Snicker-Poodles

Nope... not a typo.  We bring you the ever popular "Snicker-Poodles".  Wrapping up our Spring Break adventure in Central California we have a treat for the Pups.  While some of us were back in the Yosemite Valley shooting away with our lenses, Liv and Fran whipped up a batch of treats for the canine members of our families.  

Liv found a new friend!

Arriving three days earlier at Tom and Fran's house we were thrilled to meet Wrinkles!!  Wrinkles is a full of life, 5 month old Golden Retriever with the sweetest personality.  He's working his way through his toddler years and starting to realize that there are some rules in the world, but as any true toddler would, he tests his boundaries on occasion bringing smiles to all of our faces.  Wrinkles is filling a portion of our friend's empty hearts with their recent loss of Who, another golden who passed away about 8 months ago.  Yes, his name was Who!  A bit confusing on occasion, but the name suited him and we had many laughs reminiscent of "Who's on first".

Tom and Fran have been family friends since I was a wee-one myself and staying with them is always a true pleasure.  Both retired from the education field they now pursue new hobbies in addition to welcoming their new canine friend.  Fran has amassed a somewhat gigantic pig collection over the years with her home sporting pigs of all types (figurines, dishes, towels, lamps, pillows, benches, hood ornaments, etc) tastefully incorporated into the decor.  Some 10 years ago we arrived for a visit with my then 4 year old son and we had told him on the drive up that he should count the pigs at Aunt Fran's house.  He excitedly began the moment we arrived with the pig stepping stones in the front of the house.  A few hours later he came to us crying saying "Mommy... there are too many pigs, I can't take it, they are everywhere!  I can't count them!!!"  We have laughed at his expense for year since then and always enjoy seeing what new pigs Fran has added to her collection.

Garden pig decor

Tom on the other hand turned his eye to photography and wine-making.  Planting his own vineyard a number of years ago, Tom's hobby has developed into delectable wines.  With the '08 Zin being my favorite we are eagerly awaiting a taste of the '09 version which is nearly ready.  Presenting us with Cabs, Zins and a few other blends we had quite a fun time tasting and generally partaking of the ambrosial liquid every evening as we reminisced about our day and edited our photos.

Bringing the pig/wine theme together they have titled the Vineyard the Eggboldt "Swinery", which perfectly suits their personalities.  First place ribbons from the Fresno Fair have been handed out on more than one occasion and hung lovingly on the wall of their stand alone tasting room.  While the wine is not for public sale, all of the ambiance of a true, open to the public winery surrounds their personal vineyard - right down to the musty/winey aroma when you enter the tasting room.

Wrinkles loves playing in the vineyard and can frequently be seen charging around the still dormant vines, thankfully not digging them up.  After his afternoon romp he was more than excited to partake in his own Snicker-Poodle tasting.  With a recipe from The Good Food Cookbook for Dogs, Liv and Fran put together a tasty afternoon for this toddler.  Filled with oatmeal, flour, and applesauce and then spiced with cinnamon and honey these treats had the house smelling like their snickerdoodle cookie companions and we had one happy Pup.

Snicker-Poodles
The Good Food Cookbook for Dogs: 50 Home-Cooked Recipes for the Health and Happiness of Your Canine Companion


5 cups all-purpose flour
1 25 oz jar of applesauce
2 cups old fashioned oatmeal
4 Tbs cinnamon
2 Tbs vegetable oil
2 Tbs honey

Preheat oven to 325º.

Place all ingredients into a large bowl, mixing thoroughly to combine.

Roll dough out on a floured surface to about a 1/4-inch thickness.  Using a cookie cutter cut into Poodle (or any other) shapes.  Place cookies onto ungreased foil lined baking sheets.  Combine dough scraps, rerolling and continuing to cut into shapes until all of the dough has been used.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes.

Note:  this recipe makes 5-6 dozen cookies, scale ingredients as desired!

Signs of spring.  Perhaps we are witnessing the birth of Zin '14?