he came galloping toward us, my heart caught in my chest. Maddie was completely unfazed and chased him across the beach, roughhousing with him in the sand.

“Parenting” a puppy has definitely been a learning experience for Pat and I. I tend to be a strict disciplinarian who makes rules and doesn’t usually waver from them. Pat on the other hand is guided more by feeling (“but she’s so cute – I just had to let her on the couch!”). Most of the time it makes for a nice balance. 🙂

There are tons of great recipes for dog treats on the internet. In case you’re looking for some good recipes, I’ve created a Pinterest board to organize my inspiration. This recipe for homemade peanut butter dog biscuits was definitely a hit. They remind me of an oatmeal peanut butter cookie without salt. Safe for human consumption, although not the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten! Maddie goes crazy for them though! They were so easy to make I’ll definitely be making them again.

Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits

Best Vegan Banana Ice Cream

Vegetarian Vegan

Cristina Suarez Krumsick’s new cookbook, No Bake Makery, is packed full of easy recipes that don’t require an oven. No Bake Makery is full of simple recipes with ingredients that you probably already have around the house and the recipes are nearly foolproof! The book is perfect to have around when I need to whip up a dish to pass or some snacks from friends, but I don’t want to spend the day in the kitchen sculpting the perfect cake or rolling out the perfect pie crust…. Read More »

Cranberry Almond Energy Bites

Vegetarian Vegan

This recipe for cranberry almond energy bites is one of my favorite running snacks. The instructions are simple – gather your ingredients, dump them in a food processor, pulse and smoosh (this is the technical term) them into balls! You can change the nuts and dried fruits based on what you have available around the house. They are packed with protein and make a great snack for a long run or as a recovery snack after your run. Speaking of running, can I just say one more time how psyched I am to be living in San Francisco! We live so close to Golden Gate Park that I’ve been running there about 5 days per week! Another nice thing about San Francisco is that I never really have to check the weather like I did in Wisconsin. Even on foggy days, it’s still perfect running weather – never too hot or too cold! No freak snowstorms or blistering heatwaves to be found here!

This recipe was originally featured on the Brooks Running Blog, along with a post I wrote busting the myth that running is bad for your knees. You can check out the full article here.

Do Good:: The Warriors Organization

Today I want to share with you a non-profit organization that I hold dear to my heart. Founded by Masai warrior Isaya Lukumay, the Warriors Organization strives to preserve the culture and traditions of the Masaii people. Traditionally nomadic, the governments of Tanzania and Kenya are trying to encourage the Maasai to live in a single location and to abandon their customs.

The current goal of the Warriors Organization is to build a community education resource center in Eluai, Tanzania. The center will be a gathering place for Indigenous Communities to share knowledge, identity, and resolve issues facing them, and document their cultures. It will also provide resources in health, education and human rights. The Warriors Organization - A Non-profit dedicated to preserving Maasai people

When Isaya was growing up in Eluai, there was no primary school. Now, Eluai is lucky to have a primary school, though many children start school without a basic level of Swahili, the language used in Tanzanian primary schools. This lack is a major factor in creating a learning deficit that many Tanzanian children never overcome. A strong preschool in the village will help to prepare students to enter primary school and succeed. It will help prepare them to pass the test they need to take to get into secondary school. Education, as they see it, is the key to freedom. With a solid educational background and a strong sense of self and identity, the Maasai, along with other indigenous peoples of Tanzania (and throughout the world) will be able to help their communities develop with intention, according to their own unique visions.

The Warriors Organization - A Non-profit dedicated to preserving Maasai people

Their goal is to raise enough money to build a two-room schoolhouse that will accommodate up to 40 pupils in each room. Children aged five to fourteen will be able to attend this school for a year or two in preparation for primary school.

The organization plans to make this school as sustainable as possible, including the community in the planning, building and maintenance. They are thrilled to embark upon this very exciting project…AND they need your help to make it happen.

To show your support you can send donations to: The Warriors Organization, P.O. Box 985, Watertown, MA 02471 or donate through their website.

There are many ways to help out in addition to financial contributions, including advice, feedback, telling your friends about this project, hosting fundraisers, etc. Feel free to contact the organization directly at [email protected].

The Warriors Organization - A Non-profit dedicated to preserving Maasai people

No Fuss Classic Strawberry Ice Cream

I’ll let you in on a little secret – I cheated and prepared this post in advance. Pat and I have actually skipped town for the week and are spending some time camping in Big Sur! I’m so excited to have my first break from residency so I can devote my time to enjoying one of the most beautiful places in California.

No Fuss Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe

It will also be nice to have a break from technology. I feel like I’m so “dialed in” these days, that rarely a few minutes go buy without me grabbing my phone to check my email. I always fill any free time I have in some way, whether it is reading blogs on my phone or planning my next recipe for the blog. Being in Big Sur will force me to just be. It’s much needed.

Even though it never feels truly like summer in San Francisco, in the sense that it’s about 30 degrees cooler here than the typical Wisconsin summer, I’ve still been on an ice cream kick. It’s so fun to try new recipes, like this tiramisu ice cream and this salted caramel bourbon ice cream. This recipe for no fuss strawberry ice cream goes back to a classic. This simple recipe really lets the strawberries shine. Don’t be nervous about the red wine vinegar – it’s there to balance out the sweetness of the strawberries.

No Fuss Classic Strawberry Ice Cream

(Adapted from Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream Book), via Hummingbird High

Makes 1 quart

Jeni’s Caramel Bourbon Ice Cream with Toffee Bits

Vegetarian

I’ve been on a bit of a bourbon kick lately.

Have you heard about Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream? Seriously, this ice cream is so good it goes by a first name! Jeni uses the same ice cream base for most of her recipes. She then creates tons of crazy flavors like this caramel bourbon ice cream and even crazier ones like sweet corn with blackberry.

Her storefront is based out of Colombus, OH, but thanks to her cookbooks, you can make Jeni’s ice cream in the comfort of your own home…. Read More »