Blessed Beast Recipes!

Bad Dog has zero sense of humor when it comes to Christmas preparations.

A gentle snow falls outside my window, muffling the sounds of passers by. Everything feels prettier, and infinitely more magical, when fresh snowflakes decorate the garden.

A holiday gift of winter white Hydrangeas.

I suppose it seems strange that a passionate planter, such as myself, would have a love affair with winter but that's probably because my winters are milder than most.

Stepping outdoors is not a death defying act as it sometimes was in frigid Minnesota. Utah winters are downright balmy. Plentiful snows come as quiet decoration vs. the arctic blasts and bitter winds, common in the Midwest.

Gifts of Paper Whites grown for my gardening friends.

And, I'm particularly loving this morning's snowfall because it coincides perfectly with my own self-prescribed break in the action.

It is the Saturday before Christmas. And where are YOU with YOUR to-do list?

I hate to make you all jealous and such but mine's done. Because this is just how weird I am ~ I set myself a deadline that's a good week ahead of the real one.

Normally, I'm a red purist but this peachy keen Poinsettia was irresistible.

The gift I wanted to give myself this year may seem kind of silly. Possibly even selfish. I wanted some quiet time to focus on the wanna dos vs. the gotta dos.

To bake some cookies for the horses. And, maybe for the humans, too. To try my luck at a few homemade bath products for skier friends. To take my poor, neglected Bad Dog up to the top of Round Valley for our first snowshoe of the season.

To have some time to simply.... Goof. Off.

Here's hoping you can find some time to do that, too. :D

~~~~~~~~ 'Tis the Season: Meg and Bad Dog Approved Recipes ~~~~~~~~~~

Oat and Molasses Horse Cookies

• 2 cups grated carrots
• 2 cups grated apples or applesauce
• 4 tablespoons corn oil
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 2 cups whole wheat flour

*Your kids might not like these but my 'kids' jump for joy.
Bake @350 for about 20 minutes


Bad Dog's Bacon Biscuits
Roll into bite-size balls and bake @350 for about 45 minutes.

• 4 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup skim milk
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups crumbled bacon bits
• 1/2 cup corn oil
• 1/2 - 3/4 cup water

And, for the kitties? Save yourself the trouble! Nothin' beats a fresh container of cat nip...