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Goodbye, Basil Dachshund

Last Updated February 13, 2020. Originally Posted August 11, 2014 By Kristina Sloggett 40 Comments

Sweet Basil Dachshund

Last week we said goodbye to Basil.

Basil Pup

When we found out Basil was sick, I knew then I did not want him to suffer at all.

I wanted him to be happy and comfortable for the rest of his days. We also knew that our time with Basil could be short.

It was. Way too short.

Basil and a Squeaky

Our wonderful vet gave us a referral for a wonderful doctor who makes house calls. We set an appointment, and we celebrated Basil. He had a grilled burger for breakfast, we set out pillows and blankets, and we sat outside in the fresh morning sunshine. Basil played with a squeaky – a stuffed garlic.

Basil with his Squeaky Garlic

Basil loved the burger. He chewed and squeaked that garlic, and he wagged. He was happy, just being with us. I was happy he was able to be comfortable and calm at home, rather than anxious in a clinical setting. I was so happy to be able to provide that for him.

Today would be Basil’s birthday. This has been a very sad and quiet week for all of us, and today we celebrate him once again.

paws

We love you, Sweet Basil Bud.

 

 

Filed Under: Basil is a Young Sportsman, Basil Pup, dachshund

Basil

Last Updated August 7, 2014. Originally Posted July 15, 2014 By Kristina Sloggett 18 Comments

Basil and His Cactus

So.

We found out recently that Basil has cancer.

I know. I cannot even talk about it.

Last week, I told Jason that when the time comes, I do not want Sweet Basil to leave us in the environment of a cold sterile vet office. I do not want Basil’s final moments to be filled with the anxious fear he has every time we go to the vet.

I said I would …

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Filed Under: Basil is a Young Sportsman, Basil Pup, dachshund, real life wisdom

Apple Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Last Updated April 25, 2015. Originally Posted August 2, 2011 By Kristina Sloggett 68 Comments

 

Apple Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Apple Peanut Butter Dog Treats – simple and tasty treats for your pup! four whole food ingredients become a crunchy bite your dogs are sure to be wag for!

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I shared with you some of the benefits of our juice fast, but we are not the only ones who benefit from our juicing. Basil is enjoying it too.

I have used juicing pulp in baking breads and muffins before. Now while we are fasting, Basil is enjoying homemade treats made from juice pulp! I have made a few flavors, and while Basil is not partial, I think these are his favorite.

Who doesn’t like apples and peanut butter? Classic.

 

If you aren’t a juicer, you can …

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Filed Under: Basil Pup, daily juice, Gluten Free, recipes, Vegan

Doxie Holiday – handmade dachshund ornaments

Last Updated February 13, 2020. Originally Posted December 21, 2010 By Kristina Sloggett 119 Comments

A couple years back I participated in Heather’s ornament exchange, as part of Handmade Christmas 2010.

I am SO glad I did. It was SO much fun, and completely pulled me out of my comfort zone of No Sewing.

I do not sew.

Well, I guess I do now. 😉

I must have known I’d love this, because I signed up for the maximum of five. I make five ornaments, I get five in return. Then I told Heather (because I love her and because she organized this) that I would make one for her too. So, six.

What will I make, what will I make? What have I gotten myself into?

So, I’d give anyone who reads regularly or knows me, a HALF a guess as to what I would make.

Okay, onto the tutorial.

Gather your tools: Embroidery thread, sharp scissors, a needle, a chopstick.

Gather your material: Felt and stuffing.

Gather your inspiration: Dachshunds Basil, Jake and Elwood.

Basil !

Jake !

Elwood !

um, Elwood giving me the side eye.

Elwood!

ah…  the inspiration is my favorite. 😀

Draw your shape, in this case, a dachshund. make a stencil. Ink an outline onto felt.

Cut out your template. You will use as a guide to cut out all doxies.

You need two pieces of felt for each dachshund.

Fold over a piece of felt, pin down template doxie, cut.

Cut two ears.

Now you are ready to start sewing! I used the blanket stitch:

Bring the threaded needle from the back of the fabric through to the front at the desired distance from the edge – this determines the width of the stitch. I start from the inside the pieces of felt, so the knot doesn’t show.

To sew the first stitch, put the needle into the fabric from the front, the same distance from the edge as the thread came through in Step 1 and to the left. The distance between the two should remain consistent. When pulling needle / thread through, I stick my finger out to catch the loop before I pull all the way through.

Pass the needle through the loop and pull tight.

To sew the second stitch, put the needle through the back, at the same distance as the first, pull needle through to front, catching loop with finger and pass needle through loop. Pull tight. Repeat!

Then do the same stitching on each ear!

I actually stitched the ears first, then when I got to the top of each doxie head, I’d stitch the ears on as I went along… an ear for each side, flappable.

For these dachshund shapes, I began at the left of the belly, by the back leg, and sewed away from the belly all around the dachshund.

I take out the needle, but leave the thread in. After you stuff, you can keep sewing!

Ready to stuff!

Use very small amounts of stuffing at one time…

This is where the chopstick comes in.

Poke the stuffing into the leg, the tail if possible (the tail sticks up on its own), the head, front leg.

You need to hold the belly together to finish sewing…

Then sew a nose.

After the nose, stick the needle inside the head, poking out where you want the eye.

Sew an eye, poke through to the other side, sew another eye.

Well, Hello.

Hello Everyone!!

Next, pick another color of felt and cut a scarf.

Wrap around doxie, sew down in the middle, add a button. I used a silver charm on each one.

Using 1/8th inch satin ribbon, sew a hanger loop in the middle of the doxie back.

Completed Dachshund!

I made two for each recipient of the ornament exchange. I estimated they took about 2 1/4 hours each, and as I got into a groove, it was under 2 hours per pup.

I also made a few for a couple friends with dachshunds.

This one is custom:

I wish I had the time to make them for all the doxies I know!

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS !


Filed Under: Basil is a Young Sportsman, Basil Pup, dachshund, holiday

gluten free sugar cookies

Last Updated April 29, 2017. Originally Posted September 22, 2010 By Kristina Sloggett 32 Comments

I have always loved baking and decorating cut-out cookies. I have all kinds of great colors for icing and tiny brushes to ‘paint’ with. I have some great recipes, too, from a hazelnut shortbread and maple gingerbread to a simple sugar or chocolate cookie.

Cookie cutters. I have a collection.

I have finally created a basic sugar cookie that is gluten free. I’m hoping I can recreate some of my other cut out recipes to be gluten free in time for the holidays this year.

All you need is a bit more patience and some arm strength – the dough is much more crumbly and requires a fair amount of kneading – but they do eventually come together and taste great!


Gluten Free Sugar Cookies

2 cups gluten free all purpose flour
3/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup dairy free butter
2 flax eggs
3/4 cup sugar

Mix flours, corn starch and baking soda. Add butter – mixture will be crumbly. Combine flax eggs and sugar, add to flour mixture and incorporate thoroughly. Wrap in saran and chill 20 – 30 minutes.

Knead and roll out onto a floured surface. Cut and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 350F for 10 minutes. Cool completely before icing and decorating.

You cannot make dachshund cookies without making some mini doxies!

Some monogrammed sweaters:

All together now…

What is your favorite kind of cookie?

Filed Under: Baking, Basil Pup, dachshund, Dessert, Gluten Free, recipes

vegan & gluten free apple crisp

Last Updated February 13, 2020. Originally Posted September 17, 2010 By Kristina Sloggett 16 Comments

I used up every last bit of my pumpkin in making our Pumpkin Ale, and I haven’t seen pumpkins yet. What do I turn to when I am craving a fall themed dessert? Apples!

Delicious, beautiful apples.

This was super easy, and it is both vegan and gluten free. Bonus, your kitchen will smell wonderful for hours.

Vegan & Gluten Free Apple Crisp

3 apples, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup ap flour (I use Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free)
3/4 cup + oats (I use Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg (I use Ener-G replacer)
6 tablespoons butter, melted (I use Earth Balance)

Mix flour, oats, brown sugar. Prepare egg replacer and add to dry mixture – it will be crumbly. Press a very small amount into bottom of baking dish (9×9 – I used 7×10). Arrange a single layer of apple slices in baking over crumble, using half. Sprinkle a very small amount of of oats over apple layer. Add a second layer of remaining apples.  Top with crumb mixture. Melt butter and pour over top.

Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

This is crazy delicious.

What’s your favorite fall dessert? What fall fruit are you enjoying right now?

Did you see Basil basking in his five minutes of fame? 🙂

Filed Under: Baking, Basil Pup, Dessert, Gluten Free, recipes, Vegan

Minute Mug Muffin

Last Updated February 13, 2020. Originally Posted July 28, 2010 By Kristina Sloggett 26 Comments

Thank you all for your fabulous support and excitement over MY Excitement yesterday… This is going to be fun!


Breakfast started with coffee. Kristin – Jason and I both thank you – this coffee is GREAT!

We have been enjoying the Stone Creek Coffee that one of my favorites,  Kristin (Salty Tooth) recently sent us. It is tasty coffee – I read about the company and their Signature Roasting Style and the passion they have for a good cup of coffee undoubtedly contributes to that tasty! I also like that they recognize fair trade and follow Socially Responsible guidelines. It sounds like a great company!

It was really good to drink coffee! Part of an anti inflammatory regimen is reduced caffeine, so I don’t drink it a lot. I’m not completely caffeine free, and yummy things like Teecchino definitely help with that – it is a delicious herbal coffee substitute. I also still drink a lot of tea!


I have recently been reminded by Ashley and Kaz, two more of my favorite daily reads, about the long time phenomenon that is the Muffin in a Minute. This was today’s breakfast.


My recipe:

2 tablespoons Earth Balance
1/4 cup almond meal
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
handful fresh blueberries

Melt butter in mug (20 seconds in microwave). Add almond meal, baking powder, blueberries.
Microwave on high one minute.

I purposely did not add sugar – I’m weird like that – if you are following my recipe, feel free to add 1 tsp sweetener of your choice. Something natural, I hope. 🙂

I did, however, top it with more Earth Balance:

These are SO good – and gluten free too! As I’ve been saying a lot lately, “I’ll be making this again!” 🙂 Oh,the possibilities are endless. Hmm, maybe a savory one for lunch?

I’m off to start my day – I’m going for a cool early morning run with this friend:

Hi Heidi !

Happy Wednesday! Check back later for another fun recipe!

Filed Under: Baking, Basil Pup, Breakfast, Gluten Free, recipes

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welcome! I’m Kristina

I am a voracious reader and chickpea eater. also known as spabettie.

using my extensive culinary training and work in the industry, I have been creating vegan recipes for more than a decade.

at spabettie, you will find easy and appealing plant based recipes - vegan, gluten free, and full of vibrant flavor.
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