See Beautiful-Prospect Park Dogs

Over our end of summer break we went to Brooklyn's Prospect Park to check out their famous dog beach and dog friendly green spaces.  Even though we lived in Brooklyn years ago and the hounds Grand Dad still lives in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn we had never been to the park.   It is not a traditional "dog park" in fact their is a leash law in effect from 9 am to 9 pm but it seems that it is not enforced.  The result, since this is a large green space transformed into a doggie paradise.  I didn't see a single unpicked up poo or dog fight.  We brought only our three pugs since Bob and Norbert can be somewhat unpredictable with off leash dogs.  I also kept Weasley leashed since I'm not 100% confident of his recall.  I think its the fact that ever single dog guardian I saw in the park seemed to know the dog and respectful of other people's dogs that keeps this place so wonderful.  Of course I can only speak from one visit but the idyllic sight of all those happy dogs and happy humans  was definitely one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, unfortunately my phone pictures don't do it justice, and I can't wait to course back.  Of course Tubby, Ping, and Weasley loved it too.

After we we played in the park we visited the delicious Pie Shop Four and Twenty Black Birds. 

 They have the best pie and I love this sign they have hanging outside their shop.
 
 If like me you are a fan of the TV show Twin Peaks, you may remember this is a reference to a famous line from that show.  

Simple Projects-Twin Peaks Coffee Cozy

Tubby and Ping model their Twin Peaks shirts from Cafe Press, once again they are victims of my fandom.

Did you know that  April 8, is Twin Peaks. Day, the 23rd anniversary of the premier of what was perhaps the weirdest (and  in my opinion most wonderful)  show that was ever on TV.   I was too young to appreciate the show when it was first on but thanks to Netflix I have become a loyal fan of the reruns, and am eternally depressed that there are only two seasons.  The show had everything:

Style:

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Music

Mystery 

The Log Lady

Pie

Donuts

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And coffee

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To celebrate the anniversary of my beloved show I made a Twin Peaks coffee cozy and it couldn't have been easier.  I used the magic loop method to knit the coffee cozy but you could also use double points or crochet.  The whole project didn't take you much more then an hour from start to finish, just long enough to watch an episode or two of the show.

Twin Peaks Coffee Cozy

Select a pattern you like for a coffee cozy.  Ravelry has some good options for both knitted and crochet cozies and most can be made in under an hour.  I particularly like this pattern because it can be adapted a number of ways.

Once you have knitted your cozy cut a small rectangle of black felt that fits nicely on the cozy.   Use a white fabric  pen to mark the saying of your choice (I wrote Black as Midnight, because its how I like my coffee and its my favorite coffee related line from the show,   but of course you could write anything: a line from a favorite movie or show or your name or a quote from a favorite writer.) Using an embroidery needle and thread embroider over your writing and then stitch the felt square to the coffee cozy.  Voila you are done! 

Here is a video montage of Twin Peaks characters appreciating their favorite beverage (towards the end you can see Agent Cooper use "the black as midnight on a moonless night" line that I love so much, if your like me you'll never go back to coffee with cream again:

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3/14 It's Pi (or Pie) Day!

If you are like our mom you are not a fan of Pi as in the tricky  math and the number or 3.14159265..... that never ends.   However, like most people she does like Pie, as in the tasty treat, and every year around March 14 she makes one.  Last year mom was feeling English and made Tweed Kettle Pie and Banoffee Pie.  This year she decided to think more Irish, for St. Patrick's day.

The resulting Grasshopper Pie is not even remotely Irish, its actually American, probably from the South, but it is a pretty St Patty's Day green.   Its also a boozy pie with chocolate so not for sharing with any pups, but  appropriate for a drink loving Holiday and its super easy.

Grasshopper Pie  from Nigella Lawson

Crust
28 oreo cookies
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3 tbsp melted, unsalted butter

Filling
3 cups mini marshmallows
1/2 cup whole milk
1/4 cup Creme De Menthe
1/4 cup Creme De Cacoa
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
green food coloring, a few drops

In the food processor grind 27 of the cookies and the chocolate chips to  crumbs.

Add the melted butter and mix well.  Press into a 9 inch glass pie pan

Place in the freezer while you make the filling.   Put the marshmallows and milk in a sauce pan over low heat 

and stir until the milk is foamy and the marshmallows have mostly melted, do not boil!  Remove from the heat and transfer to a heat proof bowl.  Whisk until the marshmallows are completely melted.  Then whisk in the creme de menthe and the  creme de cacoa.

Put the marshmallows in the refrigerator to cool while you beat the cream  with an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until soft peaks form.   Pour in the cooled marshmallow mix and beat in until it thickens, it will be pretty soft so don't worry if it doesn't get very thick.  Lastly, beat in a few drops of green food coloring.

Pour the filling into the pie and top with a crumbled oreo.

Refrigerate, covered with foil, for four hours OR if you want to make it in advance freeze it uncovered for a few hours and then wrap it well in plastic wrap and tin foil and keep in the freezer for up to three months.  When you want to serve it place it in the refrigerator over night to thaw.

If you are interested in some other Irish inspired deserts here is a link to some Chocolate Stout cupcakes we have made (with a bonus recipe for beef dog biscuits included).

Finally for Pie Day I have to post this video from one of my favorite shows, the pie celebrating Twin Peaks.  Heres Agent Cooper enjoying some Cherry Pie.   The perfect TV show to watch on Pie Day.

Happy Be-Lated National Teddy Bear Day-Also Sunday Brunch: Johnny Cakes

 Sunday, September 9, was National Teddy Bear day-so we celebrated with a photo shoot, usually mom never lets us near her Teddy Bears as she is afraid we will rip them to shreds.   (Note-no Teddy Bear's were harmed during this photo shoot although some did a get bit chewed on).   If your pawrents want to make a pup, or kitty, appropriate teddy check out this post.

Since it was  Sunday we had to have a nice pancake breakfast too.   This is really a recipe for the peeps although mom says there is nothing in it to harm a hound, unless you are grain intolerant, so they should slip you are a nibble.  Mom says these are maybe the best pancakes out there, and she LOVES pancakes.  Our Dad loves these too and feels there is no reason to make another pancake recipe, ever.   The recipe is from Nigella Lawson's How To Be a Domestic Goddess  (clearly the first step is to make these pancakes):


 Johnny Cakes (Cornmeal Pancakes)

1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp corn meal

1/2 cup flour

4 tsp baking powder

2 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 large eggs

1 1/3 cups milk 

2 tbsp melted butter 

More butter for the pan

Bacon and Maple Syrup to Serve

Whisk the dry ingredients together.  Then in another larger bowl whisk the milk and eggs together very well.  Whisk in the dry ingredients, but don't worry about a few lumps.  Finally whisk in the melted butter.   Heat  a skillet over medium high heat and melt about a table spoon of butter in the pan, making sure the pan is completely coated.   Drop the batter in by 1/4 cup fools (Nigella makes these very small, but I like them bigger and it is also easier) cook until vigorous bubbling appears on the surface and then cook for about one minute on the other side).   These pancakes keep well in a warm oven for a few minutes.

Mom here: Unless you are a vegetarian you really should have these with some bacon crosshatched over and a generous pour of Maple Syrup.  To paraphrase Agent Cooper from one of my favorite TV shows, Twin Peaks, "nothing beats the taste sensation when Maple Syrup collides with bacon."

Pie, a Pug, and a Bike-Trip to Four and Twenty Black Birds

  Anyone, who reads this blog knows I can be very devoted to particular television shows, and movies, and books.   According to my wikipedia research the anniversary of the premier of one of my favorite shows is tomorrow, April 8.  The show which I was too young to watch the first time around and have only recently discovered on instant download from Netflix is one people either love or hate, Twin Peaks. 

  I admit it got a little out of control confusing in the last season but I love everything about it: the mystery, the pacific northwest scenery, the quirky characters (particularly the log lady),

 

 the scary parts, the humor, oh and the characters devotion to pie and coffee.  

 Twin Peaks has got to be the most creative, unique, and just plain weird thing that has ever been on network television and those are qualities that are sadly missing in the current sea of reality programming and cookie cutter comedies.  

I even bought the pugs these shirts on Cafe Press (they were super cheap, so its justifiable) to commemorate my love of the show.

In case you can't read them Tubby's says:Twin Peaks Sheriffs Department and Ping's says: Greetings From Twin Peaks.

After a recent Twin Peaks view-a-thon I was craving some pie.  So John and I decided to bike to Four and Twenty Blackbirds in Brooklyn.  Of course we brought Ping along in her Cynthia's Twigs basket, proudly wearing her Twin Peak's shirt. 


We had to bike over the Brooklyn Bridge 

and Ping was as content and comfortable as can be attracting many ooohs and ahhhs from tourists impressed with her cuteness.


It took us about an hour to get form our house to Four and Twenty Black Birds

Ping waited patiently on the stores bench 

while her Dad went inside to get us pie.   We were pretty near Park Slope, and perhaps Ping was hoping to get a glimpse of her blog buddy Sid from Pug Slope.

"Could that be Sid?"

When Dad finally came out with the pie it did not dissapoint.

Pie and Coffee What Cold Be Better?

We had pear crumble and it was delicious, and yes we even gave a little bit of the crust to Ping after all she had burned all those calories biking!