A PAWS For a Canine Recipe

Hey, there's a dog in your suitcase! (A Barkley Memory)

I've a former professional cohort who is a dog lover. He's a retired Marine who flew fast airplanes.  He's also Cajun.  There's a mind in there as sharp as a ceramic blade, but what is presented to the world is this "take my time" kinda pondering, good old boy, with that accent that people up here just can not place. When he was my partner, I'd not have anyone else at my back, I can tell you that.

He stopped by my desk not long back, saw the latest picture of my dog and said "we got a puppy dog . . . . from the pound".

I said "What  did you get?"

(Now, you have to picture him,  good looking, big guy, about 240 pounds, the rumpled brow as he chooses his words and that Cajun accent.)

"It's half Rottweiler, half Poodle. . . . . "

Another long pause. a shake of the head

"Alcohol was likely involved".

We love our dogs. I still have pictures of Barkley (below) at Doggie Day Camp where he went when I had a long day (it was near the house I owned before I got married and moved).  He loved it there, as much for the wide open grassy play area, tons of toys and attention, as the treats.  If I requested it, they'd give him a "Frosty Paws" frozen ice cream treat as a snack with a biscuit on the side.  It's not real ice cream, dogs don't digest  plain milk well.

He loved them,  as does Abby, but they a bit expensive and like many pre-made products, they have some ingredients only a chemistry major could pronounce even if they don't contain any artificial colors or flavors.  So I looked around for a "home made" version.  Some of the many recipes on line contained a bit too much sweetener and some artificial flavors so I modified them with great success as evidenced by wagging tails.

 Meet the Johnson canine family members favorite nightcap. . . . .

FROSTY PAUSE

Four cups low fat plain, regular, or Greek yogurt
1 soft and ripe banana, mashed
3 Tablespoons peanut butter (not low fat version which is full of sugar)
1 and 1/2 Tablespoons honey

Blend ingredients well and freeze in small (about 3 oz) Dixie cups.  When set slightly, place a bone shaped dog biscuit end side down into mixture to act as a handle.   When frozen, holding by handle, peel the paper off and serve.  If it's stubborn, stick it in the microwave for just a few seconds to release it from cup.

Hey, but what about frozen treats for your two legged friends?

(I'm telling you ladies, men LOVE this).

FROSTY PAUSE (human version)

1 cup coffee ice cream (I like Valpo Velvet from Northern Indiana)
3 cups vanilla ice cream
4 Tablespoons heavy cream
4 Tablespoons amaretto
4 Tablespoons Kahlua.

Soften ice cream and mix, blend until smooth and serve right away, or freeze for later.