Darkroom Daisies

Best Boy in Town

Sorry if this is repetitive of G3B, but I swear I was formulating this post before I saw hers.

What's on my mind is that my faithful puppy, Sababa, had to be put to sleep today. It makes me feel better knowing that A) he is finally at peace and B) his life could have been much worse, and much shorter had my mom not fallen in love (at first sight) with him and had she not brought him into our household. I wish I could have given him one last kiss in between the ears though.

It made me happy to learn that his "last supper" consisted of a piece of cake and the rest of the creamcheese (his favorite). As most dog-lovers and pet owners know, human food is not the healthiest for dogs, but of course, Sababa deserved to live it up this time.

Mom told me all the attributes that made Sababa a particularly special dog, and I've added a few myself:

1) He always preferred to be around people.

2) He was never a big barker.

3) He warmed up to new people quickly.

4) His ears were so soft.

5) His engine-fast, wagging tail.

6) The pawing thing he did when he wanted to go for a walk or eat.

7) He loved other dogs.

8) His "suspended-in-animation" play stance.

9) Sometimes, I swear he smiled.

10) He LOVED going for a ride in the car, and he would always jump in the driver's seat first.

11) He loved our exterminator, Eugene.

12) Although he was never a big snuggler, if you were sad he'd let you hug him for a while. And those times when he would actually follow me upstairs and jump on my bed, I knew I was appreciated.

And I want to thank you, Sabi, for being in the car with me when I got lost (on the way to the barn) in that sketchy neighborhood without a phone. Even though you couldn't have possibly helped me in the situation, I would've been a lot more scared had you not been there with me. We both cried together on the way home.

Here's a picture of Sababa that I took about 2 weeks ago. I think it was probably his last photograph.

I love you so much, and whenever I see my other dogs, I know I will think of you and miss you.

Rest in peace Sababa.Sabi.Bobbert.Bob.Bobby.Sabster.Sababi.Best Boy in Town.

Love Sophie

Mmm...cookies!

Hello my blogosphere!

Today I was enlisted into Mommy's baking army. We're preparing for an engagemnt party for my brother and his lovely fiancé. The menu is to include (everything is homemade): spinach dip in a bread bowl with fresh vegetables, chili cheese puffs, Romanian Chimichuri on garlic toast (think bruschetta), fuzzy navel cake, Finnish bridal cookies, mini chocolate berry meringues, trifle, chocolate peanutbutter swirl bars, assorted other cookies and fresh fruit. Those last 4 items are contributions from the bride's family.

I was in charge of the Finnish bridal cookies. And I'm pleased to say that after years of enjoying these sweet treats, I finally know that they are not, in fact, called FINISHED bridal cookies. But, that is what they will be called once the guests gobble them down (thanks to my baking expertise...just kidding).

Below is a picture of my batch of deliciousness, as well as the recipe so that you can make them too.

 

The recipe comes from the book 1001 cookie recipes by Gregg R. Gillespie.

Ingredients:

 2 ½c all-purpose flour   

¼ tsp salt 

1c vegetable shortening

½c granulated sugar

1 large egg yolk

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp grated lemon zest

Jam or preserves (try seedless raspberry!)

Directions:

 1) Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease a baking sheet.

2) Combine flour and salt.

3) In large bowl, cream the vegetable shortening and sugar. Beat in the egg yolk and vanilla extract. Beat in the lemon zest. Gradually blend in dry ingredients.

4) Divide the dough in half. Shape each piece into a 16in long log and place the logs 1in apart on baking sheet. With the back of a knife, cut a ½in-deep slit down the length of each log (or, just do what I did: make a depression in the log, down its length, with your finger).

5) Bake for 10 mins. Spoon the jam/preserves into the slit in each log and bake for 8-10 minutes longer, until lightly colored.

Once these babies are done, drizzle on some homemade icing! Here's the recipe (from the same book):

Ingredients:

½ c powdered sugar

1 Tbsp water

Directions:

1) Once cookies are cooled, drizzle the icing over the tops of the logs and cut the logs on a 45° angle into 1in slices.

(My mom has this cool trick for drizzling icing: pour the icing into one corner of a plastic baggie, twist, and cut a small hole at the tip. Now you've got your own icing-squeezer-outer-thing!)

Sincerely Sophie