Weekend Cooking – Gotta Love It

Hey It’s Jet Here.

While Little Miss Color Restricted and I cannot fully grasp the color green due to evolutionary constraints , Mom makes up for both of us!  This week, her weekend cooking sessions highlighted green all over the place.   Having had quite enough of orange vegetables since leaving the hospital, she segued  to another band of the rainbow with Dr. V’s permission.  You may have learned in science class that when one sense has limits, another sense shines.  In K9 world, we rock smell, hearing and enjoy taste quite a lot!  With that in mind, Little Miss Kitchen K9 and I secured our kitchen locations for Mom’s cooking endeavors.

Remember Mom’s fascination with fennel a while back? Well, when she asked Dr. V about greens, Dr. V recommended soft greens.  Mom piled the red kale, zucchini, Italian parsley, basil and baby arugula into her cart.  Did I mention ARUGULA?  Yeah, the stuff has like 3 names: arugula, rocket, roquette.  Mom has a new fascination… yes, she’s enjoyed the veggie before, used it in her Kitchen Counselor classes, etc… however this weekend, she put the stuff in EVERYTHING!

Little Miss Show Off/Whoops What Did I DO ate a whole leaf and then casually dropped it on the tile – not enough crunch.  Mom tried again removing the small stems; we liked that idea better.  Oh, I forgot to mention that Ruby participated in one of the cooking sessions!  Little Miss Puppy Dog Face and I LOVE when Ruby hangs out in the kitchen; more tidbits than usual seem to find our chompers!  Ruby wanted to see if we liked parsley!

Arugula-Caraway Pesto Pasta

• 1 cup arugula leaves
• 1 cup fresh parsley leaves
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds (Mom used whole almonds she already had.)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tablespoon McCormick® Caraway Seed, finely crushed
• 8 ounces periatelli pasta or thick spaghetti (Mom didn’t prepare this part of the recipe.)
• 2 cups thinly sliced red Swiss chard (cut crosswise into thin strips) (Mom didn’t prepare this part of the recipe.)

 1. Place arugula, parsley, oil, almonds, Parmesan cheese, garlic and caraway seed in bowl of food processor; cover. Process until smooth. Set aside.
2.  Meanwhile, cook pasta as directed on package. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Return pasta to saucepot.
3.  Stir Swiss chard into pasta on low heat until greens are wilted. Add pesto; toss to coat well, adding small amounts of reserved cooking water until desired consistency. Serve with additional Parmesan cheese, if desired. 

Mom’s taking the Pesto to the biscuit earning place today with a grilled chicken breast.  Check out her FB album to see the step-by-step process.

Another great day in the kitchen with Mom and Ruby.

Thanks to Sugar and Kol for initiating Tasty Tuesdays, today is our forty-second participating post!

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Blog-versary –Where Did the Year Go?

Hey It’s Jet Here.

So, along with my Gotcha Day last Sunday, (yet to receive a proper celebration… however, as the patient, Southern, Gentleman Jetty that I am… I know Mom has something cooking!) we quietly celebrated our first blog-versary on Halloween.  We didn’t make a fuss as the holiday provided lively entertainment in blog world.

When Mom agreed to collaborate with me as a way to lift our spirits after my sweet golden sister, Koko, passed in September 2011, we never in a million years expected the following:

• With the exception of 12 days, we kept our commitment to post each day.
• To learn what a blog hop meant and to participate in so many wonderful hops.  The hops keep us organized, structured, and in a routine as well as eliminating writer’s block most of the time!
• As we’ve posted frequently, we’ve made so many acquaintances and a few friends beyond the blog, helping us feel connected, when we’ve been a bit isolated over the last few years.  To learn about and from our American blogpals in addition to Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, England, Canada, Spain, France, The Netherlands, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Switzerland enhance our lives.
• We have shared joy, laughter, loss, support, concern and caring … the gamut (VBP – Vocab builder project) of emotions, really.
• The quality of the writing, creativity, social consciousness, generosity and commitment amongst our blogpals surpassed and truthfully surprised us and many in our world unfamiliar with blogs and blogging.
• We appreciate the kindness and feedback about our other “jobs” as the Kitchen Counselor and Mom’s Kitchen K9s.
• We have experienced the understanding, flexibility and empathy of how we all fall behind on commenting and visiting all the marvelous petblogs out there.
• We appreciate and hope to continue learning and listening to wise bloggers out there, like Miss Linda (saved JJ’s life), Dr. Rayya (helps break down life as a vet) and Emma (shared a pawesome ear cleaning formula!) who offer advice, education, guidance and warnings to keep those of us fur family members safe.

Thanks to all of you, who take the time from your busy lives to read our musings, comment, check in on us and engage in ongoing adventures.  You have welcomed us into this precious community of pet bloggers and we feel privileged to participate.

To another great year together!

Jetty and Mom (JJ and Puffy, too!)  In loving memory… Mugs, Koko and Fluffy

Thanks to Life With Dogs, Confessions of the Plume and Two Little Cavaliers for hosting the Saturday Blog Hop.

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Wordless Wednesday: Puffy at Work

Hey It’s Jet Here.

Yesterday, while Mom worked with Mr. Ron on Outlook issue again, (the last option didn’t work, bumming Mom out… then Mr. Ron held out one last sliver of hope… cross paws and fingers for today or tomorrow, when he will stop by), Puffy decided to contribute to the helping efforts.

Translation: He chilled on Mom’s Kitchen Counselor articles to input later pile, causing each page to fall off the desk like falling leaves, floating side to side on the way down, bothering Mom! With help like this…

Another great, caught Puffy in the act, day.

Thanks to BlogPaws for sponsoring the Wordless Wednesday Hop.

With Gratitude and Appreciation

Hey It’s Jet Here.

Guess what?  Yesterday, we received our First Ever Blog AWARD.  It’s this thingie called One Lovely Blog Award and Miss Jodi from JodiStone  bestowed the award on good ol’ Jetty boy!  Ok, Mom too.  We did this thing called beam with pride.  After all, Mom and I started my blog to lift our spirits last October after Koko crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.  Check out Miss Jodi’s blog; she shares her life with Samson and Delilah (great names for great K9s).  And… Miss Jodi is one of the BEST blogpals a K9 can have; she writes fun comments to me all the time.

Here are the rules for the One Lovely Blog Award:

• 1. Link back to the one who gave you this award – see above
• 2. Pass the award on to 15 other lovely bloggers.

Since Mom has three jobs, writes the Kitchen Counselor blog, Servings, the Newsletter, Kitchen Counselor Facebook and Twitter, she can barely keep up with my dictation and fan mail.  So, please do not get offended if she cannot subscribe to all the blogs I ask her to.  We want to acknowledge many of our new blogpals, (and their lovely blogs) who have so warmly welcomed us to the pet blogging world.

1. Bailey Be Good
2. Basset Momma
3. Bongo Dog Blog
4. Brown Dog CBR
5. DogsnPawz
6. Dr. Rayya’s Online Veterinary Journal
7. Fabulous Flo
8. For the Love of My Dogs
9. Fluffy Popcorn
10. It’s a Weinerful Life
11. Margs Pets
12. Roxy the Traveling Dog
13. Rumpy Dog
14. Snoopy’s Dog Blog
15. Twiggy and Onyx

3. Follow the person who presented you with the award.    Okie Dokie.

Another great grateful and appreciative day.

Tasty Tuesday: Magic Eggs

Hey It’s Jet Here.

Thanks to Sugar and Kol for initiating Tasty Tuesdays, today is our first participating post!

Mom boiled 18 eggs for her Kitchen Counselor demonstration at the Farmers Market this weekend and she only used 4 yellow parts.  If my Scooby Doo Academy math course taught me anything, it taught me how to count food items!  She returned with 12 yellows claiming she shared two with other passing K9s.

Here’s what’s left.

JJ and I suggested we practice a family magic trick.

Place yellows (ok Mom one each) in our bowls.

Ok, you can ask us to sit and wait like we do for breakfast and dinner.

Poof!  It’s MAGIC… yellows disappear!

JJ making sure.

Uh, something is sticky in my throat, need water!

Another great magical day.

Mom’s At It Again

Hey It’s Jet Here.

I’m trying to practice understanding, really I am.  Of course, Scooby Doo Academy stresses good behavior.  Understanding remains as challenging as patience for a herding K9 like me.  Following Mom back and forth from the kitchen to the office to the kitchen to the garage freezer, to the kitchen to the car to the kitchen with these bag thingies, to the office, to the kitchen… you get the idea.

Mom shared with my human sister, Rachel, on Friday night that the next week will be something called insane.  She has four Kitchen Counselor classes, including one class where she will make smoothies for 500!  I scratched my ears to make sure I heard correctly.  500, Mom?  Yes Jetty, 500 people in 1 hour no less!  I will have two blenders going besides ours.  Phew, good to know Mom.  Hey Mom, is that the reason the machine which holds all of Ish’s delicious eggs looks like you cannot fit one more ounce of stuff in it?  Indeed.

Hey Mom, is that why JJ accompanied you to the outside freezer like 100 times?  Correct again.  Rachel did a fantastic job manipulating all of our personal items to fit everything in.  Did you listen to us giggle when chatting how we left the grocery store without any frozen fruit? Well almost no frozen fruit. 

Mom, why did you shop again today if you did all that last night?  Great question.  I have a class at University of Miami tomorrow and needed to purchase those ingredients today, since we did not have room last night because of the Farmers market ingredients.

Wow, no wonder we needed a nap this afternoon.  Hey Mom, one last question.  If the outside freezer and the inside freezer and the refrigerator cannot fit another thing, why can’t JJ and I help out?  We like fruit, yogurt, turkey, eggs, butter, veggies, etc… I know sweet boy, you two help so much, however, this food must feed others.  We’ll have special treats on Friday.  Ok, Mom… I guess…

Another great day… well actually night.

P.S. Mom, of the 45 bananas you purchased, ripened, peeled and froze tonight, would it have been too much to ask for a taste before you brought all 45 to Miss Mary Ann’s freezer?  Huh?

Mom’s On Assignment

Hey, It’s Jet Here.

Mom asked me to dictate early (Saturday afternoon) because she … I can hardly bear to write this … is LEAVING us for 24 hours.  Ok, my human sister, Rachel, will keep us company in addition to our Madrina (Godmother in Spanish).  Yes, Mom left a detailed, one page sheet of directions for Madrina, but… still…

Remember last week when she went to that Food Network stuff?  Well tonight, she and Auntie Liz will attend The Best Thing I Ever Ate.  Hey Mom, I like late night bites and sweets and so does JJ for that matter.  Jetty, I wish I could bring you; however, Auntie Liz’s building will not permit K9s of your handsome size.  I know you find it difficult to imagine, however, not all humans appreciate K9s near their food.

Then tomorrow, Mom, Miss Mary Ann and two more friends will attend the Grand Tasting.   Last year, they tasted, laughed and enjoyed a great day.  I know because I saw their photos.  They saw this human called Paula Deen pretend this other human called Robert Irvine was a horse and she rode him on the stage!  Mom?  Yes, Jetty?  I deserve Grand Tastings don’t I?  Of course you do my boy.  Again, they serve beverages with alcohol that would hurt your tummy and body.  The thick lines for food samples would test even your sweet patience.  The demonstration areas only have chairs; no comfy spots for you to wait and listen.  Plus, to tell you the truth Jetty, I really pay attention so I can obtain information for my Kitchen Counselor business.  Mom?  Yes, Jetty?  I’m one of your Kitchen K9s, right?  You certainly are.  Well, I could help you for Kitchen Counselor business.  What a sweet boy, you touch my heart, Jetty.

Let’s do this.  Let’s make a playdate with our new cyberpal, Flo and go to the beach where you and JJ can have special fun.  Sound like a plan?  Ok, Mom, Ok… sounds great… I’ll try practicing patience and wish you, Auntie Liz, Miss Mary Ann and everyone else a great time. 

Jet, this is Flo with her friend, Sammy... let's see if we can get a picture of you, Flo and JJ!

Another great and understanding day.

We Love When Mom Teaches

Hey, it’s Jet Here.

On the day before Mom has a scheduled Kitchen Counselor class, lots of food enters the house through the garage/kitchen door.  As Mom’s Kitchen K9s, we must inspect the merchandise!  Oh, the scents, we struggle with our patience button for Mom to unpack.

Today, she will teach a diabetic support group cooking ideas for Valentine’s Day.  Plus, she accepted a dare from the group last quarter that she could cook collard greens in 5 minutes.  I’m betting on Mom!  Then, in the afternoon, she teaches this thing called an interactive cooking class at the University of Miami.  Mom loves working with IEP, the Intensive English Program, because the students come from all over the globe.  Today’s theme – How Americans Celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Anyway, Mom often does this “prep” stuff to make her classes run smoothly.  Koko and I LOVED prep time.  After all, as her Kitchen K9s, we had jobs to do like quality control!  Yesterday, JJ experienced Prep initiation.  At one point, Mom had beets (for chocolate beet cake?) and broccoli roasting in the oven (separately), turkey bacon in two skillets on the stovetop (oh the aroma!), collards rinsing in the sink while she cut pineapple on the cutting board.

Little Miss Helpful had two paws on the counter repeatedly to see:

• How to drain turkey bacon.
• How much rinsing is necessary per collard leaf.
• How much tin foil must you cut to properly wrap three beets.
• What size floret works best when roasting broccoli.
• How close should you get to Mom when she chops three onions.

When Mom dropped the first tidbit of collard leaf, JJ snapped it up before Mom even knew what happened.  All we heard was crunch, crunch, crunch.  Knowing how much I LOVE collards, Mom immediately invited me to sit for a stem.  JJ then scurried over for her first stem.  Mom tried to capture us chewing collard stems like stogies without success, we chomped too fast.  After three or four attempts, she worried our tummies would get upset.  So, no pictures this time.

Another great Kitchen Counselor Prep day.

Mom Worried, I Waited.

Hey, It’s Jet Here.

Mom had this look on her face somewhere between this thing called flabbergasted and sullen when she made her salads a few times since we adopted J.J.   You know Mom loved to share delectable vegetable tidbits with Koko and me.  Mom assumed J.J. would enjoy them, too, however she dropped the tidbits out of her mouth as if she had no muscles working in the area.   Mom tried everything; she started with carrots and sweet bell peppers, nothing.  She went so far as putting almond butter on the carrots and still… nothing.  She seemed a tad dejected.  After all, how can J.J. become one of her Kitchen Counselor’s Kitchen K9s if she doesn’t eat veggies?

Enter my human sister, Rachel.  Rachel stopped by the kitchen on Monday while Mom prepared her weekly salads.  They chatted like only girls can.  Jet?  Yes Mom?  Well, Mom, girls do chat a lot.  While that may be true, Jetty, I’m sure you can say it without the implied snarkiness, right?  Ok, Mom.  Mom and Rachel held a lovely rarely taking a breath Jet… I meant to say, Mom and Rachel held a lovely conversation while Mom cut the vegetables.  Much better.  Yes, Mom.

Anyway, Mom told Rachel about J.J. not eating vegetables.  Rachel said, “I’ll try.”  Mom handed her a piece of daikon radish. J.J. munched and swallowed.  Mom looked at Rachel and said, “Really? She won’t eat carrots with me, but, she’ll eat a radish with you?”  Rachel proceeded to try all the veggies: carrots (straight up), celery, cucumber, jicama, red bell pepper and tomatoes, all with equal success.  They giggled and praised J.J. as if she had done a miraculous trick.

Mom roasted carrots, parsnips, cauliflower, butternut squash and sweet potatoes at the same time she made the salads.  When the roasted veggies cooled down, she invited J.J. and I to run Q.C., quality control.  Again, J.J. ate all of the veggies with enthusiasm, as did I.  Mom had this relieved/happy face on.  We thankfully have ourselves a new Kitchen K9.  Phew.

Another great and healthy veggie day.

Our Friend David

Hey, It’s Jet Here.

Yesterday, only Mom visited our friend David.  David and I became pals about two years ago, when he and our other Think Factory friend, Ritchie, hung around the Kitchen Table developing Mom’s Kitchen Counselor business.  David gave me lots of attention, shared carrots with me and told me manly man stuff.

He showed Mom how to take a picture of me and put it on her computer as this thing called the background or wallpaper, I do not remember which, so she can look at me whenever she wants.  In fact, the picture of me resting above is on her computer right now.

Mom told me that David did this thing called getting engaged recently.  Woof, Woof from me to you!  We cannot wait to meet Brenda, his fiancé, and Maggie, his special K-9.  I’ve seen Maggie’s picture, she’s so beautiful, could be a double ceremony….

David lent a K-9 book to Mom called Could You Love Me Like My Dog?  Mom read it while I cuddled beside her before work this morning.  Good book, little one-liners with lots of meaning, according to Mom referencing K-9s, like Maggie and ME…

Thanks for sharing David, I miss you, man.

Another great day.