MY NAME IS KELLY, KELLY THE BICHON.

I've been wanting to write about this for a long while now, but I have found it difficult because telling the story involves an issue I find really painful.  I am referring to the neglect and abuse puppy mill dogs are subjected to.  Three years ago I adopted a dog that was rescued from a puppy mill.  Her name was Callie or as we now call her, Kelly. 

Callie is a smart, feisty and pampered Bichon Frise.  I adopted her from the Delaware Valley Bichon Rescue, an all-volunteer organization which does an incredible job finding homes for neglected Bichons. At the time of her rescue, Callie was approximately five years old. She was being used as a breeder dog, and she had spent all her life up to that point living in a crate. The rescue took Callie to the vet where she was spayed. She also required 13 tooth extractions. Lots of pregnancies, poor nutrition and a lack of proper medical care took a toll on her teeth. Even though Kellie is now on a well-balanced diet, and even though she takes vitamin supplements, she still has issues with her teeth, and I have taken her to have subsequent extractions. Other than that, her health has been fine, thank goodness. Kellie was fostered in the state of Delaware by a wonderful husband and wife team named Conni and Jesse. They are volunteers with the Delaware Valley Bichon Rescue, and they have fostered many dogs, some of which have been puppy mill rescues. Conni and Jesse have a special knack for bringing these dogs back to life. Each day, Jesse would drive Kellie and another puppy mill dog to PetSmart. He would put the dogs into a cart and wheel them around the aisles in order to get them accustomed to people and to new noises. Kellie loved (and still does love) going for car rides. When I adopted her, I too started taking her to PetSmart.  It was just as Jesse described it: she liked the car, but she was afraid of people and of the experience in the store. I first met Callie at Conni and Jesse's house.  That's when I was introduced to all the other lovely dogs who lived there. Maggie, Spike and Jake were the three little bichons that were Conni and Jesse's fur babies. Kelly and two more puppy mill rescues were there waiting for forever homes. I approached Kellie and the other rescues and petted them.  I was surprised at how tight their muscles felt. Muscles hard as rocks. All three dogs were on alert, they were shaking, and they were so tense that they would not relax a single muscle.  

I brought Kellie home that first day I met her.  It took about a month for her to relax and learn to trust me, but it took her a lot longer than that to learn how to be a happy pet. She had to learn how to go up and down the stairs. It was hard to see her struggle with that, but she finally got it. Going outside was also a struggle. At first, she wouldn't even let me put a leash on her.  Today, she absolutely adores going for walkies.  She still adores car rides.  She appreciates going to PetSmart because she knows that’s where greenies come from, and for those who don't know, greenies are a healthy and chewy treat dogs go wild over.  Good for their teeth.

I am so glad that I was able to give her a better life. I know that she loves me and I love her also. Very much.  Linus, my other dog, is crazy about her. He looks out for her.  She likes to play hard to get with him during the day, when she is busy with other things, like waiting for the mail carrier.  Every evening however she curls up next to Linus on the sofa. Callie and Linus are great company for my mother, who is somewhat frail. The three of them hang out together during the day. I don’t really know what they do, because I am at work, but I know they have a good time and I just know it involves treats, although I can't prove it. Callie has learned to sprint downstairs every time the refrigerator door opens. Would she have learned to do that if there were no treats involved?

So that's the story of my little love, Callie.  I am glad she is with me. Thank you Delaware Valley Bichon Rescue, thank you Jesse and Conni, and thank you, Dr Susan Dare, for all you do. To find out more about our rescue, to see the dogs available for adoption, to purchase a Bichon related gift item, or to make a tax-deductible contribution, please go to DELAWARE VALLEY BICHON RESCUE.  

CATHY'S DELICIOUS YELLOW SPLIT PEA SOUP

My New Year's holiday was spent at the home of my dear friend Cathy. We all had a great time ushering in 2011! Cathy lives on the grounds of what used to be a farm, in an area of Pennsylvania that is semi-rural. It was wonderful to get away from the city for a little while. I went for walks on the nature path near Cathy's home and enjoyed breathing in the cold, crisp, clear air. I enjoyed too all the natural, icy, winter loveliness: looking at the sinuous denuded tree branches, poking the frozen earth with my walking stick, staring at the empty gazebo by the side of a pond. 

At Cathy's, we did the usual holiday things: cook, eat, drink, talk, laugh. My friend had planned to teach me how to make her split pea soup. For many years now, I have raved about it. The broth is to die for. It's seasoned with a ham bone which gives it a wonderful smoky flavour and it's full of delicious root vegetables. As if that is not enough, the soup is topped off with dumplings, which are one of my favourite things to eat. 

On New Year's Day, after the Rose Parade was over and with wine glass in hand, we sauntered over to the stove, Cathy was the chef, I became the sous-chef, and together we started to cook some soup. Here's how to make Cathy's delicious yellow split pea soup:


Ingredients:

• 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup dried yellow split peas (if you want a thicker soup use more)
• 1 medium onion, sliced into thin rings
• freshly ground black pepper
• a ham bone with a nice amount of meat left on
• 1 nice size turnip, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 3 potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1-inch pieces 
• optional: some vegetable broth

For the dumplings:

• 1 cup flour 
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons butter at room temperature
• about 1/4 cup of water

This will make about 6 dumplings, but for more, just double the recipe.

Directions:

The best time to make this soup is when you have a ham bone left over after having cooked a baked ham. You will need a ham bone with a substantial amount of meat still attached to it so that you can have lots of chunks of ham in the soup. 

• Go ahead and place the ham bone in a large stockpot, add the onion slices, throw in the yellow peas, then pour enough water in the pot to cover the ham. If you have some vegetable broth you can use that as a substitute for all or part of the water. Season with the black pepper, cover the pot and place it on the stove over medium-high heat.
• Allow the water to come to a boil. You may want to skim off the froth that develops as the water is boiling. (Rapid boiling and the starch created from the breakdown of the peas is the reason for the appearance of froth. The froth is mostly water bubbles that have become heavy from starch and gelatin and don't break up as they usually do). Once the water comes to the boil go ahead and turn the heat down, then simmer your ingredients for two hours.
• While the soup is simmering give it a stir every fifteen minutes or so. The liquid will eventually begin to thicken from the breakdown of the onions and peas. 
• Once the two hours are up, remove the bone from the pot and place it on a plate. Carefully, so that you don't burn yourself, remove the meat from the bone. Throw the meat back into the pot and discard the bone.
• Add the turnips and cook for 15 minutes. Add the carrots and cook for another 15 minutes. Add the potatoes and cook for 10 minutes more. 
• While the vegetables are cooking you will want to make the dumplings: Mix the flour with the baking powder and add the butter. With a fork break up the butter while incorporating it into the flour. Add water, about a tablespoon at a time, and keep mixing with the fork until you have a batter that is soft and moist.
• With the aid of a tablespoon scoop up some batter and drop it into the pot. Allow the dumplings to cook until they are nice and plump, about 10 minutes.

The soup is done! Ladle it into bowls and serve it immediately. It tastes best if eaten right away. It has an absolutely FANTASTIC flavour. If you can't eat the soup right away, remove the dumplings from the broth and store them covered. When ready to eat, place them back in the soup and warm while stirring.

January 2 and time to go. Sad to be leaving but looking forward to going home. Below is a picture of Linus, my sweet bichon frise waiting to go home. We had packed our things, including the two dog beds, on top of which Linus decided to climb. I guess he was trying to say: "please don't forget these, they are way too comfortable!" You're the man Linus!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011, ONE AND 
ALL!!!

LINUS

This is Linus. A five and a half year old bichon frise who is very active and very affectionate. He also has a very healthy appetite. So it is fitting that there should be a post about him here, in a food related blog. He has watched me cook every recipe I've posted. He has even sampled some of them. Linus was kind enough to pose for the camera on Christmas day, 2009. With him was his very close and very best friend, Bastille. Linus hopes that everyone had a lovely Christmas, and he wishes a Happy New Year to all! Bastille concurs!

Bastille knows there's snow outside. On such days, she considers lounging by the fireplace a splendid passtime! This year we had a white Christmas. December snows are rare here in Philadelphia. We enjoyed the fire 'til the last few embers changed into ashes.

Bastille was feeling under the weather. The vet prescribed antibiotics, and she napped a lot. Bastille, get well soon! We love you very much!

Happy 2010 everyone!