Cluck of the Bells!

I know its not dogs, but I just love these chicks! PErfect way to ring out the old.....

A Recipe For Fun!

I know Christmas has come and gone but this is just too good to miss!

The Pawsitive Therapy Troupe outside of Chicago staged a canine version of the Nutcracker for the second year in a row. Watch this video and you will see why all performances sold out in 4 hours!

Things Other Than Food That Were Swallowed in 2011

You know your dog is supposed to eat food, but sometimes he or she has other ideas. These are the best of 2011--things that went down and we hope, came out again--from our friends at VPI Pet Insurance!

Bo is fit to Be Tied!

For your Christmas viewing pleasure, the making of Bo--a full family of which served as prominent and adorable White House Christmas decorations this year!

'Twas the Night Before...

Sweet dreams and may you get everything you wished for including The Culinary Canine!

Helping Santa Out

Last Saturday, Santa made a guest appearance at The Bark Avenue Boutique and Dogma in Wayne. There were lots of dogs--some up for adoption from Finding Shelter and lots who came to get their pictures taken with the Jolly One.



That would include this duo--a Great Dane and a chihuahua who made quite a pair!


And I even made a new friend and signed a few books!

Sabina's Recipe

Here's Sabina's recipe from Vetsreet.

Today's treat was provided by Sabina Louise Pierce, co-author and photographer behind The Culinary Canine. "Since it's just me and my two Fox Terriers, Maddie and Izzie, I bake a batch of mini muffins for them and muffin tops for me," she says. "I love when I can make food that we can all share — and so do they."

Sometimes Louise Pierce doubles the recipe, so she can also treat her rescue horse, Toby. "She really likes them, and they are good for her, too," the photographer says. "You can substitute cinnamon for the cardamom, but we like the taste of cardamom because it's a little different."

Apple-Cardamom Oatmeal Muffins
Ingredients

1½ cups organic whole-wheat flour
½ cup rolled oats
1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup sugar (do not substitute artificial sweeteners, especially those containing xylitol)
Cardamom to taste
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup milk or water
1/2 cup canola oil
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1½-2 cups chopped organic apples (make sure there are no apple seeds, stems or leaves included)

1. Preheat oven to 400° and grease a muffin pan.

2. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, oats, sugar, cardamom, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, stir together the milk/water, eggs, oil and vanilla until blended. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the wet ingredients, stirring just to combine. Then stir in the apple.

3. Spoon batter into the prepared muffin cups and bake 15-20 minutes.

4. Allow muffins to cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes before removing them from the pan to continue cooling. (Muffins can be frozen.)

Note: Keep in mind that if you feed your pet anything that strays from his regular diet — especially in large quantities — it may cause gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting and diarrhea. If your pet has a pre-existing medical condition or if he's on a hypoallergenic diet, you should not feed him any treats or new foods until you have discussed it with your veterinarian.

A Visit to The Pet Village of Wayne

Recently our local news station paid a visit to The Bark Avenue Boutique in the Pet Village of Wayne, where they found The Culinary Canine. It is the second segment on the video--about 2 minutes and 40 seconds in!

Enjoy!

People Food

This is Keith Roberts, the executive chef at Loews Santa Monica and yes he is in the book. But many of you have asked for some people friendly recipes so here is his for Apple and Cheddar Soup, which sounds pretty good this time of the year!

Apple and cheddar soup

Ingredients:

3 Gala apples, small

1 1/2 Granny Smith apples, large

2 1/2 tablespoons butter, unsalted

3 stalks celery


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1/2 teaspoon, fresh thyme, chopped

1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable bouillon powder

3 cups extra sharp white cheddar cheese, grated

2 teaspoons salt

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup apple cider

3/4 teaspoon Champagne vinegar

Yield: 6

Method:

Place all ingredients in a large stainless steel sauce pot and bring to a boil on high heat, simmer on low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Puree with a hand mixer in pot until smooth. Ladle into bowl and garnish with white cheddar crisp.

White cheddar crisps

Ingredients:

12 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup extra sharp white cheddar cheese

pinch of salt

pinch of ground cayenne pepper

pinch of ground nutmeg

8 tablespoons butter, unsalted

Method:

Heat the cheese until almost melted then blend with all other ingredients. Roll dough into 1.25-inch wide tube and refrigerate until firm. Slice very thin and place on baking sheet and bake at 350 until brown on edges.

Santa Monica chili

Serves 1 portion

Ingredients:

2 oz shrimp — rock

3 oz (one each) scallops — Day Boat

1 oz jumbo lump crabmeat

1/4 tsp. garlic peeled, minced

2 oz chablis cooking

1 oz butter unsalted

5 each fava beans, peeled and blanched

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper, ground

1 tsp. (1/2 large lemon) lemon juice

pinch of crushed chili flakes

1/2 oz olive oil

Method:

Heat olive oil in medium fry pan and sear scallops until well browned on both sides, transfer to tray or pan and place in medium oven to complete cooking while stew is finished.

In same fry pan sauté rock shrimp and salt pepper and chili flakes over high heat for 30 seconds, add crab, fava beans and white wine and simmer for 1 minute then remove from the heat and stir in butter. Pour into soup bowl or tureen and top with the seared scallop now cut in half. Serve with toast point or crouton.

Gifts for Pets

Here is some interesting news courtesy of my local WPVI television station:

Man's best friend is apparently becoming a bigger part of the family. Eight in 10 pet owners say they are going to get their four legged friends Christmas presents. One quarter say they will spend $50 bucks, according to a survey by Pet Plan, which sells pet insurance. Get this: 71% say they sign their pet's name in the family greeting card. A majority even have a special stocking for their pet.


What bout you? Planning on putting a special treat in your pooch's stocking? What about The Culinary Canine--the gift that keeps on giving as you make over 30 recipes for your best friend, the majority of which are people and pet friendly?

Looks great under the tree...

On the Shelf in Barnes & Noble

Spotted on the shelf in the Barnes & Noble in Union Square, NYC!

Here'a great holiday recipe from Roberta Dean, owner of Capers Catering in Los Angels and a top chef in the book. Try it, your pups will adore it!


PAW PRINT PUMPKIN BISCUITS

PREHEAT OVEN TO 325 (300 IF USING A CONVECTION OVEN)

1 CUP PLAIN CANNED PUMPKIN PUREE

1 CUP PEELED, 1/4” DICED, LIGHTLY BLANCHED FRESH PUMPKIN

1/2 CUP ROASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS, COARSELY CHOPPED

1 CUP QUICK-COOKING OATS

2 CUPS WHOLE-WHEAT FLOUR

1 CUP ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR

1/2 TEASPOON CINNAMON

1/2 CUP MOLASSES

1/2 CUP HONEY

1/2 CUP UNSWEETENED APPLESAUCE

1/2 CUP CANOLA OIL

MIX IN A LARGE BOWL

ADD WATER TO ACHIEVE A CHOCOLATE-CHIP COOKIE LIKE

CONSISTENCY

DROP BY TEASPOONS (FOR THE PETITE PUPPIES) AND

TABLESPOONS (FOR THE BIG GUYS) ONTO BAKING SHEETS

LINED WITH PARCHMENT PAPER ABOUT 2” APART

FLATTEN INTO ROUNDS WITH A FORK IN A CROSS-HATCH

PATTERN

BAKE FOR 10 MINUTES

SWITCH THE BAKING SHEETS FRONT TO BACK, TOP TO BOTTOM

BAKE FOR 5-10 MINUTES LONGER UNTIL GOLDEN AND FIRM

ADJUSTING TIME FOR TEASPOONS (A BIT LESS) AND FOR

TABLESPOONS (A BIT LONGER)

TURN OFF OVEN AND LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN UNTIL THE

TREATS COOL COMPLETELY

YIELD DEPENDS UPON SIZE OF THE COOKIE

On the Air

In case you missed the Sirius radio show on Saturday, The Focus Group, you can click below on the MP3 link and hopefully it will play. If not, you can go to the Focus Group website and download your own version to play on your computer.


/Users/kit/Desktop/12-03_CulinaryCanine_PaulHagen_P1-1.mp3

Throughout December, our friends at Vetstreet.com are highlighting some of the recipes in The Culinary Canine. The series kicked off last week with yours truly! I actually contributed one of Roberta' Deen's recipes--not in the book but really delicious--for pumpkin treats.

Here it is for you adventurous chefs. And for those of you less adventurous, just substitute more of the canned pumpkin for the real stuff!


Paw Print Pumpkin Biscuits
Ingredients
1 cup plain, canned pumpkin puree
1 cup peeled, 1/4-inch diced and lightly blanched fresh pumpkin
1/2 cup roasted pumpkin seeds, coarsely chopped
1 cup quick-cooking oats
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup canola oil

1. Preheat oven to 325°.

2. Mix ingredients in a large bowl, while slowly adding water to achieve a chocolate chip cookie-like consistency.

3. Drop teaspoonfuls (for petite puppies) or tablespoonfuls (for big guys) of dough onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Using a fork, flatten the dough into rounds and make a crosshatch pattern on the surface.

4. Bake 10 minutes. Rotate the cookie sheet and bake another 5-10 minutes (less time is needed for the teaspoon drops), until the cookies are golden and firm.

5. Turn the oven off, open the door and allow the treats to cool completely.

Sam's Birthday Cupcakes

Last Sunday was Sam's birthday (he turned 4!) and in his honor I prepared his favorite birthday cupcakes! Since today is the Martha Stewart Show airing--10:00 AM EST on the Hallmark Channel--on which Chef Harry is going to make a delightful dish for his dog Blitz (it's in the cookbook!), I thought I would share the recipe for Sam's Birthday Cupcakes with you.

Ingredients
1 lb. ground turkey
2 eggs or the equivalent in Egg Beaters
about 2 cups uncooked Quaker Oats

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Grease a muffin or cupcake pan. I use Pam to spray the sections
Combine raw turkey, eggs and oatmeal until it is a consistency that holds together when formed. You may have to use more or less oatmeal.
Press the turkey mixture into the cupcake tins almost all the way to the top. This doesn't rise so you don't have to worry about it cooking over.
Cook in the oven for about 30-40 minutes until browned and when a toothpick inserted in the center of each cupcake comes out clean. You want to make sure they're cooked through.
Allow to cool and serve to the birthday pup and his/her friends!

And if any of you are in the vicinity of the Penn campus tonight, Chef Eileen Watkin is doing a cooking demo at the Inn at Penn, complete with doggie bags. We will be signing books so stop by!

Martha Would Approve

Wondering what to get the pet lovers on your list? Wonder no more. Just click here and all your gift giving problems will be solved and delivered to your doorstep.

As Martha would say, "It's a good thing."

Chef Harrys Recipe

You've come to the right place if you heard about The Culinary Canine from The Martha Stewart Show. Or as we like to think, it's a very good thing you found us!

For those of you who would like to try Chef Harry's recipe (the one he prepared for his dog, Blitz), here are the ingredients:

Quick cook oats enough to make 1/4 cup cooked oatmeal
3 pork loin medallions, 2 ounces each
1 tsp canola oil
6 baby carrots
2 cups low or no-salt vegetable broth

And here is what you do:

Cook the oats with boiling water only and allow to cool.

Brush the pork medallions with the canola oil. Grill the pork over medium high heat until medium well done. Remove from grill and cool.

Poach the baby carrots in the vegetable broth until tender. Drain and cool the carrots and reserve a small amount of the broth. Puree the carrots with just enough of the broth to make a saucelike texture. On the show, Harry cooled this "sauce" and put it in a squeeze bottle to write Blitz's name across the plate.

With a sharp knife, cut the pork into small bits. Roll 1/4 cup of oatmeal into small truffle like balls. Spread the carrot puree artfully on a white dinner plate. Arrange the pork in a mound in the center of the puree. Dot the plate with oatmeal truffles around the mound of pork on the puree.

Serve to your begging pooch and watch it disappear!

There are plenty more mouthwatering recipes, good enough to share with your pup in the book, which you can buy here.

Chicago Chefs Cook up a Storm!

http://www.wgntv.com/videogallery/66396160/News/Lunchbreak:-Culinary-Canine#pl-62812560


Click on the above link to watch two of our Chicago chefs, Karyn Calabrese and Steve Chiappetti cook up some fabulous creations for their best friends from The Culinary Canine, including Karyn's trademark raw recipe.

Looking for the book? Click here.

Looking for the recipes? Here you go:

Karyn Calabrese Dog Food Recipe

Ingredients:
4 or 5 servings of season vegetables/fruits, organic whenever possible. Options include: 1 small apple, 1 small pear, 1 small squash, 2 or 3 carrots, 2 or 3 celery stalks, 1 small sweet potato, 1 bunch kale, 1 bunch romaine lettuce, 1 cup bean or alfalfa sprouts, 1 cup green beans
1 Tbs kelp
1 Tbs molasses or honey
1 Tbs Karyn's Green Meal powder or another powdered green superfood (available at health-food stores)
1/4 cup apple-cider vinegar
2 eggs, shells included
1 Tbs lecithin granules
-1 tsp powdered vitamin C (optional)
Approximately 2 lbs of any of the following raw meats, including organ meats from your butcher:
chicken (including necks)
lamb
beef
bison
turkey
buffalo
fish (be careful of bones)

Directions:
Process the vegetables and fruits in a food processor; they can been pureed or left in chunks, depending on your dog's preference. Add the kelp, molasses or honey, green powdered superfood, vinegar, eggs, lecithin, and vitamin C (optional) to the food processor.
Bag and freeze individual portions of the vegetable/fruit mixture for your dog. When you serve the food, the proportion should be 75% meat to 25% vegetable/fruit, so measure out and freeze your portion sizes based on those numbers.
Divide the meat into single servings depending on your dog's size, weight, and daily activity. If you are using organ meats, they should account for 50% of the meat serving. Freeze the meat portions in individual plastic bags. Thaw portions before serving.

Steven Chiappetti Pet Patties

Ingredients:
1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 peeled carrot
3 strips double-smoked bacon
1/2 clove garlic
1 tsp ground cumin
dash ground coriander
dash paprika
dash salt
dash pepper
1 egg
1 Tbs olive oil
2 slices cheddar cheese

Directions:
Using a stand mixer with a food grinder attachment (medium-hole plate, if you have the restaurant version), grind the chicken, carrot and bacon together. In the bowl of the mixer, add the spices and egg to the ground ingredients and mix everything completely.
Form golf-ball-sized patties and flatten them to a 1/2-inch thickness. Set the patties on a plate.
Preheat a nonstick pan with the olive oil on medium heat. Cook the patties until well done and browned on each side. Add the cheese on top of the patties at the end of cooking, keeping the patties over the heat until the cheese is slightly melted.
Cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

The Martha Stewart Show

http://www.marthastewart.com/868197/wild-animal-show#ooid=Nod2MxMzpWHSJn3x8IFrJavPRl78xEPF,puZzIxMzr_AEF48BvzAF1Fwtj2Y8AdmZ

Click on the above link and you will see some behind the scenes shots of the Wild Animal episode of The Martha Stewart Show. While The Culinary Canine was not part of the menagerie that invaded Martha's television studio, it is featured on the episode of her show entitled The Pet Show, which airs December 1 on the Hallmark Channel at 10:00 AM on the East Coast.

That's two days from now. Plenty of time to set your DVR's, check your cable guides and tune in to watch Chef Harry wow Martha with his recipe for his dog, Blitz, who laps up everything on the plate, on cue!

Act I

Has this new "show" made its way to your neighborhood yet? Anthony Bourdain, legendary restaurant meanie and local Chef Eric Ripert are taking to the STAGE--yes, you read that right--for an hour and half to dish about all things culinary. Would you buy a ticket to see to chefs talk about food?

Apparently lots of people have. "Chefs have been elevated to celebrity as they've become, in many ways, the new artists of our moment," says Bryant Simon, a Temple University history professor."But this is where celebrity and art collide. We consume their personalities more than their art. More people know them from TV than the tastes they create, because so few of us can afford it."

Maybe we should take our chefs on the road and just let them play with their dogs! On stage.

On the Shelf in Barnes & Noble

People are always asking where they can buy The Culinary Canine. I took a little field trip to my local Barnes 7 Noble to find out. It is in the Pet Section of Barnes & Noble and when you go, please turn the cover so it is facing out!

Thanks!

Thanksgiving with the Bird Dogs!

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

Yup, even bird dogs like turkey. Enjoy yours!

Real Dogs of New York Approve!

That's Sammy above, and he is one of the pets who taste tasted three of the recipes in The Culinary Canine! New York Post reporter Amanda Kelly wrote all about it in Sunday's paper and the dogs all gave paws up reviews to Eli's Bread Soup, Henry's Organic Chicken and Anita's Lo's Bluefish Filet, Yams, Peats and Bacon.

You can read all about it here!

Last Stop--LA!

By the time I got to LA, I had the plane thing down to a science. And so did the airline. Perfectly on time, I flew right into LA in plenty of time on Sunday for the afternoon launch. My hotel room was ready; I spent some time with my sister and brother in law, and off we went to downtown Santa Monica for a great afternoon event. That's me above with Chefs Roberta Dean and Geraldine Gilliland.


Chef Nick Shipp at Upper West was our host and he was so excited!

And what an event it was! About 75 people and at least that many dogs--well maybe not but it seemed that way, with Lexus after Lexus pulling up to the valet parking and lots of dogs and people unloading. What a great time. We almost sold out of books!!!




All four LA chefs were there and what a spread they put out! We all signed books for everyone who was there and it was a wonderful afternoon.


What can I say, third time's a charm!

The Launch Continues

Next day, bright and early, I made it to the Chicago airport and got right on my flight for San Francisco, which as it turns out, was slightly delayed landing, by what else, fog.

However, I got there and had plenty of time to get to Omnivore Books, which is where the launch was held. It turns out that the owner of Omnivore also owns the Noe Pet Supply Store around the corner, so we had the party there, which turned out to be great.



It was pouring, but people came. Dogs came. Chef Tanya made amazing nibbles--people and pet friendly and Chef Amaryll Schwertner sent over boulettes (read the book, you'll know what they are!) for the pups.



It was pouring but the turnout was great and everyone had a wonderful time.



Sabina's flight however, was delayed--it was raining--and she got there an hour too late. Don't I know how that feels.

The Launch Goes West

The plan was ambitious--probably too ambitious in retrospect, but then again, so was the idea for the book. And so, when the concept of taking the show on the road came up, we figured we might as well go all out. Hence the Chicago, to San Fran to LA route in four days. Ambitious, but doable.

We didn't take into consideration the concept of weather. Which is why the fog that enveloped Philadelphia on November 10, the day of the Chicago launch threw us for a loop, and not the one that goes around the windy city. My first flight was canceled--the same one that Sabina was on. She went home. I rebooked on another airline. My second flight had mechanical difficulties. I returned to the original airline and got on the third flight stand by which is why the only thing I saw in Chicago was the book propped up on the check in desk when I arrived, an hour too late for the event.

I hear it went well. I hear everyone had a wonderful time. And we both wish we had been there.

To be continued.....

Speaking of Dog Food

I got this in an email and had to pass it on. Be forewarned, it is meant to make you LAUGH and NOT meant to be TAKEN SERIOUSLY!

Yesterday I was at my local COSTCO buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for my loyal pet, Jake, the Wonder Dog and was in the check-out line when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog.

What did she think I had an elephant? So because I'm retired and have little to do, on impulse I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, I was starting the Purina Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn't, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a Perfect Diet and that the way that it works is, to load your pants pockets with Purina Nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete so it works well and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.)

Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care, because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I stepped off a curb to sniff a poodle's butt and a car hit me.

I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard.

Costco won't let me shop there anymore.

Amazing Dog Tricks!

We knew that food was a great motivator but this is amazing. Sign that dog up for a TV show!

Los Angeles Launch

Los Angeles anyone?

I will be dropping into the Hollywood scene on Sunday November 13 and signing books at Upper West Restaurant, 3321 Pico Blvd from 4-6.

It promises to be a sunny California afternoon, perfect for some people watching and nibbling on some chef prepared treats from our four Los Angeles super star chefs. Cru Vin Dogs wine is co-sponsoring the event, with Upper West, and your $10 donation at the door to the SPCA-LA gets you some free wine and munchies.

YES, you can bring your dog but since this is a restaurant, you will have to stay outside on the patio, which shouldn't be a problem.

Hope to see you then. We are expecting a good crowd!

San Francisco Launch

San Francisco anyone?

Don't leave your heart in this wonderful city but do stop by our San Fran Book Launch at Omnivore Books, 3885 Cesar Chavez Street, on November 11 from 6-7 PM.

We are expecting three of our five San Francisco chefs, with food from Boulettes Larder being delivered in Amaryll's absence.

Stop by, grab a glass of wine and some nibbles and your $10 donation at the door supports Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation.

And did I tell you that Omnivore Books is connected to The Noe Valley Pet Company through an inside door? Talk about a perfect setting and truly, only in San Francisco.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Going to be in Chicago November 10? Stop by the Hotel Monaco from 6-8 and share some dog and people friendly treats courtesy of the four Chicago chefs in The Culinary Canine!

A $10 donation at the door gets you free food and wine and benefits the Anti-Cruelty Society.

Stop by. Buy a book. Get it signed and don't forget to bring your dogs!!

Hope to see you there!!

Two By Two

I know the above is about two lizards but the message is the same: perhaps your pet needs a buddy! This adorable campaign launched by the American Pet Products Association is using these actors to drive the message home! Too cute!

Ask Cornelia

We have added #11--see below
MY TEN FAVORITE THINGS IN THE WORLD OF CORNELIA GUEST BY CORNELIA GUEST
1.THEWELLDAILY.COM.
2. SHOPPING AT BLOOMINGDALES FOR MY CORNELIA GUEST CRUELTY FREE BAGS.
3. THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, THEY DO SUCH WONDERFUL WORK AND A PERCENTAGE OF MY CORNELIA GUEST CRUELTY FREE COOKIES GOES TO THEM.
4. JOANNA VARGAS, HER FACIALS ARE AMAZING AND I LOVE HER SERUM CLEANSER.
5. THE COVER OF MY BOOK ”SIMPLE PLEASURES” (A CRUELTY-FREE LIFESTYLE BOOK… WITH TONS OF DELICIOUS VEGAN RECIPES COMING OUT SOON). BRUCE WEBER TOOK THE PICTURE OF ME WITH ALL MY DOGS. I LOVE ALL THE PICTURES HE HAS TAKEN OF ME.
6. ST. JOHN FOR DAY AND BADGLEY MISCHKA FOR NIGHT, THE BEST CLOTHES AROUND! BEAUTIFUL, SEXY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY WEARABLE AND AFFORDABLE.
7. CHOCOLATE, RAW AND ORGANIC. FEARLESS CHOCOLATE, FINE AND RAW, AND GNOSIS ARE MY FAVORITES.
8. ORGANIC AVENUE FOR DELICIOUS JUICES, FOOD, AND NUTS. I LOVE THEIR MYLKS.
9. MY AUDI GETS ME WHERE I NEED TO GO. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN A BETTER CAR.
10. BOBBI BROWN MAKE-UP. THE BEST MASCARA AND I LOVE THE COLOR PALETTES.

11. The Culinary Canine--which includes my recipe for yummy vegan dog friendly treats!

Best Halloween Pic Ever!

The original Chia Pet!!!

Halloween Dangers for Pets

I'm sure you know about safe costumes--nothing dragging or choking--but remember that anything sweetened with xylitol--an artificial sweetener in sugar free candy and gum is toxic to dogs.

Scenes from The Martha Stewart Show

Scenes from the taping of The Martha Stewart Show where Chef Harry cooked for his dog Blitz on The Pet Show episode which will air on December 1 on the Hallmark Channel. The show features lots of animals, great food and it will tickle your fancy if you love canines, felines or birds! Not to mention The Culinary Canine!!

A Good Thing With Martha Stewart

Today. October 26, Sabina and I are in the Big Apple to be in the audience for a taping of The Martha Stewart Show. Chef Harry Schwartz and his dog Blitz are going to be cooking with Martha preparing his recipe from the book.

There is the possibility that Martha may turn the cameras on us too so be sure to watch when the episode airs on December 1 on The Hallmark Channel.

From Philly.com

Click here for the latest thing that Philly.com has to say about us!
http://bcove.me/hyqdlyo4

Philly Launch a Doggone Great Time!!!

The Philly launch was a resounding success!1 About 200 people and their pooches enjoyed chef-prepared human goodies (and some doggie ones) as well as wine all for the benefit of PACT for Animals. Oh, and lots of books were sold! Maddie was once again the star of the show and a doggone good time was had by all.



We're off to Chicago on November 10, San Francisco on the 11th, Los Angeles on the 13th and back in Philly for a tasty event and signing at the Inn at Penn on Dec. 1 with Chef Eileen Watkins, whose cheese arancini were absolutely delicious last night--just ask Maddie who shared all of mine!!

Check back. I am going to post a schedule on the blog very soon. We're still finalizing dates!

Purina Unleashes Subliminal Audio for Pets

Have you heard? This is the new Beneful commercial being aired in Germany that features high pitched pings and whistles that your dog can hear. It is designed to attract your dog's attention.

Food for thought: if your dog ran toward the television when a Beneful commercial was playing, would you be more or less likely to buy the food?

Just asking.

Look What Got Into the Trash

Talk about wearing the evidence! Too cute......

Philly Launch is Thursday!!!

Here is Sabina's dog, Maddie, the unofficial mascot of The Culinary Canine! Maddie is sitting on the table we used to sign books in NYC last week and clearly she is holding court!

If you'd like to meet Maddie in person, stop by the launch in Philly this week on Thursday at Restaurant 1682 and the lobby of Hotel Palomar at 117 S. 17th Street in Philadelphia from 6-8 PM.

Support a great cause--PACT for Animals--with your $10 at the door and sample some people fare prepared by four chefs in the book. And have a glass of wine on us!

For more press on the NYC event--and hints of the great time you'll have in Philly--check out this recent post on Dog Channel.

Kando!

Look what this little guy can do! This video is pure inspiration and joy!!

Taking Your Dog to Work

The benefits of taking your dog to work seem to be immense--both for business and for the owner. But it might be problematic for a chef to share his/her kitchen with their dog--at least at the restaurant!

Phoebe's Closeup

View more videos at: http://nbcphiladelphia.com.

We made the 6 o'clock news yesterday in Philly! Only problem is that Phoebe keeps waiting for her personal chef to reappear!

Launching Pad

This is Maddie, Sabina's dog and the muse for The Culinary Canine. She was front and center--literally on the table where we signed our books--at our launch last night in New York City and she drew quite a crowd. We had about 100 people--most of whom brought their dogs!

We hope you can join us in one of our upcoming cities: Philadelphia on October 20; Chicago on November 10, San Francisco on November 11 and Los Angeles on November 13.

Bring a dog; buy a book and support a great cause in each of these venues! Follow our travels on Facebook.

WOW!!!!

All I can say is WOW!!!!

One Picture......

You know how we feel about pictures. They make the story. And in case you need more proof, watch the above.

Animal Week in New York City

From the New York Daily News on Sunday October 8:

In events around town this week:

* The third annual New York Week for the Animals, sponsored by Animal World USA, is under way. This nine-day celebration shines a spotlight on animals in a big way, featuring more than 100 animal events throughout New York State. For a listing of events, go to www.animalalliancenyc.org.

* On Tuesday, authors Kathryn Feldman and Sabina Pierce will launch their new book, "The Culinary Canine," which showcases dog-friendly recipes from top chefs. Mingle with South Gate's Kerry Heffernan, Cornelia Guest and others. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kimpton's The Muse, 130 W. 46th St. Suggested $10 donation benefiting The Humane Society.



Who knew it was Animal Week in New York and how great is that???!!!!

Dropped Bone

Watch to the end! Remember that game?

Lose the Needle!

Not that we wish it on anyone, but if your pet does happen to develop diabetes, there may be a new treatment protocol right on the horizon. Instead of injecting your pet with insulin--at regular intervals; i. e. the same time every day--an Australian biologist, Dr. Esra Ogru, is working on perfecting a patch that delivers sustained doses of insulin to pets.

Working in conjunction with Novartis Animal Health, Dr. Ogru is excited about the technology that allows a dose of insulin to be delivered in a constant dose over a period of time through the skin. The technology is already in use for delivering pain and arthritis mediation and Dr. Ogru feels that it is only a matter of time that insulin will be delivered in the same way.

"A lot of people feel uncomfortable about injecting their animal so being able to poivide a cat or dog with insulin in this non-invasive way will mean a lot of diabetic pets will get treated and enjoy better health," she said.

Keep your eyes open for this new technology should your pet ever need it.

The Culinary Canine

There is a GREAT new interview up on the food blog, Bromography about the book. Click
The Culinary Canine to be redirected!

Bear with Bucket

I know its not a dog but it is a baby polar bear with a food bucket--or at least a blue bucket--and it is too adorable to pass up!

Myth Busting

I give Amos my collie bath once a week. It helps keep his dermatitis under control--we use a special shampoo and he seems to love it. Of course, this all works great when he has a short sumer "do" and we can do this outside with a hose. When the weather turns cooler, it becomes more tricky and I often resort to just spot bathing particularly itchy areas. In the winter, thankfully, his allergies seem to be under control.

I am glad to learn that I am not drying out his skin more with frequent bathing. This article below take the air out of lots of popular veterinary myths, courtesy of Dr. Marty Becker and his new website, Vetsreet.

Myth-Busting: What You Think You Know About Your Dog May Be Wrong
By Dr. Marty Becker | July 14, 2011

In the more than 30 years I've been a practicing veterinarian, I've heard every misconception about pets there is. Many of these may have been considered accurate at one time but current thinking has a different take. That means I do a lot of myth-busting as I try to help educate people about their pets.

Here are the five most common misconceptions dog-lovers hold — and the truth everyone should know.

Myth: Dogs should be bathed a couple of times a year. Frequent bathing is bad for the coat and skin.
Fact: It's an old idea that frequent baths strip the skin and coat of moisture. A weekly bath not only makes your pet easier to live with (less shedding, less smell) but also can help prevent some skin diseases. There are all kinds of gentle shampoos for dogs, so ask your vet what might be best for your pet.

Myth: Short-haired dogs shed less.
Fact: Actually, long-haired dogs shed less because genetics dictate that they keep their fur longer. The practical way to end up with a dog who sheds only a little is to get a small dog with long hair. The less dog, the less fur. Even more effective is keeping a long-haired dog’s coat trimmed short.

Myth: A dog needs to get all his shots every year.
Fact: Vaccinations are no longer one size fits all. Tailored to each dog’s individual lifestyle, vaccinations now consist of core vaccines for certain diseases, some of which can be given at three-year-intervals, and optional vaccines for diseases for which some dogs may be exposed or are at higher risk for.

Myth: Anesthesia is too dangerous for older pets.
Fact: Pet owners need not be overly concerned about older pets undergoing anesthesia. Veterinary medicine has followed the course of human medicine when it comes to anesthetic safety, and that has dramatically lowered the risk for pets. If your senior pet suffers a condition (such as tooth decay or gum disease) that can be treated but requires anesthesia, by all means explore the option.

Myth: Pain-management isn't important for pets and can even be bad for animals recovering from surgery.
Fact: At one time common wisdom dictated that denying an animal pain medicine after surgery would keep him from moving around. But a crates and leash are far better for confining and restraining a dog after surgery. Pain medication should be given before, during, and after any procedure to ease suffering and support recovery. For pets with chronic pain, such as from arthritis, new medications, nutraceuticals, and what’s called complementary medicine (such as acupuncture) can help put the bounce back in their step.

This article was written by a Veterinarian.

Pet Food Settlement

About 20,000 people, who lost pets due to tainted dog food back in 2007, are finally receiving their food settlement checks, according to a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer. The largest wave of animal litigation ever in the American legal system was aimed at Menu Foods, Inc. a Canadian manufacturer of about 100 of the tainted products.

Locally, Cheryl Cutler of Voorhees, New Jersey, received a check for $2,400 which she says not only cannot come close to making up for the loss of her beloved pet, Zeus, but is also no where near the amount of money (estimated $7,500) she and her husband spent on Zeus' medical care.

According to Sherrie Savett, a lawyer representing some of the many plaintiffs in more than 100 lawsuits filed agains Menu Foods Inc, claimants generally got more than fifty percent of their claimed losses. many who have received settlement checks have donated all or a portion of them to charities that benefit animals.

This pet food recall is one of the things that sparked the idea for our book since so many pet owners were resorting to cooking for their pets after the recall.

Dog Has Kittens For Lunch

Don't let the title fool you...what's for lunch is not the kitties!!!

Fred Wants to Be an Elephant

Maybe all that howling has to do with the fact that elephants can inhale so much more food! At least it looks that way to this guy!

My How Big Your Ears Are!

All the better to hear you with my dear. . . or so Harbor, a black and tan coonhound from Boulder, Colorado might say. Harbor's ears won him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the living dog with the world's longest ears! The official measurements: 12.25 inches for the left ear and 13.5 inches for the right.

His owner said that when Harbor was a puppy, he would trip on his ears and roll down the stairs!

Cage Dryers Can Be Dangerous

Here is a tip worth checking out courtesy of About.com Veterinary Medicine. We all know that heat stroke is a danger in the summer months to dogs and the caveat about leaving an animal in a parked care for even one minute. But cage dryers can present another threat to dogs susceptible to heat stroke.

Dogs and cats most at risk from dryer induced heat stroke include any that are already overheated from being in distress as well as those who are overweight, have breathing problems, heart problems and are very young or very old. Pets being dried by cage dryers should also have access to fresh water.

It is worth asking your groomer about the method of drying he/she uses for your dog, especially if your dog is at risk.

A Small Blip in Delivery

For those of you who pre-ordered the book from Amazon and received a notice that delivery would be delayed until October 28, you have a few options to purchase the book before then.

First you could attend one of our October launch events: the 11th in NYC at the Kimpton Muse Hotel, 130 W. 46 St. from 6-8 PM or October 20 in Philadelphia at Square 1682 Restaurant, 121 S. 17th from 6-8 PM. Books will be available for purchase and signing!

Second, you could order directly from ShopAnimalNetwork.com as early as September 27, the release date.

Or third, you could just sit tight. A lot of times Amazon delivers before they say they will.

Sorry for the disappointment. Many things are way out of our control!

Meet Chef Carmen Gonzalez

Carmen is a bundle of energy. She and her dog Jeeter hit the pavement for marathon walks every day!

Herm versus the Stairs

Watch to the end! Persistence pays off!

Please Re-locate

Way back when, this book was called Lick Your Plate. That is now officially a misnomer. Please transfer you allegiance to The Culinary Canine and forget you ever heard about the first title.

When we changed our Facebook page we couldn't move our followers because there were too many. Now it is up to you to move yourselves.

Beyond A Good Thing

Can anyone say "A Very Good Thing?"

The Culinary Canine will be featured on the Martha Stewart Show this fall!! We're taping October 17th and we'll know soon which chef gets the nod! Rumor has it Martha's own dogs may steal the spotlight but our chefs were all told to be prepared to bring their own dogs.

Yes, Sabina and I will be in the audience!

It's more like an outstanding thing now that I think about it....

We Hear She is a Cat Person

NPR's Terry Gross has a fabulous interview with sustainable food guru, Alice Waters. You can find it here. And for the record, Chez Panisse was one of the first restaurants we called. Alice Waters does not have a dog.

Grace Before Meals!

Too funny!

Todd Gray Wins DC Chef of the Year

This handsome family is none other than the Grays--Ellen Kassoff Gray, son Harrison and Chef Todd, at the recent RAMMY awards in Washington DC, where Chef Todd won Chef of the Year from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. Todd had been nominated for the honor nine times!

Perhaps it was the opening of his new restaurant Watershed, in the Hilton Garden Inn, in the up and coming NoMA (north of Mass Ave) neighborhood of DC that tipped the scales. We hear fabulous things about this casual, seafood eatery that opened in June as well as his cafe in the Corcoran Gallery and of course, the legendary Equinox.

Planning a trip to DC? Book a table at one of their restaurants and be guaranteed a great meal from great animal lovers!

When the Dog Eats More Than Your Homework

Back to School is upon us and so are those new school supplies. According to PET MD, fruit scented pencils and erasers may be especially appealing to your curious pooch, so be sure to keep those supplies off the floor and out of their mouths.

Here is the website's list of those supplies most likely to cause problems if your pup swallows (or tries to swallow)them:

10. paperclips
9. pens--watch out for any loose caps
8. pencils--just the right size to get lodged in the mouth or windpipe
7. markers
6. crayons--some smell good enough to eat!
5. balls--those small bouncy ones can easily get lodged
4. action figures/small dolls--and those accessories like shoes, doll clothing, miniature tools/weapons
3. coins
2. glue sticks/bottled glue
1. erasers

No mention of the actual homework, but we all know how that goes. Only the most important papers get drooled on.

A Peachy Summer Treat

From out friends at Modern Dog magazine, comes this peachy treat, perfect for those dwindling dog days of summer.

Newsbite l Aug 17, 2011
Isn't It Peachy?
DIY dog food perfect for late summer

Quick and healthy, this recipe capitalizes on late summer bounty. Fresh peas and the addition of peaches give the sweetness dogs enjoy, and non-gluten products are used to help with allergies. Prep Time: 10 minutes; makes seven 1-cup servings.

Shopping list and instructions:

3 lb ground lamb or in chunks
3 eggs
1/2 cup fresh peas, shelled
1 cup brown rice
1 cup canned peach slices in natural juice

1. Saute the meat in a lightly sprayed pan over medium heat for about 15 minutes until no longer pink and the meat juices run clear. Let cool.

2. Meanwhile, cook the rice according to package instructions.

3. Cook the eggs in a saute pan over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring gently until the eggs are firm.

4. Mix the lamb with the scrambled eggs and let cool.

5. Mix together the peas, rice and peaches, then stir in the meat and egg mixture. Allow to cool before serving to your hungry pup. See portion sizes and nutritional information here.

Updates

Very exciting news here at The Culinary Canine! The launch countdown has begun since we are told the book has arrived in the warehouse, ready to be shipped on Sept. 27!! For all those thinking about ordering in bulk for holiday gifts, remember that the pre-release price goes up once the book ships. You might want to check out our Amazon link here.

Second, we are told that the book will be released in electronic version in November! So all those with i-pads or color Nooks or Kindles will be able to see the book on the go. Better yet, we have discovered the ease of cooking with a recipe propped up on an i-pad, and think you too will love the convenience!

And our launch list is growing. Parties now in NYC (Oct. 11), Philly (Oct. 20) and Chicago (Nov. 10)!!!
Hope you can join us for one of them. Details to follow as the dates approach.

Hope your appetites are getting whetted......

Stem Cells at Work

Stem cells are making headlines in veterinary medicine but none more so than in Western Pennsylvania where a vet is attempting to use stem cells to regrow the pads on a dog's paws. The patient is a pit bull named Bernie, who suffered burns on the paws of his feet when his former owner left him on a scorching rooftop for ten hours. Police rescued the dog and took him to the Animal Rescue League in Berks county, PA near Reading.

The shelter took Bernie to Wyomissing Animal Hospital, where Dr. Boyd Wagner, owner, decided to try to regrow the pads using stem cells. "I don't think I've seen anything that bad in 25 years," the vet said. "They were severe third degree burns."

Wagner had been doing work with Celavet, a California-based bio-tech firm doing research on stem cells use in vet medicine and he decided to try the procedure, the first of its kind that required special permission from the FDA. "The stem cells increase the re-epithelization at a faster pace and a more uniform pace," he said.

The procedure was performed August 4 and it is still too soon to tell if it is working. In the meantime, Bernie seems to be recovering and is looking for a foster home. "He seems to be happy now," says Wagner. "He's a tough little guy."

Finding Fuzzybutt Four

In the market for a puppy? Well so is Luke Robinson who walked from Austin to Boston with his two Great Pyrennes, Hudson and Murphy to raise awareness for canine cancer. Unfortunately in one of life's cruelest ironies, Murphy succumbed to cancer shortly after the completion of the walk.

After much soul searching. Luke has decided to adopt (rescue) another Great Pyr to keep Hudson company and his efforts have launched his latest blog. If you are in the market for a large puppy, I think you will find it hard to resist these faces!

Lucky Dog!

That lucky dog would be Beth, a jack Russell terrier rescued by none other than Prince Charles and his wife Camilla. According to CNN, the puppy was abandoned at the Battersea Dog and Cats Home in London when it was 12 weeks old and is one of over 100 dogs that came to the shelter in July.

Camilla had actually presided over the opening of the shelter's new "cattery" and mentioned to the staff that she would love another Jack Russell to replace her much loved Freddy, who had passed away. When this puppy appeared on its doorstep, the shelter execs phoned the royal couple.

"i just couldn't resist her; she is gorgeous," Camilla told the Daily Mail after she saw photos of Beth. "It is so exciting. I can't wait for her to meet the family."

Presumably that would include one royal mother-in-law, the Queen, who has a fondness for corgis. Beth joins Charles and Camilla's other Jack Russels, Tosca and Rosie.

No word yet on whether the pup gets special meals but we imagine life will improve drastically from that in the shelter!

Diane Hendericks on Action News!

Diane Hendericks wowed the crowd on Action News last week. She popped into the ABC studios in Philly, did a live segment and then stayed around for an online chat. The topic: school lunches. As always, Diane was warm, sincere, knowledgable and always ready to plug the book!

She is one of the chefs participating in our launch party in Philly on October 20 at Square 1682 Restaurant from 6-8 PM.

Follow Chef Carmen!

Check out Chef Carmen Gonzalez's new website where you can follow her exploits and check out her new recipes. Note her home page features the SPCA!

Vegan Diets For Dogs

What do vegans feed their dogs? Usually meat since dogs are carnivores, but actress Alicia Silverstone feeds her pups a 100% plant based diet, according to Parade magazine. You can check out her vegan nutrition site at www.thekindlife.com.

She feeds her dogs whatever leftovers she has, mixed with Dr. Harvey's Canine health line. "Since I changed their diets about 10 years ago, they've had no fleas or itchy hot spots," she adds. "Their immune systems got so strong that those things don't bother them anymore."

Healthy School Lunches

Did you catch our own Chef Diane Hendericks on Philly ABC affiliate earlier this week giving tips for healthy school lunches--for people not pets!! Well here she is with some great ideas for your back to school crew! And don't forget those cold packs to keep everything fresh!

Official Book Trailer

Spread the Word!!

Elderbulls!

ELDERBULLS: The Movie (2011) from Animal Farm on Vimeo.

I don't think we have any pitbulls in the book, but this video certainly does a lot to help their reputation! It is a favorite of PACT founder Buzz Miller who adores this breed.

Monster Milers

Check out the recent issue of Urban Dog! They have a great feature on Monster Milers, based in Philadelphia. Over 250 volunteers runs shelter dogs every day, keeping everyone fit and happy!

Summer Time Dessert--People and Pet Friendly

The berries are ripe for the picking! Take advantage of nature's summer harvest with the following dessert for people and pets. You can use homemade or store bought pound cake (Sara Lee frozen ones are decadent) or even substitute angel food cake (a little lighter), or sugar cookies or even whole wheat toast.

Go easy on the sweetener in the cake and start out with one type of berries just to make sure your dog can tolerate them. It really is a variation on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, only using fresh fruit!

Dog Pound Cake

Courtesy of FidoDogTreats.com

Dog food recipe ingredients:
1 homemade pound cake
1/3 Cup Blueberries
1/3 Blackberries
1/3 Cup Raspberries
1/2 Cup Crunchy Peanut butter
Dog food recipe instructions:
Melt the peanut butter. Brush the entire cake with melted peanut butter. Arrange the berries on the top of the pound cake. Cut and serve to your favorite pooch!


Disclaimer: This recipe is not intended to meet all of your dog's nutritional needs. If you wish to cook for your dog regularly, please consult a vet or veterinary nutritionist to learn about how to feed your dog a nutritionally balanced diet.

What Goes Around Comes Around

Here's a story we especially like because human and non-human ives were saved.

Brendan Ocasio, formerly homeless, has found a new career taking care of animals at the New York City Animal Care and control shelter in Manhattan. He found this new job through the Doe Fund which helps get homeless people back on their feet. It is part of a recent partnership with the shelter.

Read all about it here and once again marvel at the healing power of pets.

Snowmass Culinary and Arts Festival

Diane Henderiks (pictured) and Carmen Gonzalez, two of our chefs, were both at the recent Snowmass Culinary and Arts Festival. They got to escape the suffocating heat and humidity that blanketed the East Coast and Diane made quite an impression on at least one food critic!

Read all about it here and note that she mentioned Diane was someone to keep your eye on! A rising star if we ever saw one and a dog lover to boot! You go girl!

Wedding Crashers

That's the top of a wedding cake showcasing the dogs of the bride and groom. By the way its from a wedding between two people, not dogs! We think it's adorable but apparently not everyone feels so inclined toward including canines in wedding parties.

Check out the "yappily ever after" tale here by the grandmother of the flower dog! Just wondering if the dogs were allowed to retrieve the bouquet.....

Chefs For Seals Event in NYC

So it's true--chefs love animals and can make a huge difference in the way we treat them. But you already knew that just by looking at some of the photos in our book.