Are you ready? It's the biggest dog show of the year--Westminster. Thousands of dogs start the year hoping to qualify for this elite competition held in Madison Square Garden. The show airs over two evenings: Monday, February 14 on USA Network and CNBC, to be followed by exclusive live coverage on Tuesday, February 15, by USA Network.
The schedule is a little confusing, so here it is in print:
Monday, February 14:(Featuring the Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding Groups)
8-9 p.m. (ET) live on USA Network
9-11 p.m. (ET) live on CNBC
Tuesday, February 15:(Featuring Sporting, working and Terrier Groups, as well as Best in Show)
8-11 p.m. (ET) live on USA Network
Breed judging highlights videos will be available throughout the day on both Monday and Tuesday on the Westminster Website, as well as after the show. Please note that the live telecast is timed above for Eastern Time, so if you live on the west coast, you'll spoil the surprise if you visit the website after 5 p.m.
While I'm watching the videos online, I'll be daydreaming of Sadie--last year's winner and stunning black Scottish Terrier--and the cookies from Beautiful Sweets Organic Bakery, baked in her honor. (By the way, these are PEOPLE cookies!)
Who will win the 2011 Westminster? Your guess is as good as mine, but it will be fun to watch these spectacular dogs--the genesis of all of our mixed-breed pets--and play the guessing game. Half the fun of watching is simply to cheer on your favorites and see how they fare.
Meanwhile, I'd like to play Santa and give away some sweets. If you know me at all, you know that I'm all about natural. So you've probably guessed why I like Beautiful Sweets. It's not just because they are beautifully-decorated, or because they are featured on the food Network, it's also because they are made with toxin-free, organic ingredients. Beautiful Sweets is a USDA certified organic bakery, so go ahead--indulge! Here's a peek behind the curtain at Beautiful Sweets. I think you'll like what you see:
Now that you're drooling, would you like to try to win a box of these adorable "Sadies"? Of course you would! You know the drill. Enter with comments here on this post, or comments about this post at our Facebook page. Be sure to "Like" our Facebook page while you're there, so you'll be able to keep up with our updates more easily. The winner will be announced on Monday, February 21. Ironically, that's Presidents' Day. Didn't the Bush's have Scotties? How funny. Good luck to you in the drawing.
Oliver has some thoughts about Westminster over at 5 Minutes for Fido. He's even showing a video of the Papillon Breed's Best in Show segment. They are beautful, Oliver, but sorry, fella--the cookies are still Scotties.
Thanks to my friend Barbara for providing this adorable photo of her best friend, Buddy. Buddy is here to share our Mock Chocolate candy recipe with you--the one that is so decadent you'll be making it for all your friends and family come Christmas. And why not? It's a perfect gift, and so easy to prepare.
What's more, it's safe for your dog. There's no chocolate in it, an ingredient that is highly toxic to our fidos. The chocolate flavoring in this recipe comes from carob, and you're likely to be as delighted as my dogs and I were when we first tried it. As Mary Poppins would say, "Supercalifragilisticexpialadocious!" (Did I spell that right?)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (dry roasted peanuts are good too)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (surprise!)
Instructions:
Prepare an edged cookie sheet by lining it with recycled tin foil. Lightly spray with cooking spray.
Melt carob chips in a glass bowl in the microwave for about 30 seconds.
Stir and repeat process.
Stir in the peanut butter and microwave for another 15 seconds.
Stir a bit more to combine.
Now add the nuts and cinnamon, hand stirring these in until evenly distributed.
Pour this mixture onto the prepared cookie sheet, spreading evenly.
Chill for 15 minutes in a freezer or 30 minutes in your refrigerator.
When ready, break up the bark into 1 to 2 inch pieces--smaller if you have a toy-sized dog that is watching his figure!
Store bark in a sealed container in your refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Recipe makes about 70 one to two-inch pieces of deliciousness that you can delight your party guests and their dogs with.
*Adapted from a recipe in Family Fun Magazine. All ingredients are available in all-natural or organic, making for a healthier snack for both you and Fido. Here's more:
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