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9 Years Old

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Happy 9th Birthday to Windy Spotโ€™s Homemade ๐—›๐—ผ๐—ผ๐—ฐ๐—ต!

HOWWWWW is it possible that you are NINE?! It seems like it was yesterday when we brought you home at 8 weeks old!! With not a gray hair to be seen (any white you see are original markings) and your never ending energy, you are our forever puppy! You may not be fond of most other dogs, but you are so lovable to every human you meet. You keep us laughing each and every day with your silliness! You have taken me on so many grand adventures with dock divingโ€ฆ. And I look forward to many more memories and adventures with you! We love you, Hooooooooooch! Happy birthday, buddy!

๐๐ซ๐ž๐š๐ค๐Ÿ๐š๐ฌ๐ญ: Egg Cups with a side of cheesy sweet potato hash browns (pictured separately because I forgot to include them in original photo), strawberries and clementines

๐ƒ๐ข๐ง๐ง๐ž๐ซ: Bird Dog Birdโ€™s Nest , raspberries, blueberries, pineapple

๐ƒ๐ž๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ž๐ซ๐ญ: Birthday West Paw Toppl

  • Rim: coated in honey and topped with chia seeds
  • Icing: mashed potato, mashed cauliflower, plain yogurt all mixed together
  • โ€Chocolateโ€ drizzle over top of icing: blackstrap molasses
  • Toppers:
    • Top: bday cookie
    • Sides: heart shaped treats โ€œstuckโ€ on with dollops of peanut butter
    • Hole plug: Carob dipped treat

Bird Dog Birdโ€™s Nest

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INGREDIENTS

For Pasta:

1/2 box (8 ounces) organic whole wheat spaghetti (can also use organic buckwheat or chick pea spaghetti)

1 firmly packed cup of finely chopped organic spinach leaves

1/4 cup grated Parmesan

2 tablespoons organic extra-virgin olive oilย 

For Assembling:

1/3 cup grated Parmesan

2 tablespoons organic whole milk

1 large organic egg

Organic olive oil, for drizzling

Organic baby spinach (fresh)

Fresh mozzarella balls

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350โ„‰ . Spray the bottom and sides of four 4-inch-diameter springform pans with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. Cook pasta until slightly tender but still firm, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta and place in a large bowl. Add the spinach, cheese, and oil. Toss well until the spinach is wilted. Set aside to cool.
  3. For assembly: Beat the Parmesan, milk, and egg together in a large bowl until smooth. Pour the sauce over the spaghetti mixture until well combined. Twirl 1/2 cupfuls of the spaghetti mixture around tongs or a large fork and transfer to the prepared pans. Make an indentation in the middle of each nest of pasta and drizzle with olive oil. Bake 15 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before removing the sides from the pans. Remove the bottoms of the pans from the nests using a thin spatula.
  4. Place a bed of spinach leaves on a small plate. Place the spaghetti nests on the spinach leaves. Place 3 balls of fresh mozzarella in each nest and serve.

Modified from original recipe found here.

Egg Cups

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INGREDIENTS:

  • Organic white or whole wheat breadย 
  • Meat choice (I chose beef – braciole cut), lightly browned
  • Organic shredded cheddar
  • Organic Egg – Large
  • Fresh organic parsley, chopped

DIRECTIONS:

โ€ขLightly brown the meat

    โ€ขCut the crust off of the bread

    โ€ขSprinkle bread slice with shredded cheddar, covering the entire slice

    โ€ขPlace meat slice on top of layer of shredded cheddar and position layered bread slice over top a muffin tray

    โ€ขUse an appropriately sized glass to press slice into the muffin tray to form a cup

    โ€ขCrack egg into “cup”

    โ€ขBake at 350โ„‰ for 20 minutes for fully cooked egg and yolk (or adjust time depending on how you want the egg cooked)

    โ€ขRemove cups and allow to cool. Sprinkle chopped parsley over egg cup and serve!

    Peanut Butter-Carrot Layer Cake

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    Cake:

    • Mini springform pan (4-inch)
    • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
    • 2 large organic eggs
    • 1/3 cup organic all-natural creamy peanut butter (no salt/sugar added and xylitol free) at room temperature
    • 1/2 cup organic shredded carrots
    • 1 Tablespoon organic honey

    Frosting:

    • (1) Potato- 7 ounces – peeled, and boiled until very soft – then cooled
    • 3.5 ounces organic cauliflower florets – steamed or boiled until very soft, and then drained and cooled
    • 3-5 tablespoons organic unsweetened coconut milk
    • (1) container (5.3 oz) of plain yogurt (unsweetened)

    Toppers:

    • Dry kibble
    • Organic shredded carrots

    Instructions:

    • CAKE:
      • Preheat the oven to 350ยฐF.
      • Grease a small round springform pan. Set aside.
      • In a bowl, mix the eggs, peanut butter, honey, and shredded carrots. Add baking powder
      • Pour the batter into the pan and bake on the center rack of the oven for 15-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
    • Keep the cake in the springform pan and let cool for 20 mins on a wire rack. Then remove from springform pan and allow to cool completely.
    • Cut cake lengthwise into two layers
    • FROSTING:
      • In a food processor, blend the potatoes, cauliflower, and yogurt. Add the milk gradually. Continue to add more milk in order to make the icing creamy and spreadable. After I finished with the food processor, I used a fork to mash any remaining solid pieces and to whip the frosting.

    Assembling the Cake:

    • Spread half the frosting on the top of the bottom layer
    • Add the second cake layer on top, and then frost the top of the cake
    • Decorate the cake with shredded carrots and your dog’s kibble

    Puppy Pizza

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    Crust:

    • 1 whole organic cauliflower
    • 1/2 cup shredded organic mozzarella cheese
    • 4 tablespoons shredded organic parmesan cheese
    • 2 large organic eggs

    Pizza Toppings:

    • Cooked organic chicken, cut into small cubes
    • Cooked organic broccoli
    • Organic pumpkin purรฉe (100% pure pumpkin NOT pumpkin pie filling)

    Instructions:

    • Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Line a baking tray with parchment paper and spray a thin layer of non-stick spray to the parchment paper (I used organic coconut oil non-stick spray)
    • Use a food processor to finely ground or โ€œriceโ€ the cauliflower until you have 3 cups worth.
    • Cook the 3 cups of finely ground cauliflower until soft
    • Using cheesecloth to drain the cauliflower, removing as much as water as possible.
    • Transfer the drained cauliflower into a bowl and add 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, 3 tablespoon of shredded parmesan cheese, and 2 large eggs. Mix all ingredients well.
    • Spread the cauliflower pizza dough onto the parchment paper and form a circle . Bake until golden
    • Once cauliflower pizza dough is finished baking, add all pizza toppings and bake for 3-5 mins or until cheese is melted.

    I spread a layer of pumpkin on the crust first instead of tomato paste
    Then I added cooked chicken and broccoli
    Last, I topped the pizza with organic shredded mozzarella cheese before putting it back into the oven
    • Allow pizza to cool down and serve a piece to your dog!

    To Have a Comeback, You KNEEd to Have a Setback

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    May 4, 2023: Final Check-Up

    Summary

    Whiskey definitely had a tougher time with her left knee compared to the surgery and recovery of her right knee. Prior to the appointment I had been in touch with her surgical team to let them know that she was still favoring her left knee at times and that the lymph node in her rear left leg was enlarged. Whiskey also still needed to be on Gabapentin twice a day to minimize the limping on her left side. On May 4th, Dr. Morris examined Whiskey and felt that overall she looked great. Whiskey was using both of her back legs without hesitation during the appointment, but still had some swelling along her left incision. The lymph node behind her left knee was still enlarged, but Dr. Morris said she is hopeful this will resolve on its own as the swelling continues to improve. Whiskey also had X-rays done which did not display any sign of infection, and showed that her bone has completely and appropriately healed.

    Home Care Instructions:

    • Unlimited leash walking- allow off leash for about 5 minutes after each walk
    • Figure 8 Circles, to the left and the right, trotting/ running speed
    • Trotting or running in a straight line- no sharp cuts or turns
    • Short retrieves

    Whiskey can return to her normal activity level at the end of 2-3 weeks of gradual increases.

    Whiskey’s first time off-lead since February 1, 2023

    May 8, 2023

    Despite how well Whiskey’s final check-up went, swelling at the incision suddenly seemed to have increased, a sore had formed, and Whiskey was limping a bit more.

    Left knee:

    Left knee (left) in comparison to the right knee (right):

    View of both knees:

    I shared my observations with Whiskey’s surgical team, who was very responsive and extremely supportive. After reviewing the photos and videos that I had shared, Dr. Morris decided to put Whiskey on a round of antibiotics. If the swelling, sore, and limping does not improve upon the completion of the antibiotics in two weeks, Whiskey will have to return to Dr. Morris for a re-examination.

    Whiskey began taking Cefpodoxime Proxetil on May 8th. We are hopeful that by at the end of her antibiotic regimen, the overall condition of Whiskey’s left knee will have improved. The conclusion of Whiskey’s antibiotic schedule happens to fall on the Feast Day of Saint Rita! (Saint Rita of Cascia (Born Margherita Lotti) is the patron Saint of impossible causes and bodily ills). I will be praying to Saint Rita for relief and healing for Whiskey.