RECIPEAS4U: Early morning musings and new puppy Newt

Welcome to Texas Newt!

By early morning I mean BEFORE the sun rises and while the moon is still floating over the roof, before the birds start to sing and when the armadillo who lives across the street saunters across the lawn into his hiding place--all definitely after 6:00 a.m.!

There have been lots of before pre-dawn visits to the garden during the past three weeks. I woke up at 5:59 a.m. Monday to the howls and cries of new puppy Newton (Newt). Not named after the political figure, but after the scientist Isaac and the young boy in The Lonesome Dove.

Newt arrived at the Dallas airport late in the evening after a very long plane trip, and life hasn't been the same since. A furry fluff ball of sweetness and energy--along with razor sharp teeth--poor guy left cool Neenah, Wisconsin for the hellish summer weather in Austin. Turns out heat is a great potty training tool--big incentive to do his business and return quickly to the air conditioned kitchen for a treat.

It's been three and a half years since losing our wonderful Golden Retriever Chloe, before I suddenly got the itch for a puppy. After searching for months and filling out applications, I found Golden Acre Doodles--a Wisconsin family-run breeder of GDs. These pups are whelped at the breeder's home, raised with her teenagers, and surrounded by love, attention, and annoyed cats, until going to their "forever" homes. This family truly loves their pups and the online photos of the kids holding the puppies will melt your heart and have you begging for one of the brood (dogs--not kids, although they were cute too.)

Newt at 6 weeks old enjoying cool Wisconsin (right) with his brother--
I considered getting two--what was I thinking!

Turns out buying a Golden Doodle puppy is more complicated than I though. Everyone with allergies wants a Doodle of some sort now. I filled out three application pages explaining why I wanted the dog, where they would sleep, how many family members there were, followed by a request for an immediate deposit to hold your place in line to select your puppy. Some breeders wouldn't even let me pick the puppy--they took the deposit and application, and then decided which one suited me best. Then they neutered the poor thing at 7 weeks before I got him! All I wanted was a sweet puppy that didn't shed and had a wonderful disposition to love--not a designer dog.

So flash forward and here I am raising what I assume will be my last puppy--kids off in college--cat 13 years old and totally annoyed by the whole puppy thing--yet something about all of this makes me not mind so much getting up before the sunrise, falling asleep on the sofa while puppy happily chews on his oinking rubber piggie, living life on a rigid schedule again. When this guy jumps out of his kennel with morning kisses and the energy of love only a pup can give, I just melt. Except for the razor sharp teeth nipping on my fingers and toes and his love of taunting the old cat to run and play, he is pure lovable joy. I can't remember what mornings were like without him--oh--I slept in late!

Up before the sun, and after three cups of coffee, in order to stay awake--seriously, the caffeine is much needed--I bake and test new recipes. It's 107° in the afternoon, so morning baking seems to be in order this summer. There have been successes followed by a few failures, but I now remember how great the light of dawn is for photography. I have come to enjoy this quiet time alone with my puppy in the quietness of the morning. There are a few 6:00 a.m. walkers, but I don't care if they see me in my PJ's--my yard, my morning, and the pajamas are pretty cute too!

Other than Betty's English Scones, which have become a summer staple under the glass cake dome, I have tested a few new breakfast recipes (to be posted separately). There have been Tarte Tatin testings, more berry pie tastings, zucchini lasagnas, Madhur Jaffrey's Indian dinners, pots of freshly mashed refried beans served with homemade corn tortillas hot off the griddle.

Hope you enjoy the new recipes and morning tidbits that will follow, along with an occasional Newton update. Let me tease you further with a few photos of my summer cooking....recipes to follow.