I have to get over this “let’s find the best recipe with a chocolate and peanut butter combo” phase. No good can come of it, there are not enough people in our house to benefit from it, and it takes away from the knitting time. But first, let me just share one more with you. Then I’ll stop. (Um, unless someone has another recipe that I need to try?) No, really – I’ll stop.
Peanut Butter Dessert
1 pk. brownie mix (for 9 x 13 pan)
2 1/2 cups cold milk
1 pk. vanilla instant pudding mix
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
12 oz. carton of Cool Whip
3 squares semi-sweet chocolate
Prepare and bake brownie mix as directed. Cool completely.
Mix vanilla pudding mix and 2 1/2 cups cold milk, beating at medium speed for 2 minutes. Add in powdered sugar and peanut butter and whip well. Spread on cooled brownies.
Melt chocolate squares in microwave for 1 minute (on high). Stir until all bits have been dissolved. Â Put frozen Cool Whip in microwave for 1 minute (on high). Mix chocolate and Cool Whip together and whisk well to blend. Pour over pudding layer and spread evenly.
Refrigerate for several hours or overnight before serving. Store in refrigerator.
This what I had for dinner last night. Well, there might have been soup, too, but this is the thing I remember most. The chocolate and peanut butter dessert. Mmmmmm….
My Traveling Woman Shawl is done and ready to block. Now I’m on to Mara with Madelinetosh Worsted and another pair of Cabled Mitts with Lorna’s Laces Worsted. (Worsted weight – a knitter’s best friend when gift knitting must get done. And Lorna’s and Madelinetosh must have the most wonderful worsted yarns on the planet. Seriously.) I’m also contemplating Colonnade with Lorna’s Laces. Elf Donna is making one up out of LL Worsted and it is gorgeous. A Must Knit.
Sheri inthemoodtogetapuppy.Pleasetellme
whythat’sareallybadidea.WHclaimsitis.Idon’tbelievehim.
OMG, looks fantastic. Would also be good with Nutella…
My puppy turned into a delightful companion whose hair I can spin. Ana Bella is a Shih Tzu.
Having said that, we have always had (small) dogs and did Chihuahua rescue. Pets are work. Lots of work and it takes away from fiber time.
But you can blame the messy house and fibery floors on their shedding instead of your fiber making wisps all over.
I have a puppy asleep on my foot right now. Actually was supposed to be daughter’s puppy but you see how that went. Truthfullly 2 dogs are a good number they play with each other and the older dog teaches the puppy a lot. I never knew that till we had two, then three, then back to two and now we have three again. Pets are lots of work but they give so much love too!
Will the puppy be home alone all day? Or can you take him to the shop with you? Puppies are a lot of work, but then so are children! Both really worth it, in my opinion! It is hard to get away if you have a dog – unless of course your folks live right across the road from you and can dogsit when you go on vacation – (they take care of all our sheep when we go away too!) Biggest reason not to get a puppy – the time – if you don’t have it, you will feel guilty and they will feel ignored.
Soup and Desert. Sounds like the perfect meal to me!
OMG!!!! I am seriously considering making this for breakfast!!
Puppies drool, but older dogs rule. I love my 2 year old rescue dog! Much less work with all the loving companionship.
puppies are a lot of work – my landlady/lord got a german shepard puppy and are realizing that it’s a whole lot more work than they thought she would be. Sadly, it’s not working out for them and they are hoping to find it a good home (me too as the poor baby is crying and barking all of the time and I can hear it 3 floors down at all hours of the day)
peanutbutter/chocolate = YUM!!!!!!!!!
You think having a business ties you to the house – just wait till you have an animal!! Why is a puppy a bad idea? – puppies chew things to pieces; dog mess; spots in your yard & your carpet; dog food bills (cuts in to yarn purchases); vet bills; … Did you really ENJOY toddlerhood? Get ready – it’s back, only it never ends with an animal. Just saying….
Not a good time for a puppy right now, Sheri… Holidays, hustle and bustle, stress that we can do without–life not normal..(but is it ever normal!) I know, I love animals too and I wouldn’t dream of trading my cat in for a kitten, but if you’re going to do, wait until after Christmas cuz puppies are A LOT of work and if raised wrong, they will WORK YOU alot! Love the peanut butter & chocolate recipes–yummy!
Last summer, there were puppies all over the neighborhood, including mine. He was an adorable 10 pound cutie who looked a lot like his Lab mother. Now he’s my 55 pound Nomming Monster, but he’s still a lot of fun. Lots of work, must keep the knitting up until they get through the chewing phase, and if you look closely at my pictures on FaceBook, there’s one of him the week we brought him home, and another from a few weeks ago when I was working on The World’s Largest Shawl and he decided it was comfortable. That said, he’s been worth all four of the winter hats he ate, and he now primarily leaves the knitting alone, except to occasionally sniff at something or lay on it. The cat, on the other hand, can come out of nowhere to attack the marauding evil yarn that is trying to drag me back into the black hole of the knitting bag.
Yes, my pets are a riot. I wouldn’t trade them in for anything! 🙂
Oh, yea. And I agree. Shelter dogs rock! Both my critters were Humane Society babies, and they’re both wonderful!
We have two rescued Shelties that are the light of our lives. Young adults froma rescue are a REALLY good alternative to a puppy. They are past the chewing/messing stage but still active and energetic. Rescues usually need some training but a good rescue group will have evaluated their personality and made sure that the dog (or dogs!) are suited to you. Dogs bond well to a rescuer family; after a month or two, you’ll never know that they had a previous life. And two IS the right number, especially a male/female combination.
(Now, a lot of people are losing their homes and have to give up their pets when they move. There are a LOT of dogs needing new families!)
I’m going to be making the peanut butter pie recipe for thanksgiving lunch. I think I’m looking forward to it more than the rest of the menu!
Puppy=puppy poop
That’s the one I keep using. Then again, i was just starting to think puppy when i got pregnant… with twins. Yikes. i think I have enough on my plate for the next 20 or so years.
GET A PUPPY!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!
then i’ll come down every weekend 🙂
As the owner of 3 dogs and 4 cats, I definitely think you should get a puppy. Just make sure you get a puppy that is easy to train, or small enough that you can litter box train him/her.
If you are interested in a small dog, look into Papillons. They are very smart and easy to train. A bit aways from Missouri but a breeder here in Maryland litter box trains her puppies so once they are in your home they are already trained to the litter box.
A good medium sized dog is a Cavalier King Charles spaniel. They are nicknamed the “love sponge” because of how wonderfully loving they are.
Or if you want a larger dog, adopt a retired greyhound. They are quiet (mine has barked three times in 2 years. They are clean and don’t smell doggy. And they are trained by the rescue group before placed. Our greyhound is a perfect princess.
My husband and I both have full-time jobs and we still have plenty fo time for our pets. It does help to have a dog walker. She checks on our dogs every day and walks them.
If the time commitment seems like too much, you could always look into a Ragdoll kitten. We have two and they are very dog like.
Nothing beats the unconditional love of a pet!
Make sure you’ve got a good dog sitter in place before you get a puppy. Conventional wisdom says spring is a better time to get a puppy since you’ll be spending so much time outside training it.
Have you checked out Coton dogs – so adorable!
i frogged my traveling woman, it just didnt feel right. maybe it was the yarn i was using. and for those pics??? your trying to sabatoge my weight loss aren’t you!!! (smile) peanut butter and choc!!
Dogs are wonderful but traveling is severely limited. Long days antiquing or quick trip to see your daughter will be much harder. Dogs can’t be left in the car for shopping and dinner. You will need a dog sitter. I have a dog and make these sacrifices just depends what you want to do.
About the puppy, if you have to ask, then it is not the right time. When it is the right time, you will not have to ask!
Wow, you would have to take puppy to work with you for a while. That could be disaster! But once trained, a grown up puppy is a wonderful friend. WH would have to buy into it, too, though. The pack thing, you know.
I love my puppy! Okay, so she’s not been a puppy for about six years now, but raising and training and hanging out with her has been one of the all-time highlights of my life. She’s a great knitting buddy — curls up at my feet and keeps them toasty while I knit away. Plus I get more exercise with her around! Here’s us getting a lot of exercise very quickly:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXnV1tETLRY&NR=1
(For the curious, she’s an Icelandic Sheepdog. Great medium-sized breed if you don’t mind that some of them bark a lot. Mine barks more than the average Icelandic Sheepdog.)
I can’t resist a puppy! I had to promise my husband I won’t get anymore. I have a golden retriever and a beagle, they are my very best girlfriends! I wish I could knit as fast as you!
Well, I do love my nephew, the Nomming Monster (see BFF Sarah’s post above), but he can be VERY naughty. Con: Puppies eat yarn. Pro: Puppy breath and puppy kisses. Con: Housebreaking in the wintertime. Pro: Puppy playing in the snow.
What about adopting an older shelter dog? A friend of mine got a wonderful poodle, and other got the cutest cocker spaniel. There are lots of adult dogs who need love, and they don’t get adopted as quickly as puppies do.
Have you seen Marley & Me? Well, we have a lab mix 9-month old overgrown puppy that gets into everything!! Pens, pencils, DPNS, shoes, personal garments…nothing is safe around him. Don’t even get me started on the bathroom floor that he ripped up!
Seriously, get a dog that at least one year old and maybe a little older. Easier to train especially if you pick one that already been housebroken.
Back to knitting, I love LL’s worsted. I made my MIL a pair of socks and they feel so soft! I”m getting ready to buy some in Whisper to make my momm a pair for Christmas. The yarn is in my cart but I’m still debating about getting some sock yarn.
I may have to stop reading your blog, especially when I’m hungry. Ummmmm… and the Oreos…….gads!
Did I miss the winner of the Girasole challenge?
I would rather go through childbirth again (and I hated that!) before I’d get a puppyl An older rescue dog would be perfect and I think the shelter staff try to be very, very honest about the good and bad traits of each dog so that you can make a good match. Try petfinder.com, but be careful – the stories can break your heart.
So, this would be a bad time to mention the Chocolate Peanut Butter cake from Smitten Kitchen (chocolate peanut butter ganache – I made it last weekend) or the Buckeye Cake from the Nestle site. Both of them are really good, and I’m making the Buckeye Cake again this weekend. So darn tasty!
Forgot to finish my post and say that I have 2 dogs and 2 cats, all adopted in various ways as adults or almost adults and wouldn’t be without them despite the work. And the walking that the dogs need is good for me too!
You need a friend with a puppy. Then you can visit and enjoy the adorableness, but you don’t have to deal with the training and the effluvia and the 4am whining. (Rather like being a grandparent!)
I love my dog but …Reason not to get a puppy–you travel a lot. Unlike cats, dogs need lots of human attention and can’t be left alone with food and water for a few days so must have sitter or go to kennel. Also, they can be destructive when bored. Debit is almost 6 years old and still chews things she’s not supposed to when I’m spinning or weaving. They also have to go outside or be walked. If you have fenced yard that may be okay.
Puppies are a commitment in time, energy and money, but the rewards can be fantastic! I’ve raised a couple of miniature poodle litters, and kept one from each. I have two minis now, have had as many as 4 at one time. It can be crazy, but I love them. They are such little personalities! And on cold nights, it’s nice to sleep with them in the bed. However, bringing a new pup into the home around the holidays can be rough, especially if you are heavy into the decorating and partying. Lots of strangers, dangerous stuff they can eat, and the owner’s lack of time aren’t the best recipe for helping a puppy to adjust to a new home. But it depends on your lifestyle. Poodles are great companions, but they do cost a bit if you have them professionally groomed.
Geez, woman! You finished your Traveling Woman shawl already??? I’m about half way through my second skein of Casbah sock. It’s pretty.
😀
Cheers!
Puppies are soooooo cute, and require lots of time, training and “supervising” out of mischief….However You have to choose one and start form the beginning….
PLEASE go to a SHELTER, choose the SIZE that fits and let one of these poor abandon, lonely “fur children: adopt you !!!
YOU will save them and they will cherish you and WH forever….Adopted “fur children” are the absolute best and they will let you know HOW much YOU mean to them with EVERY tail wag !!!!
You travel alot and that could be a problem with who watches it. But, there are so many dogs and puppies at the shelters that would just love to love you.
I would first ask the cats what they think about a puppy. since they both seem to be very good cats who do not chew knitting needles or yarn, they would want a canine roommate who is also respectful of the knitting that is such a big part of your life.
A shelter puppy would fill your heart as well as your home, if you have the TIME to devote to him/her!
I love the idea of having dessert for dinner!
All this puppy posting is making me really appreciate my “little ones” – 2 parakeets Sherman and Geraldine. They’re in a large enough cage where if I put in a plastic cat ball with a bell inside – they play “basketball” and take it from one end to another then dump it in their water dish.
Am loving these shawl patterns – I have never knit one – but these seem simple enough for me to try my first. But holiday knitting first before knitting for me. I have finished my first pair of the cabled mitts – they come out SO pretty. And am starting another pair for another friend. May try this recipe this weekend…. 🙂
Yeah puppies are cute, but you can skip the training stuff and go straight for the shelter dog or cat. And I find cats the easiest, pretty self training creatures. As far as the brownies, you can justify them by the nutritional soup. One cancels the other out.
And you must be a knitting machine, cranking out all these items during the busiest time of the year. You go Girl!!
I have a labradoodle who is five and a pug who is a year and a half. Both were rescues. I questioned my sanity for the first year with puggy, but now I simply adore her. They’re very much like children, the second one is a lot less traumatic and fits in with the routine of the older dog. They are wonderful company and I never feel the empty nest. Please, Sheri, if you take the plunge, rescue! (My turn to enable you, after all the yarn and brownie damage)!
I’m in the mood for a puppy too!! Actually, I have a breeder on the hunt for my next great agility pup – in the toy poodle form 🙂 May take awhile, but a great dog is worth the wait!!
Oh dear gods, that recipe sounds heavenly!! I’m always looking for yummies containing chocolate and peanut butter, the most delightful combination of flavors known to man.
Sheri – I have mixed feelings about puppies. I love them and they are darned cute but they are a handful and it is like having another kid (sometime ask me about the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy we BOUGHT a couple years ago) May I suggest an adult dog from a shelter or rescue? The next dog we get we will go this route. Shelter/rescues have a way of being “grateful” if that is possible and I find them to be a lot more cool in the personality department. Maybe that is just our experiences. I love dogs but rethink the puppy route. 🙂 WH may be right this time….
OK, on the dessert note, you need to stop putting up these yummy, nummy recipes. I injured my knee a few months ago, had surgery and am recovering but not able to exercise off the food that I currently stick in my mouth. Peanut butter and chocolate happen to be my two favs and this recipe will probably HAVE to be made this weekend because I can’t drool on my computer keyboard anymore! AHHHH! So, thanks in advance for the few extra pounds I’ll most likely gain from eating this wonderful creation. Where do you find these things!? 🙂 Have a good weekend.
P.S. My Sonata spinning wheel arrived on Wednesday and we have been having a fine time together. Thanks again for the spinning wheel information.
I have a “pre-rescue” puppy*. Her mom is a Chow/German Shepherd mix and we think her dad is a Rottweiler. She’s a ton of work, but lots of fun too. She makes you get up in the morning to go out, and when you come home from work, you don’t get a chance to sit down, you have to let her out of her kennel and go out. I live in an apartment, so every time she goes out, we have to get the leash and walk around the block. She’s also devilishly smart…the only reason my knitting is safe is that she doesn’t have the opposable thumbs necessary to open the door to the craft room! It really is the work of having a kid, only they don’t grow up to go off to college…
That said she’s been really helpful in giving me some balance between work and homelife. And she’s a great motivator to exercise… when she’s bored and full of energy, I can’t get anything done at all, but take her on an hour or two’s walk, and she’s pooped, leaving me with uninterrupted knitting/baking/whatever time. 🙂
*We acquired her from my boyfriend’s parents, who didn’t realize that one of strays that they took in wasn’t fixed. There were 6 puppies in the litter, and they were struggling to find homes for all of them. Eventually, they wound up keeping one, but they have 4 dogs at home and 3 dogs at the family business.
Wait until spring to get a puppy. It’s really not fun trying to house break a puppy when it’s cold outside.
How awesome would it be to have a puppy running up and down the aisles of loopy central? If Ravelry can have a dog mascot, then I think the Loopy Ewe could have one as well. Just think about all the cute dog clothes you could knit for him/her!
Yay for new dogs! If you remember, 2 weeks ago I lost my Leia dog. Well, the remaining dog was lonely, so last weekend I added 2 new rescue dogs to my pack. Tonks is 9 months old, a lab mix that looks very much like Leia, and is already housebroken, but still very much puppy. Kyrie is a 3 year old Aussie mix who just caught my heart. They’re all getting along-including with the cats and parrots!
I think you can always find room for a dog. (ps-it’s harder for black dogs to get adopted, please consider a black rescue!)
while i LOVE my shelter dogs, i never go anywhere for anything. judging from this site, you and wh travel far too much for a dog. you know, since you asked.
that said, having a dog really helped my parents with their “empty nest” problems when my sister and i moved out years ago. just be prepared to have some sleepless nights from crate training and lots of cleaning from house training. also, i recommend contacting a rescue and trying to get a dog that will fit well with your lifestyle. our local shelter has an evaluation program called “meet your match” that categorizes dogs based on personality and energy level. it was designed by the aspca.
good luck!
I love anything with peanut butter and chocolate, so I enjoy your recipes. 🙂 I have two dogs and love puppies, so I can’t talk you out of it. I’m an enabler. We have a Shih Tzu and a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel. Love them both and they are great pets.
Love the pic of the yummy brownie! I have the tendency to gain weight this time of year….at this rate, I have to pace myself or I’ll get too fat to fit in my clothes. I have 2 Labs that I love dearly. My Black Lab is 4 yrs.6mo.,and my Yellow Lab just turned 4….they give me so much love and comfort and great company, I take them with me when I go somewhere. They love riding in the car. I got both of them when they were babies. Get a puppy, you’ll be glad you did….one look at that cute little face, you’ll be hooked.
Recipe looks wonderful – is it a large or small box of pudding?
Although all of my siblings and my mom have pets, I’m not a pet person – and really don’t want to be. For me the biggest drawback is the fact it would just be lots more work for me to fit in an already jam-packed schedule. Hubbie and I both work full time, and the boys (ages 17 & 20) are both in their “I am the center of the universe” stage and could not be trusted with the care of any living thing. I’m looking forward to having less responsiblity – having a puppy would be like having a toddler all over again.