Vertigo, Chocolate Pie & Today’s Face

Lately, as a result of an inner ear infection I have been experiencing vertigo. I am doing my best to not complain, but let’s face it, it is not fun. For me, the most difficult part was being told I was not allowed to drive for a few weeks. However, I understand the reasoning behind this – safety first. Last night, while trying to get comfortable in a position that did not trigger ‘the dizzies’ (is that even a word?) I decided more than anything I wanted to make chocolate pie. I had the pie shell (pie crust?) and the chocolate pudding mix, I just hadn’t gotten around to making the pie.

Sometimes I am able to talk myself out of decisions I make while falling asleep. For example, right after deciding to make the chocolate pie I decided to mop the floors -I quickly excused myself from that chore when I woke up this morning.

I am glad I made the chocolate pie this morning. It was nice to switch up my morning routine and it makes my morning sound more productive than it was, especially if I leave out the word chocolate. “By ten o’clock this morning I had the dog walked, laundry started and I made a pie!” – See what I mean? 😉

Quick and Easy Peanut Butter and Yogurt Frozen Dog Treats!

These frozen dog treats are a summer favorite for our golden!

You will need:

• 1 cup of fat-free, plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup of natural peanut butter
• 1-2 ice cube trays
• Spoon
• Mixing bowl

Notice I said “1-2 ice cube trays”, I have made this recipe a couple of times now and I have never produced the exact same quantity.  You can alter the quantities to meet your needs, just remember for every cup of yogurt you’ll need a half cup of peanut butter!

Combine the peanut butter and yogurt in your mixing bowl and mix thoroughly. I usually spend anywhere from two to five minutes mixing. Once you are satisfied with the mixture, use your spoon to scoop it into your ice cube tray(s). Then, pop the ice cube tray(s) into your freezer for about an hour.

After the hour is up, pop the cubes out of the ice cube tray and you can either put them directly into a freezer bag or a plastic container with a lid and put them back in the freezer or you may wish to cut them into halves or thirds first. True to her breed, our golden was a bit ‘piggy’ the first time she tried these treats (I had given her an entire cube) and I am convinced she experienced a ‘brain freeze’. Ever since I’ve been cutting mine into halves and thirds.

Store in the freezer!

Cucumber Water

Cucumber water is one of my favorite beverages. While I could happily drink it all year, I find it especially refreshing in the summer heat, or when I’m looking to relax.

Wash and slice anywhere from a third of a cucumber to a whole cucumber depending on the quantity you are making. I tend to use closer to a whole cucumber, but I understand not everyone loves cucumber as much as I do.

Fill a pitcher with ice and water and add the cucumber slices. It’s as simple as that. The flavor seems almost instant.

There is no need to make a large quantity. If you’re looking to make a single serving, add a few cucumber slices to a glass of ice water.

Enjoy!