Sweet Sue's Weblog

YET ANOTHER WORTHY CAUSE…

Sweet Sue's Valet — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:36:17 +0000

PINK PAWS!!!

The National Canine Cancer Foundation was soliciting donations @ Pet Expo last weekend. For a small donation, Sweet Sue’s memory was honored in a positive way, Sucre Marie got some new bling, and I walked away…okay with everything that’s gone on over the past year. That’s a bargain at any price.

If you saw 60 Minutes on Sunday, they had a story about a human cancer researcher working with old Rottweilers to determine how they live with cancer. The research could have profound implications for cancer survivabilty in humans. Canine cancer research helps our canine pets and companions for sure, and could lead to advances in humans and others.

For more information, go to:

http://caninecancerawareness.org/you-can-help

ssimys

Come See The Hounds… CalGAP @ Pet Expo

Sweet Sue's Valet — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 00:21:47 +0000

The CalGAP greyhounds are once again at Pet Expo, April 16 -18, @ the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa this year. They can be found in booth 1511, which is in the breezeway between Buildings 10 & 12. Hurricane & Sucre Marie will be there Saturday from 4 – 7 PM. Come by and say “hi”… who knows, there could be a few free “home made” dog cookies floating around…

Check Out Jasmine…

Sweet Sue's Valet — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:52:01 +0000

This link was forwarded to me… http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/jasmine.asp

It’s well worth the time to take a quick look…

Jasmine, you stay well you pretty girl!

SSV

ssimys

Phoenix Track Closes – Many Hounds Need Homes

Sweet Sue's Valet — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 23:31:03 +0000

On December 21st the last race was run at the dog track in Phoenix, Arizona. An estimated 800 dogs are now retired, and looking for homes thoughout the western states. For more information about adopting or fostering a recently retired racer, see the CalGAP website, or google “greyhound adoption” for the local group in your area.

ssimys

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Sweet Sue's Valet — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:42:39 +0000

Happy Holigreys!!!

MAY THE SPIRIT & JOY OF THE SEASON BE YOURS THROUGHOUT THE COMING YEAR. WISHING EVERYONE GOOD HEALTH AND MUCH SUCCESS IN 2010…

Sucre Marie, Hurricane, & SSV

In loving memory,

ssimys

Where Does the Time Go?… My Thanks to All

Sweet Sue's Valet — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:44:25 +0000

I can’t believe it’s been a year since I went online with my little enterprise. I can’t believe the velocity of change in and around my venture, my friends, my home, my life. To all of you who have taken a little time out of your day, and have spent it here, my thanks.

To those with whom I’ve have done some business, my thanks.

To those of you who challanged me to do things new, and/or a little better, my thanks.

To those of you who supported and consoled me after the loss of Sweet Sue, my thanks.

To those of you who adopted a greyhound, or other pet, from a rescue group or shelter, my thanks.

To those of you who have volunteered your time and money to rescue & adoption groups, and shelters, my thanks.

To those of you who have opened your homes and families to foster rescued pets, my thanks.

The last year has been tough, in many respects. I guess if it didn’t kill me, it must have made me stronger. It certainly made life interesting.

None of us know what the next year will bring… my hope is to remain healthy, happy and reltively well adjusted. To paraphrase somebody famous, “I can’t wait until tomarrow, because life gets a little more interesting every day.”

Again, my thanks to all,

SSV

ssimys

Lose The Sugar…

Sweet Sue's Valet — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:47:05 +0000

I was helping at the CalGAP booth at the Irvine Pet Trek (a walkathon fundraiser for the local shelter), when someone recognized me as “the dog cookie mix guy”. Besides wondering if I was handing out samples, the lady asked about eliminating the brown sugar from the basic recipe…
We went back into the test kitchen, and here are the results:
The sugar helps hold everything together, so depending on the meat and/or vegetables selected, the results were mixed, when the sugar was just eliminated.
Substituting a couple of tablespoons of egg white for the brown sugar, yielded much more consistent results.

SSV

ssimys

Unknown Niece Discovered, Comes to Live with Eccentric Uncle… Hemopet’s Socre Marie Finds a Home

Sweet Sue's Valet — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:36:50 +0000

I was helping Hempet move to their new location a couple of weeks ago, and a sassy little dark brindle girl caught my eye. Socre Marie is an affectionate, curious, energetic, smart, little spitfire. I went back and spent some time with her the following week, and she impressed me very much. When I arrived home, I went online to the Greyhound Breeding & Racing Database, and took a look at her her records. She raced seven times, her highest place being 3rd. Her dam is “Well Chosen”. “Well Chosen” and “Hurricane” (Sweet Sue’s boy toy and survivor) were both sired by “Mankato”, making Socre Marie Hurricane’s niece. I took Hur’c to meet his niece, and he greeted her with his usual relaxed indifference. Socre Marie initially greeted Hur’c with great curiosity, but quickly turned her attention to garnering as much attention as possible, and escaping the love shack. Hur’c was fine with all of it.

It’s been a few months since Hurricane and I have had a girl in the house, and it is time to move on. So, Socre Marie will now be known as Sucre Marie (Sugar Marie), and is in place to take over as alpha.

WELCOME HOME LITTLE GIRL

As we open our home and welcome a new member of the household, I was, am, and shall remain,

Sweet Sue’s Valet

ssimys

Requested Recipes

Sweet Sue's Valet — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:02:58 +0000

A couple of people have asked that I post the recipes that are currently in the brochure. So, as requested:

Hot Dog Biscotti

Ingredients:

1 package biscuit mix

1 large egg

2 tablespoons brown sugar

¾ lb hot dogs (Sue got chicken or turkey dogs)

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons canola

2 tablespoon flax seed oil

1 beef or chicken stock bouillon cube

½ cup water

Instructions:

Place a saucepan on the stove over medium heat. Add the canola oil. Rough chop the hot dogs and add to pan. Cook until the hot dogs are evenly browned, about 6 – 7 minutes. Add the water and bouillon and stir until the pan is deglazed and the cube is dissolved. Allow the pan to cool. Add the contents of the pan to the bender with the other ingredients, and prepare the dough per the basic instructions.

Preheat oven to 350°

Divide prepared dough into thirds. Roll each portion of dough into a ball, then into a cylinder about 1½” in diameter.

Place the rolled dough portions on a parchment covered cookie sheet, and press to flatten to form “loaves” about ½” in thickness.

Place the cookie sheet in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, rotating the sheet after 10 minutes.

Remove the cookie sheet from the oven. Slide the parchment on to a wire cooling rack. Lower the oven temperature to 325°.

Allow the loaves to cool to “handling” temperature. Using a sharp knife, cut each loaf into ½” slices.

Place the slices back on the cookie sheet, with a cut side down. Return the cookie sheet to the oven and bake for 30 minutes, rotating the sheet after 15 minutes.

Remove to rack and cool in the oven per the basic instructions.

Liver Snaps

Ingredients:

1 package biscuit mix

1 large egg

2 tablespoons brown sugar

¾ lb beef or chicken liver

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons canola

2 tablespoon flax seed oil

1 beef or chicken stock bouillon cube

½ cup water

Instructions:

Place a saucepan on the stove over medium heat. Add the canola oil. Rough chop the liver and add to pan. Cook until the liver is evenly browned, about 6 – 7 minutes. Add the water and bouillon and stir until the pan is deglazed and the cube is dissolved. Allow to cool.

Preheat oven to 275°

Place liver and liquid in the blender with other oils, brown sugar, and egg. Prepare dough per basic instructions.

Flatten the dough to ¼” and cut into ½” squares. Place cut squares on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake 45 minutes, rotating the sheet(s) about halfway through the baking time.

Remove from oven. Increase oven temperature to 350°. Remove baked squares to wire rack. When the oven reaches temperature, place the wire rack in the oven, and immediately turn off the oven. Allow to cool in the oven several hours or overnight.

Salmon & Sweet Potato Cookies

Ingredients:

1 package biscuit mix

1 large egg

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 can premium “salmon seafood” cat food

¾ cup cooked sweet potato, including skin

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons canola or safflower oil

1 tablespoon fish, salmon or cod liver oil

1 tablespoon flax seed oil

1 fish stock bouillon cube

½ cup water

Instructions:

Prepare and bake per basic instructions.

HOMEMADE TREATS ARE BEST….

SSV

ssimys

“Tour de Sue” Completed

Sweet Sue's Valet — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 01:37:29 +0000

On August 3rd, the “Tour de Sue” took place. The goal was to celebrate her life, by spreading her ashes in all of her favorite places all in one day. The tour started about 7 AM, in Irvine, CA, and ended about 10:30 PM, in Alamo, CA, covering about 500 miles. Bandanas collected from Hemopet Bubble Baths were cut into strips, tied and left as markers, each place we scattered a few of her earthly remnants. There were 18 stops, including dogs parks & beaches, favorite walks & trails, friends’ yards, and other places she spent significant or meaningful amounts of time.
Photos & video of the the tour were taken. Look for more tour content and details here, and on YouTube, in the coming weeks.

Rest easy, my Alpha Girl…
SSV

ssimys