Monthly Archives: November 2015

Forking Dining with Dogs October/November 2015

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We are now having cooler temperatures in the metro Phoenix area and that means we can forking dine with dogs again.

Remember folks not all restaurant patios are dog friendly. You do need to call the restaurant and ask if your furry friend is allowed. You also need to know that there are some rules to dining with dogs. Dogs are not to eat off the restaurants plates. Dogs are not allowed to sit on the seats and are suppose to be close to you. Also it very FORKING important to know much of the food you eat isn’t safe for dogs to eat. No onions, garlic, wine, raisins, grapes, vinegar, avocados, chocolate, macadamia nuts and about a FORKING TEN other things. Please search for the current list of foods not safe for dogs.

The 14 1/2 year old has cancer that appears to be aggressive. Today he seems fine but I don’t know about tomorrow. Every day is his birthday now.  I’m going to take him out to forking eat as often as possible as long as I can. He loves it and deserves it! Many great years of cuddles and kisses. When I sat on the sofa he used to crawl up and wraps himself around my neck like the way cats do. When I drive instead of looking out the window like all dogs do he just looks at me. Many years of those big brown eyes just looking in right though to my soul. Years of him keeping the yard free of invading Hot Air Balloons that he loves to chase. Big loud unique, thundering, yodeling, beautiful barks at coyotes frightening them away. Years of digging bones in the yard that were all cleaned out by the younger dog when we got her. I grew up with dogs all my life but never had a dog before that was a food critic. I had years of him being a food critic. He actually seems to rate the food I give him. Very good leftover get eaten quickly and the bag gets licked. Ok-good just gets eaten, Not so good might get eaten but real slowly and I get that look from his face saying something like….”you didn’t do so good this time.” Sometimes this dog actually SPITS out food. If he doesn’t like it he forking spits it out. Then the younger dog eats it. He also knows when roasted meat I cook is ready. He use to sleep by the oven and leave a big puddle of drool, but now he goes for a cooler spot and wakes up and marches over to the oven just when I’m about to pull the roasted meat out. He is always partial to Italian Food. His first people food he ate was pizza. The 60 pound mixed breed dog was only about a five pound size at the time and climbed up your belly to get pizza. He has the keen nose of a beagle and the warm heart of a golden.

I will have a forking giant hole in my heart when he is gone. He is super forking special.

A few weeks back we went to his favorite patio Cucina Tagliani in Glendale AZ.

Cucina tagliano Sausage Lasagna with sausage and meatball on side

Cecina Tagliani’s Sausage Lasagna with sausage and meatball on side

My husband (and dogs) had the Sausage Lasagna with a side of sausage and meatball. It was seasoned to their forking  liking and they were happy.

"We are FORKING Happy"

“We are FORKING Happy”

I had the Grilled Chicken Parmesan over spaghetti squash instead of pasta. The Chicken is figure friendly and isn’t breaded or fried just grilled. I think it’s great that they offer a meal with a healthy twist.

Cucina tagliano Grilled Chicken Parmesan over Spaghetti Squash

Cucina Tagliani’s Grilled Chicken Parmesan over Spaghetti Squash

I like to slide the cheese on to the garlic bread sometimes but this time I slide it over the spaghetti squash to give it more flavor. The chicken wasn’t dry so I was happy and so were the dogs. The big glass of wine forking helped too.

"I love all the Forking Food from here"

“I love all the Forking Food from here”

Last week us and the dogs made it to Angelina’s Pho and Grill in Glendale AZ.

The Chicken and Asparagus Salad from Angelina's Pho & Grill Glendale AZ

The Chicken and Asparagus Salad from Angelina’s Pho & Grill Glendale AZ

I had this insanely  delicious Chicken and Asparagus Salad. My husband had some Beef Pho that the 14 1/2 year old showed interest in.

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Both dogs got treats from us and from our server. Both dogs were pleased.

"This place is Pho-nominal"

“This place is Pho-nominal”

Our latest venture out was on the Patio at A.J.’s Fine Foods in Glendale AZ.

My husband and dogs had a cheese burger platter and me and the dogs had a grilled chicken sandwich platter.

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The chicken was tasty and the portion was very large and great for sharing but the chicken was slightly overcooked. I thought the macaroni and cheese was sort of uncooked floury tasting. I do note that usually it is better than that so it was an off day or from a new cook. Cold Slaw seemed fresh made and was incredibly drip free.

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Dogs enjoyed what they tried.

"I forking am waiting for my next piece"

“I forking am waiting for my next piece”

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I am “Forking waiting for my next piece. I don’t have all day”

They are wondering on where we might go to next week.

I wonder what I'm Forking Eating next"

I wonder what I’m Forking Eating next”

"I love the food from everywhere. I'm happy everywhere"

“I love the food from everywhere. I’m happy everywhere”

The Forking Truth

The Forking Truth

 

 

2015 Halloween Candy Usage

 

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Halloween 2014 I used 92 pieces of full size candy. Over the past few years I forking found that most children don’t like the candy I like. I forking like candy like Reese’s peanut butter cups, M&M’s and Jr. Mints. A couple years back I used to offer those candies but the little monsters didn’t take them and took mostly Pixi Sticks that I mixed in.

So just like last year I offered Large Size Pixi Sticks, Hershey Bars, A box of Mixed Chocolate Bars and some candy necklaces.

I had my busiest Halloween Ever and used 121 full size pieces of candy.

2015 Halloween Candy Usage was…….

45 Large Pixi Sticks

36 Hershey Bars

7 Snickers

6 Twix

4 Peanut M&M’s

5 Plain M&M’s

4 Milky Way Bars

14 Candy Necklaces

Next Year just for fun!  I might offer packages of Seaweed and cans of Sardines along with forking Pixi Sticks and Hershey Bars for Halloween.

The Forking Truth

The Forking Truth