TAIL-WAGGER COOKIES

SO, I MADE THE DOG COOKIES AGAIN. THE GREY DOGS WERE EXCITED. AND SLEEPY. AND EXCITED.


I DOUBLED THE RECIPE, SO I COULD HAVE MANY TO KEEP AND MANY TO GIVE AWAY. CHARLEY APPEARED IN THE KITCHEN JUST LIKE HE ALWAYS DOES...EXCEPT HE WAS EVEN MORE UNDERFOOT THEN EVER.


THE RECIPE IS THE SAME AS BEFORE...EASY!

1/2 CUP BANANA CHIPS, CRUSHED
1 CUP PLAIN OATMEAL
1/8 CUP OAT BRAN
2 CUPS WHEAT FLOUR
1/2 CUP NO SALT, NO SUGAR PEANUT BUTTER
2 CUPS HOT WATER

PREHEAT YOUR OVEN TO 350 DEGREES

MIX ALL DRY INGREDIENTS TOGETHER, ADD THE PEANUT BUTTER, HOT WATER AND STIR IT UP (BRING YOUR MUSCLES!). IF IT'S TOO STICKY, ADD MORE FLOUR JUST A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SCOOP THE DOUGH ONTO A COOKIE SHEET WITHOUT IT STICKING TO YOUR HANDS TOO BADLY.


TAKE A FORK, AND PRESS THE DOUGH DOWN IN A CRISS-CROSS PATTERN. THEY WILL LOOK LIKE HUMAN COOKIES, AND YOU COULD EAT THEM JUST NOT SURE THEY WOULD BE DELICIOUS ENOUGH...OR THEY MIGHT BE A LITTLE TOO CRUNCHY!


BAKE FOR 40 MINUTES, TURN OFF THE OVEN AND LEAVE INSIDE OVERNIGHT.
YOUR DOGGIES WILL THANK YOU FOR IT. THEY LOVE THEM!

FROM THE KITCHEN OF...MIAGUS & ELISE!

THIS IS ELISE, A SUPER COOL KID WITH SOME AWESOME PARENTS! SHE ALSO HAS A LITTLE BROTHER, DEXTON, THAT JUST CELEBRATED HIS FIRST BIRTHDAY.

APPARENTLY, DEXTON HAS A FAVORITE PAIR OF PJ'S THAT WERE USED AS THE INSPIRATION.


THE CAKE IS FUNFETTI AND THE DOG BOWL CAKE IS FILLED WITH COCO PUFFS!


LIKE ANY YOUNG GUY ON THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY, I'M SURE THAT DEXTON WILL BE DINING ON HIS DOGGIE BOWL CAKE ALL BY HIMSELF. WHAT AN AMAZINGLY CUTE IDEA.

THANKS FOR SHARING KEITH AND AMY!

The Pazcki Challenge

Samson Sous Chef:

For the first time ever, local Ann Arbor institution, Zingerman's, decided to make pazckis. You see, Fat Tuesday in the Detroit metro area is more often known as 'pazcki day'. It is a Polish-Detroit thing.

I decided that a comparison needed to be done. I pre-ordered a pazcki from Zingerman's, and picked one up from local bakery Dom's. The first difference was the price. Dom's was $1.25, and Zingerman's was $2.95. At first glance, the Zingerman's pazcki is much smaller. Dom's is huge, with a thick glaze.
My next step was to cut each pazcki in half to examine the filling. Dom's pazcki had a much larger amount of filling (both were raspberry) and was the typical gelatinous doughnut filling. Zingerman's pazcki had much less filling, but had the appearance of raspberry preserves.

The taste test was conclusive. Zingerman's pastry was light, airy, and springy. It had a more 'chewy' texture, and yet was soft. Dom's was a more cake-like texture with a higher density. In my opinion, Zingerman's had better flavor, and with all these factors, Zingerman's was the clear winner.

This was also the case with the filling. Zingerman's raspberry filling was more tart, obviously had a higher fruit content, and had a fresher fruit taste. Dom's filling was much more sugary, more gelatinous.

The only drawbacks to the Zingerman's pazcki was that it was much smaller and over twice the cost. However, since I don't eat doughnuts very often, for the once a year splurge, I think I'll go to Zingerman's.
Samson wasn't even too impressed with Dom's!

CARROTY CUPCAKES