Chicken Tikka Kabobs

This recipe involves meat and sticks. Dogs dream of both of these regularly. Here chicken and skewers combine for an easy Indian-inspired delight. 

The secret to kabobs is the marinade, of course. This one tenderizes with lemon and yogurt.

Chicken Tikka Kabobs
Mix everything together in bowl except the chicken. Then stir in the chicken cubes. Cover, chill in fridge overnight.

It helps to soak the bamboo skewers in water so they don't burn. Thread chicken cubes on the skewers. Then grill or broil, turning often until done (5 minutes or so).
Serves 4 people or 1 dog

2/3 c. plain yogurt
1 Tablespoon grated fresh ginger
2-6 cloves garlic crushed
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 Tablespoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon salt
juice of one lemon
2 Tablespoons oil

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken, cut in cubes

Wolverine loves kabobs too.

credit

A Glorious Day of Shedding

It is an early spring around here. Paul Douglas, the family's favorite weatherman, has predicted no more snow for the year.

My silly Cosmo dog coat has been laundered and tucked away with the mittens and boots (hopefully never to be found again).

Boy #1 is pleased that his favorite ballplayer Joe Mauer has decided to stick around (albeit for more kibble than any one man can possibly eat).

Health care reform's promising rays finally broke through the clouds.

And my neighbor Johann has also lightened his load considerably.

Spring is a glorious thing!

Putting the Poo Back in Shampoo

Boy #1 was feeling disgruntled. Although he washed his hair everyday with the fancy, nice smelling SPA shampoo, it seem oily.

It should be noted that boy #1 is quite nearsighted in the shower. But after a week or so he noticed the SPA bottle laying on the floor next to my collar after my bath (don't get me started). And it was then that he saw the tiny letters spelling Petco®.  His mistake washed over him. He had been using my dog shampoo.

I assured him I have no issues if he wants to use up my shampoo. Shampoo just sets me back on my doggie life-journey.

It does, however, raise interesting questions about marketing. Clearly Petco® has long since discovered that it is women and metro-sexual men who purchase dog shampoo. Or at least SPA dog shampoo that costs $11.99 a bottle. 

Dogs, obviously, would never reach for rice flower with oatmeal shampoo. If forced to choose, we'd go for an entirely different product.

How Civilized!

Be Civilized!

Miss Carmella's Guide to Etiquette: Be Civilized!

It is that time of the year when a winter's worth of indiscretions are laid bare by the melt. I am talking about DOG POO, people.

I know better than anyone how deep and tall those snowbanks along the city sidewalks grew to be this winter. But if left to our own devices, we dogs would NOT poop on the SIDEWALK. There are much better places to go -- if you would just unsnap that leash. But if you insist on tethering us, then understand that sometimes the only place for a dog to relieve herself might have been right there in the path. But PICK IT UP PEOPLE. You are the ones with the thumbs.

I am stunned by the sheer number of poo piles lying half-dissolved where we ALL have to walk. OK, so dogs don't poop in a box like cats - we all know felines are just plain crazy-fastidious. And OK, so we dogs do like to get much closer to our fellow canine's excrement than people care to (the information you can learn from a good sniff is extraordinary).  But we don't want to WALK IN POO any more than the next species (dung beetles not included).

What is so hard about just picking it up?  Bag on your hand, scoop, toss in the trash. Done. You are now a Good Citizen.

One house I walk by everyday with Dave has a giant poster board informing us "YOU ARE ON POOPCAM." I pooped right in front of it. And Dave demonstrated what a good person with an urban dog does. He scooped it up. I hope we get on YouTube.

Searching for Answers

If you fellow bloggers haven't discovered the joys of Google Analytics or similar tools, you're missing out on a great chew toy. One piece of information that you get to gnaw on is the search terms people use that causes them stumble into your territory. I often bark out loud when I see the words typed in and imagine the searchers' snorts, eye rolls or perplexed silence that must often follow when peeking into my backyard.

I am often intrigued by the search words. What is the "brown dog sorting game" - is it fun? Are "carmella chairs" comfy? Are they stylish? What is a "balance sheet of empanada?" Who on earth would want "twinkle lights that are brown?"

I marvel at the specifics of "1876 painting of woman with dog hound."  I am mystified by searches of words that never appear in my blog in any form like "bioresin" or "Charles Whitcomb." I wonder why "damages blogspot" would ever point to my place.

I think I disappoint searchers more often than not. I doubt I guide anyone in their search for "best little brown dogs for seniors" or whether they should have a "pet giant flying squirrel." And I am sure I shed no real light on "why is there an animal in fur traders descending the missouri" or "social isolation in paris during its stage of rapid growth."

Sometimes it is just fun to let them flow past and wonder about people and how they spend their time.  Here are some of my favorites:

1876 painting of woman with dog hound

balance sheet of empanada

best little brown dogs for seniors

bioresin

box spring dog breed

brown dog sorting game

carmella chairs

carmella from what not to wear

chinese squirrels

correlation cell phone

damages blogspot

degas l'absinthe who was the woman in the photo?

dog coats

dog park snowman

dog with the pearl earring

dumbest dog in the world

edgar degas l’absinthe critique

floating pontoon

giant beer keg

god paws from luther seminary

grandma's molasses/good or bad

hunters in the snow theme

l'absinthe de edgar doga

le dejeuner sur l'herbe controversy

little brown dog breeds

my little verchual dog

painting of fur trader in boat with a cat

pet "giant flying squirrel"

prokaryote in pepperjack

social isolation in paris during its stage of rapid growth.

squirrel appreciation day (those rascals)

the brown dog questions for conversation

turnover crimper

twinkle lights that are brown

what do you get if you cross a dacshund with a chihuahua

what is a pirozkhi?

when other artists correct nature by painting venus they lie

who is the real mona lisa?

why is there an animal in fur traders descending the missouri