Pip See’s A Pug…or Four And Dog Treats
I LOVE collaborating with Teagan at Teagans Books on a blog post, it’s fun and I truly love her work. Here is more from her feisty flapper Pip, another snippet which this time includes “Wriggles” the pug. The recipe for dog treats is a copy cat version of Sherman’s Barkery’s Cheesy Num Nums. Percy gives these 2 paws up, that say’s a lot since he is Mr. Picky. There are only a few simple ingredients, they are super easy to make and are a great treat for our fur kids.
Blogging should be fun otherwise it becomes work and integrating Teagan’s whimsical and delicious writing with my food is exactly that. Thank you Teagan for the contribution, giving me a creative boost and and making blogging fun!! You are the best. Take it away Teagan…..
Thanks for doing another joint post with me, Suzanne! Whey you said you could do a dog treat recipe, I thought of my character, Wriggles. He’s a pug from one of my “Three Things” novellas (The Three Things Serial, a Little 1920s Story). The character was inspired by your blog!
Some of you may remember a little pug dog named Wriggles. He was introduced in the third of my blog serials, Three Ingredients-2, a Ghost in the Kitchen. In that story he was a new dog for the character, Arabella Wong. However, this vignette takes place prior to that story. So I made him a puppy and gave him a different owner.
So once again, here’s a story from the Three Things “universe.” Did you ever get the feeling you’d have to be “hit over the head” with something before you finally got the message? Well, that was true of Pip. I hope everyone enjoys this tidbit.
Pip Sees a Pug… or Four
“Floyd? Hey, Floyd!”
That was definitely him. The last time I saw Floyd — which was also basically the first time I saw him, the police were putting him into the paddy wagon when they arrested some bootleggers. Yet there he was on a side street in Savannah.
Maybe it had all been a mistake, I thought hopefully.
After all, Floyd was as sexy as the Sheik of Araby. Then I remembered how rude he had been to me and Alastair Wong. He didn’t seem sexy at all before that thought even got halfway across my noodle. However, he heard me and looked over his shoulder.
“Well now, aren’t you a choice bit of calico,” Floyd said as he turned to walk toward me. “Oh, it’s you! You’re a real bearcat, but you’re bad luck,” he said. “Go chase yourself,” he told me and spat on the sidewalk.
I know. I should have ran the other way and not even called out to him. However, in the small Florida town where I grew up, if you saw somebody you recognized, then you said hello to them. I don’t remember what I meant to say to Floyd when he started to continue on his way, but I opened my mouth to speak, taking a step toward him.
Floyd shoved me and kept going. Unfortunately I also kept going — backward. I slipped, fell, and cracked my head.
I think I was actually unconscious for a minute or two. Then I felt something wet wiped across my face. When I opened my eyes, the world was a spinning blur. I saw a little pug dog. It licked my face. It was wearing a top hat and bow-tie, and smoking a cigar. As I gazed at it uncomprehendingly I realized there were four of them. However, when I held my hand out toward the dog, I seemed to have an uncountable number of fingers. So I figured there was only one dog. I wasn’t sure what to think about the hat and cigar.
The sound of a police whistle prompted me to try and sit up. There hadn’t been any “mistake” about the coppers hauling in Floyd. He had probably escaped and they were after him again. A voice intruded on my thoughts. I realized it had been trying to get my attention for a while, but it was hard to hear it over the bells ringing inside my head.
“Huh?” I mumbled, looking for the source of the voice.
“Young lady are you hurt?” asked what must have been the world’s oldest woman.
Her face was so covered in creases and crow’s feet that it was impossible to imagine what she must have looked like in youth or even in middle age. Even so, bright eyes shown sharply from between the wrinkles.
Despite her fragile appearance she took my arm in a vice like grip. She put her walking-stick in my hand.
“Wriggles, get off the poor thing! That’s a good boy. I’m sorry, he’s still a puppy. Here dear. Use my cane to help yourself up,” she said but proceeded to help me up with unexpected strength.
Once I was on my feet, if shakily so, I looked at the pug. There was only one of him. The hat and cigar were gone. That much was a relief, but he still wore the bowtie. It bothered me that I wasn’t sure whether or not the tie was really there.
Moments later I sat at the kitchen table in her tiny home. It was a good thing she lived right around the corner. I was dizzy and my head felt like it had gotten in the way of a sledgehammer.
A young boy “helped” us get inside her backdoor on the pretext of getting a cookie. However, she gave him an errand.
“What’s your name, dear?” she asked me as she handed me a cup of tea.
I noticed the cup had been cracked and repaired. The one she used for herself had a chip in the rim.
“Pi… Paisley Peabody,” I stammered, still shaken.
“Peabody? Would you be kin to Phanny Peabody?”
“Yes ma’am. That’s my granny.”
“Billy,” she addressed the little boy. “Take another cookie and run down to Miss Phanny’s house. Let her know her granddaughter is here.”
Billy’s eyes lit up at the prospect of helping. Although the extra cookie didn’t hurt. He took off like a rocket before I could protest.
“Yes ma’am, Miss Olive,” Billy exclaimed as he disappeared.
The pug, Wriggles barked as if he picked up and shared the boy’s excitement. I reached down to pet him and the little dog wagged his tail so hard that his entire back half wagged along with it. The woman handed him a treat which was gone before I got a good look at it.
“Paisley, I know you’re from a small town,” Miss Olive began. “You come from honest, trusting folk. But in this day and age, a young lady alone has to be careful. Now, you tell Miss Olive if that man did anything he shouldn’t, you hear?”
I shook my head and immediately wished I hadn’t. “No. I recognized him and just meant to say hello. It would have been rude not to,” I replied and was rewarded with a smile.
The elderly woman patted my hand. I put my nearly empty teacup on the table and thanked her. Miss Olive took my cup and swirled the dregs looking at the contents curiously.
“You haven’t gotten off to the best start here in Savannah, have you Paisley?” she commented consolingly. “But you will make good friends here,” she swirled the tea again and a smirk, a smile she seemed to try and suppress came to her lips. “And you will have grand adventures.”
I heard the sound of Granny Phanny’s Model-T outside. Wriggles lived up to his name as he yapped to make sure his lady knew she had company. Miss Olive put the tea kettle back on the stove. I felt comforted by the entire scene. Safe.
The End
***
Copyright © 2017 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene
All rights reserved.
Copy Cat Cheesy Num Nums
Makes approximately 2 dozen depending on size
1 cup oat flour
1 cup barley flour
1/2 cup whole oats
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
1/3 cup melted coconut oil
1/3 cup +1 tbs spring water
Mix all the ingredients together until it is a cohesive dough. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Heat oven to 350 degree’s. Line a sheet pan with parchment. Roll or press the dough to about 1/2 inch thick and cut into the shape desired. Sprinkle some grated parmesan on top of each cookie and bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
Happy Saturday!
Happy Saturday Cheryl, have a wonderful weekend!!
Thanks-outside enjoying this wonderful weather-Woo-Hoo!!!
Lucky lucky it’s frigid here with high wind, good day for baking.
Oh no-yes a good day to curl up with a good book , blanket, cup of coffee!
Now…for my Pup Sami who’s 4
I taught her a few Italian words for her doggy vocabulary
Dog Biscuits: biscotti
I ask her if she wants a biscotti and by her movements and barks I get an answer which always seems to be “yes”
Andiamo
I tell her and she does
Which means “let’s go”
❤ Happy Dog Day ❤
That’s so funny sometimes I will speak to Percy with some either Italian or French words. Sami has it down. Percy is still learning. 👍😘
Teagan’s stories are SUCH a delight! I see Percy is enjoying his treats. 🙂 xoxo
Thank you kindly, Kathryn. Those dog treats were looking pretty darned good to me too! 😀 Mega hugs.
Suzanne you are a delight! I’m so happy to do another post with you!
I love the photos of Percy eating his treats. Hmmm I’d ask him to save one for me — because they look that good! But I think he wants them all for himself. 😉
I’ll re-share this at my place next weekend. Thanks for letting me visit again. Mega hugs!
I hope we do more. I love the mingling of your writing and food. Thank you so much for this, it is always so much fun.
I’m definitely in, Suzanne! 😀 Just pick an “ingredient” and we’ll roll.
I will email you!!
So enjoyed Teagan’s story. Percy looks to be happy with the new treats. Have a great weekend Teagan and Suzanne looking forward to more collaboration between you.
I did as well, I love the stories and characters. Percy really liked those treats, was a bit surprised since he snubs just about everything. Maybe it was the cheese but he snubs that as well sometimes. Thank you so much Dyanna.
You are welcome, I enjoyed the read and seeing your recipes and Percy is always a treat.
You’re so kind, Dyanna. Thank you. Now if I can just manage to talk Percy out of one of those treats… 😉 Hugs.
They do look good.
Hi, Suzanne and Teagan. *waving* You two make a great team. Thanks for the dog treat recipe! Hugs to all including the fur babies.
Waving back Mary😄😄😄hugs back and thank you so much!
Thank you kindly, Mary. Mega hugs right back to you and yours. 🐱
Wonderful post! I’m loving Pip, Susanne, I recreated your doggie cake awhile back for a friend’s dog’s birthday and it was a big hit. I’m going to try these biscuits. My folk’s dog is allergic to almost everything in most treats and so many of the treats are so uncertain in quality and frankly a little scary. These sound fun = and good enough for dogs and people! Did you sample them?
Hi Mollie. I’m delighted that you enjoy Pip. Thanks very much! I can imagine how you feel about buying treats. My kitty has inflammatory bowel disease, and I can’t buy any kind of treat, or even herbal remedy for her. Have a wonder-filled week. Hugs.
What a shame, but she has a wonderful Mom to take care of her..
Hi Mollie, actually I did sample one and it it had some salt it would have been great. Rolling it thin and making crackers would work nicely. They are nice and cheesy and got the Percy seal of approval. Thank you so much.
🙂
Seeing blogger collaborations is great and those treats look good too! 🙂
Thanks! I certainly have a great time working with Suzanne. Have a marvelous Monday. Mega hugs!
I’m glad to hear it!
Lovely 🙂 Well, if Percy gives these amazing sounding treats a ‘two paws’ up…I am all in. I will happily be making these for my fur-kids 🙂 Thanks for sharing. Hugs to Percy 🙂
Lovely post, dear Suzanne – hugs and kisses to Percy too – thank you for the heathful recipe – amitiés – france 🙂
Teagan’s stories are a always delightful and I enjoy reading them . Percy is a lucky dog having found such a wonderful home.
You’re so kind, Gerlinde — thank you. I agree that Percy is one extra lucky dog. Have a lovely new week. Mega hugs.
Collaborations are great and you too work so good together, Suzanne 🙂
Thank you for sharing the recipe, I will try it.
Thank you kindly, Irene. Have a marvelous Monday!
Thank you Teagan and wish you a wonderful day 🙂
Wonderful post Suzanne!
Another fun collaboration! So glad Percy gets his little share of the good stuff coming out of your kitchen Suzanne! What a great idea! Hope all is well in Brooklyn. hugs blog friend!
Thank you kindly, Rhonda. Have a wonderful Wednesday. Hugs!
Teagan– you’re so cute! thanks.
I really enjoy Teagan’s stories. Another awesome collaboration!
Good morning, Antonia. Your comment has made a lovely start to an otherwise gloomy Friday. Thanks so very much! I enjoy doing these posts with Suzanne and I’m happy you like it. Percy sure seems to like the results of this one! 🙂 She’s such a marvelous chef I’m glad to get to combine my stories with her food. Huge hugs.
You’re welcome Teagon 😀 I hope you both have a wonderful weekend!
Another wonderful collaboration between you two! And the pugs are adorable! 🙂
Thanks for visiting both blogs, Lavinia. You are a treasure. Hugs
Great dual posting idea – love it. I jumped over from Teagan’s blog with a question. I live gluten-free so keep no gluten foods in my kitchen to inadvertently cross-contaminate – especially flours. Have you any suggestions for adapting the treats? My Shih Tzu TinkerToy is a maniac for cheese, so I know he would absolutely adore these treats. THANKS!
btw – Tink says he’s sorry to read that the pugs went to Rainbow Bridge, but wants to make sure they look up his cousins who are waiting for us when our time comes. He assures me, btw, that all of the citizens of the Bridge keep a watchful eye on their Moms and Dads, and are always with us.
I’m inclined to believe him when he says they have told him quite a few things about me, since I haven’t had to train a few things he knows to do, and he never met the dogs I did train. 🙂
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to educate a world!”
Hi Madelyn; I used Bobs Red Mill Gluten Free Oats and Barley flour but in the original recipe only oats and oat flour were used. As long as the oat flour is certified GF it should be fine. I just used some barley flour to try it but they would be wonderful with just the oats and oat flour. Thank you so much.
Thanks so much for responding. I tend toward Pamela’s products, but I have read that Bob’s are used by many.
Were you aware that recent studies by life-long gluten researchers confirmed that only slightly above 90% of certified GF’s actually are? The others tested were discovered to have toxic levels of gluten – primarily from cross-contamination when plants were not 100% dedicated GF facilities, equipment *never* used to process anything containing gluten.
Making matters worse still, gluten was found in oatmeals and rice mixes — naturally GF, so we have to be even more diligent with research (as if we didn’t already have too much to do). ::sigh::
As a result, I’m currently avoiding the johnny-come-lately big guys (Kelloggs, Post etc.) in favor of smaller companies with a background of self or loved one with celiac sprue (or the recommendations of GF bloggers & cookbook authors with similar backgrounds). They have been forced to be most diligent, so I follow their recommendations as to products.
I haven’t heard anything bad about Bobs, btw, just that the resources I have used suggest other products, and I’m waiting to see a published list of those gluten containing “certified GF” products before I branch out. Clearly, more stringent labeling regulations are required – but food lobbyists have deep pockets and legislators tend to be science-ignorant overall and medical science in particular, so it may not happen in our lifetimes.
Thanks again – I’ll see what I can find.
xx,
mgh
Thats really interesting. Cross contamination can be a real problem and if you have a brand of oats you use definitely stick to that. I am not gluten intolerant but like Bobs flours and grains. I hope you can make these treats for your fur baby they really are good, Percy approved. Thank you again,
Another great story from Teagan and clearly Percy has a well developed and brilliant pallet! 🙂
Thank you so much, Petra! I agree about Percy — he’s a lucky dog. Hugs.
🙂 x
Gorgeous your BLOG !!! I’m following !!! Follow mine too !!! Kisses !!!
Such a great collaboration, Suzanne and Teagan 🙂
Christy, you are so kind to visit both blogs! You really are inspiring. Mega hugs
This was Such a lovely post. I really enjoyed it! Happy weekend!
That makes me very happy Sophie.
Hugs.
Hugs!