Poodle Time!-Sophia's Birthday Brownies

Sophia's birthday brownie is a recipe that can be found in the book Real Food For Dogs. It's a book that I have had for a few years and I think it is one of the better cookbooks for dogs. 

Recipes are vet approved and my dogs seem to really like everything they have tried. This time around, I had to make some changes to the brownie recipe. I will add my changes at the end of the post. 

This is a very good book if you are looking for some options for home made dog food.  I do buy regular dog food, but occasionally like to treat everyone to something special.  

This book can be found at Amazon and you can actually see some of the recipes (including the Bow-Wow Brownie
in Amazon's preview feature.

Bow-Wow Brownies

½ cup vegetable oil (I used Canola)

2 tablespoons honey

1 cup whole wheat flour*

4 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup carob chips

½ cup carob powder

½ teaspoon baking powder

1.Preheat the oven to 350’ F.

2.In a medium-sized bowl (I used my mixer) blend oil and honey thoroughly using a wooden spoon.

3. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.

4. Pour into a greased 15- by 10-inch baking sheet.

5. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.  I will warn you, it is very bubbly while it is cooking.

6. Let cool, and then frost (I never do) if desired.

7. Cut into bite-size squared and store in a sealed container in the refrigerator

Optional Icing (I don't do the icing)

12 ounces fat-free cream cheese

1  teaspoon honey

1  teaspoon vanilla

1. In a small mixer, blend all three ingredients.

2.Use a spatula to spread the frosting over the pan of cooled brownies.

* I found myself Sunday without any whole wheat flower.  However, I had wheat germ and white rice flower. I used ¼ cup wheat germ and ¾ cup rice flour. I am now thinking about experimenting and making a gluten free brownie.  I would prefer brown rice flower and will look for that next time I go shopping at my health food grocery store. 

Bow-Wow Brownies are Poodle approved.

Josef Albers-Color Theory's Giant

Josef Albers

"The Man" When It Comes To Color

Red and Brilliant Yellow

           

     Josef Albers is a name many dedicated artists may know.  For more than twenty-seven years, Albers created thousands of paintings based on images of layered squares of pure color. On the backs of these paintings, he even thoughtfully listed the hues used. He entitled this massive study “Homage To A Square”. 

     These paintings and his study of color revolutionized how people understood color relationships and how teachers taught color theory. Instrumental in this was his 1963 published work Interaction To Color.

      Joseph Albers didn't start his color exploration until the well ripe age of 61. By then, he was already a well-respected artist.  Starting in the Bauhaus, he moved to the United States when the Nazis closed the school. While in the U.S., he was head of the art department of Black Mountain College near Asheville, North Caroline and later head of Yale’s Art Department. If you want to read more about Josef Albers, The Art Story has a very nice synopsis of his life and work.

      He was married to Anni Albers, a well-respected weaver in her own right. Anni Albers will be featured shortly on the Journal.  

Just A Few More Squares

Between Two Scarlets, 1964

Study for Beaming, 1963

From The Soil, 1962

Portrait of Josef Albers

     There is also a wonderful children's book about his life and work: An eye for Color by Natasha Wing. It is available on Amazon.

Poodle Time!-Liz and Poodles

Liz Taylor and Poodles

Liz Taylor's love for animals is renown. I will be the first to admit that her major dog love was "Sugar", a Maltese who passed away in 2005. After "Sugar", she fell for "Daisy", a descendent of Sugar. 

 Liz also had Poodles, especially during her earlier years. Some of these pictures could possibly be studio orchestrated. The studios took advantage of her obvious emotional connection with animals.

Most of these photos were difficult to put a date and place on. The second one in this grouping was the only definite date I found. On others, guesses were made based on clothing and interior design. 

Judging from the coat style, I would put this photo during the late 40's.

Taken in 1950

I don't think Liz ever did her own grooming, but I love the Poodle print shirtwaist dress she is
wearing. The hair and dress says mid 50's to me. 

I think this is a bit strange looking (painting). The little dog looks so unkept. The style and interior colors are very 50's.

Major Diva picture-one of my favorites. I would put this photo around early 60's.

Until next week, and Sophia firmly believes that all Poodles are stars!