Yesterday, we celebrated “Gotcha Day” (i.e. “Adoption Day for Dogs”) with our dog Kirby the Beagle, who has made it an amazing 365 days in the Paulsen house. Amazing, because keeping Kirby has been an exercise in patience.  Extreme patience, because our dear Kirby is a little off.  Off in a way that chews the phone cable off the side of the house.  Off in a way that allows him to run non-stop for an entire day.  Off in a way that triggered him for months on end to dart around the neighborhood, whenever the back gate opened.  One year ago, when we adopted Kirby, his pound puppy name was “Grumphrey.”  Yes, “Grumphrey,” which was kind of fitting, because even his name was a little off.  Yep, a “little off” for Kirby is a kind way to put it.

Kirby running around the backyard, demonstrating that he is a “little off.”

Yesterday, which was Columbus Day, I also finally got around to getting out some Halloween and Columbus Day decorations. Yes, decorating just in the nick of time of time for Columbus Day.  Okay, I would not say that our Columbus Day decorations really even qualify as “decorations,” since they are just little metal models of the three Columbus ships that have their names on the bottoms.  This year, I decided to put the boats by the photos of the boys on the fireplace mantel.  I had them all in order, “Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria.”  Strangely enough, one of the boys disagreed with the order or wanted a different ship assigned to them, because later in the day, the “Pinta” and “Santa Maria” had been mysteriously switched around.  If I had known better, they just changed their order to mess with me and my anal retentive tendencies.  Anyway, looking at the mantel, the ships were a “little off.”

The Columbus Day “decorations,” still a “little off.”

Sitting down for dinner, Charlene remarked that it was nice of me to decorate for Halloween. Then leveling the blow softly, she asked if I knew that the “table runner” was actually intended to be a floor mat.  Okay, now I could see it.  The “table runner” was a little too short and a little too wide.  Yes, the “table runner” was also a “little off.”

Maybe in “Short and Wide World,” my “table runner” would fit right in. In this world, however, it is a “little off.”

Well, to celebrate Kirby’s “Gotcha Day,” I baked Kirby some “cookies for dogs” known as “Snickerpoodles” (recipe below). I know, bad pun, but kind of cute, too.  Any who, Snickerpoodles have no ingredients that would make them a “dog treat,” but rather all ingredients that a human would normally eat, but okay for a dog to consume, too.  Considering that humans and dogs alike could enjoy them, I served them for dessert.  Too my family.  Sure enough, my behavior was a “little off.”  Strange, but my family played along with my behavior and as Kirby finished off five “Snickerpoodles,” my 10-year-old son Jacob provided a very gentle critique.  “Dad, these are not the best cookies,” as he choked down the very dry honey flavored “cookie.”  Well son, that is okay, because remember, it is really a dog biscuit.  Yes, dessert was a “little off,” but what an appropriate way to celebrate “Gotcha Day” for a dog that embodies the phrase “a little off.”

“Snickerpoodles” in their intended setting… a dog dish.

 

SNICKERPOODLES

– Cookie Ingredients –

½ cup Vegetable Oil

½ cup Shortening

1 cup Honey

2 Eggs

3¾ cups Flour

2 teaspoons Cream of Tartar

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

– Topping Ingredients –

½ cup Cornmeal

2 teaspoons Cinnamon

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix together the vegetable oil, shortening, honey, and eggs. Set aside.

Combine the flour, cream of tartar, and baking soda.

Gradually, mix the “flour mixture” into the “honey mixture.” Set aside.

Combine the cornmeal and cinnamon.

Roll tablespoon size balls of dough in the cornmeal and cinnamon.

Place on parchment paper lined baking sheets.

Flatten slightly with the bottom of a glass.

Bake for 8 minutes.

Best enjoyed with your dog.

 

Makes about 52 dog treats.