Deadly Dog Days
Page 22
“Only if you throw popcorn and peanut M&M’s into the deal.”
“Have we ever gone to a movie without getting popcorn and M&M’s?”
“Not that I can remember. I guess I’ll go then.” I stopped and threw my arms around him, dragging the dogs in against our legs, where they got their leashes tangled around each other and us.
“I do appreciate the hug,” he said, “but now we’re in a big furry slobbery knot.”
We spent the next ten minutes playing the dog version of Twister to get four human legs and sixteen canine ones apart.
The sun was warm, the flowers were blooming, and the canal was sparkling. Ben was beside me, my sister was officially a Metamoran and a dog biscuit baker, and the town was basking in the wake of a successful play. All was right with the world.
Until the quacking started up, that is, and Metamora Mike flew by with his harem, landing on the bank and waddling into the water. Brutus, Gus, and the twins went ballistic. Ben held Brutus back by his training collar, but I was no match for my three monsters. They darted for the ducks and I was helpless to do anything but scream my head off at them and be dragged behind.
As they lunged in, I prepared myself for the inevitable. Once again, I found myself up to my neck in muddy water. Mike squawked and batted his wings, splashing me in the face. Just another typical day in Metamora.
Good gravy.
Recipes
Dog Diggity Cornmeal Bark
1 cup beef stock
2 eggs
21⁄2 cups cornmeal
*Add-ins: bacon bits, shredded cheese
Mix all ingredients well. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Press dough together and flatten to a 1⁄2-inch thickness. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Allow bark to cool completely, then break into bite-sized pieces. Store in airtight container. If using perishable add-ins, refrigerate.
*Dog Diggity uses 1⁄3 cup Oscar Mayer Real Bacon Bits and 1⁄3 cup Kraft Shredded Mild Cheddar cheese. We store our dog bark in a plastic container and keep the bacon and cheddar bark in the refrigerator. Even Isobel doesn’t mind her dog bark chilled. Try adding diced or shredded apple and carrot for a sweet treat!
Dog Diggity Yogurt Oat Berrysicles
3 cups plain yogurt
1⁄2 cup oats
1⁄2 cup blueberries
1⁄2 cup diced strawberries
Mix all ingredients well. Spoon into a mini muffin tin and freeze. Makes 1 dozen.
Note: Dog Diggity lines the tin with plastic wrap before spooning in mixture. Another method for releasing frozen treats is to dip the bottom of the pan in hot water until the treats melt enough to be removed.
Dog Diggity Sweetie Chips
1 apple*
1 sweet potato*
1 egg white
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Peel the apple and sweet potato and slice in thin pieces of equal size. Crack egg and separate the yolk. Whisk the egg white. Brush the egg white on a slice of sweet potato and layer on a slice of apple. The egg white will serve as a paste, securing the slices together when baked. Bake for 10 minutes on each side. Allow to cool before storing in an airtight container.
*Select a red or green apple of your choice and a sweet potato with similar circumferences for ease of preparation. Dog Diggity uses a mandolin slicer for perfect, even slices.
About the Author
Jamie M. Blair (Ohio) is the New York Times bestselling author of young adult and romance books, including Leap of Faith (Simon & Schuster, 2013) and Lost to Me (2014). You can visit her online at www.JamieBlairAuthor.com.