Murder, She Barked

Sugar Maple Inn Caramel Banana Oatmeal

For people. Makes 2–3 portions or 4 small portions.

Caramel

¹/₄ cup heavy cream

¹/₄ cup sugar

¹/₄ cup dark brown sugar

2 tablespoons butter

dash of salt

Place ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. (I use a Pyrex 2-cup measure.) Microwave in short bursts from 20–50 seconds, stirring each time until it bubbles up and is hot. Set aside to thicken and cool slightly.

Cook oatmeal in your preferred method. Or fill each individual bowl with oatmeal and add enough water to barely cover it. Microwave for 1 to 2 minutes.

Slice one banana for each serving, and cover the cooked oatmeal with the slices. Drizzle with caramel.

Oma’s Hungarian Goulash

For people. Contains onions—do not feed to dogs.

¹/₄ cup vegetable oil

2 pounds cubed stew beef or pork (do not use lean meat, like a tenderloin)

2 cups chopped onions

2 teaspoons marjoram

2 cloves garlic

1 tablespoon sweet paprika

1 cup water or stock

4 carrots, peeled and sliced

4 medium potatoes, cubed (optional)

Heat the oil in a deep pot. Brown the meat and remove. Sauté the onions in the same pot. Add the marjoram, garlic, paprika, water, carrots, and meat. Cover and simmer 1 ¹/₂ hours over low heat until the meat is tender.

If you wish to add potatoes, you may cook them in the goulash for the last ¹/₂ hour. Or, so they won’t soak up the sauce, you can cook them in another pot and add them to the goulash for the last five minutes.

Sugar Maple Inn Cherry Strudel

For people.

10 sheets 12 x 17 filo dough

2 cups pitted and halved fresh cherries

¹/₄ cup sugar (I use sweet black cherries, you may need more if you use sour cherries)

¹/₃ cup graham cracker crumbs

¹/₂ of a lemon

1 teaspoon vanilla or brandy (optional)

6 tablespoons butter

powdered sugar

Mix the cherries, sugar, lemon and vanilla or brandy in a bowl. (If you’re very lazy, you can skip this step. Watch for the ** later.)

Melt the butter and brush a little bit on a baking sheet. Preheat the oven to 350.

On an ungreased baking sheet, spread the first sheet of filo dough. Brush with butter. Lay another sheet of the filo dough on top of it and brush with butter. Repeat until you have ten sheets of filo dough.

Spoon the cherries onto the filo about an inch from the edge in a line along the long side of the filo. Sprinkle with the graham cracker crumbs. (** If you’re not using vanilla or brandy, you can just lay the cherries in a line, sprinkle with sugar, sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs and squeeze the lemon over top of it all.)

Roll the cherry end slowly, brushing the top of the filo as you go. Lay it seam side down on the buttered baking sheet and add one more buttery swipe to the top. Cut small diagonal vents along the top. Bake 25 minutes, brush with butter and return to oven for another 20 minutes. Sift powdered sugar over the top to dress it up—and serve. It’s good warm and cold!

Sweet Dog Barkery Cinnamon-Pumpkin Muffins

For people. Makes 12 muffins.

1 ¹/₂ cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

¹/₂ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 eggs

¹/₂ cup vegetable oil

¹/₂ cup dark brown sugar, packed

¹/₄ cup regular sugar

³/₄ cup canned pumpkin

Swirl

¹/₂ cup dark brown sugar, packed

2 teaspoons cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350. Fill cupcake pan with liners.

Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a bowl and stir with a fork to mix. Set aside.

Whisk the eggs, and add the vegetable oil, ¹/₂ cup dark brown sugar, the regular sugar, and the pumpkin. Blend well. Dump in the flour mixture and mix with a spoon until just blended. Do not overmix.

In a separate bowl, combine the ¹/₂ cup dark brown sugar with the 2 teaspoons of cinnamon.

Fill the liners almost full. Add 1 teaspoon or so of the cinnamon-sugar swirl mixture to the top of each muffin. Using a cake tester or bamboo skewer, sweep through the muffin to mix the cinnamon into them.

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.

Peanut Butter Cookies

For dogs.

³/₄ cup flour

¹/₂ teaspoon baking powder

pinch salt

1 egg

¹/₄ cup olive oil

1 tablespoon milk

²/₃ cup peanut butter

Preheat oven to 350. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Mix flour and baking powder and set aside. In a mixer, beat the egg with olive oil and milk. Add peanut butter and mix well. Add flour and mix. The dough will be thick. Roll into ¹/₂ inch diameter balls for large dogs, and ¹/₄ inch balls for small dogs. If you prefer crisper cookies, flatten them with the heel of your hand or a fork. Bake 15 minutes.

The Blue Boar Pumpkin Dessert

For dogs.

3 tablespoons canned pumpkin (not pumpkin-pie mix)

3 tablespoons no-fat or low-fat Greek yogurt

Swirl together so there are pretty pumpkin and white swirls. Serve.

Sugar Maple Inn Seafarer Supper

For dogs. Makes 2–3 Gingersnap-size servings or 5–6 Trixie-size servings.