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There’s so much that I want to share with you that doesn’t always fit into the margins of my recipes, so I thought I’d start this mini series where we just talk. Every month or so, I’ll keep you updated on what’s going on, you leave me comments, maybe even let me know if you don’t love these chats (just say it nicely, with smiley emojis, please)! We will get to the less-than-perfect macarons above in a moment, but first, the big news that I’ve been dying to share: We got a puppy!
Yes, a third dog!
Zach has always wanted to rescue a dog, and since I’m home a lot more now that I quit my day job, we decided now would be a good time to rescue, and we adopted our newest family member… Meet Colt!
I was super skeptical about getting a third dog (50% more dog hair… and I already vacuum nonstop!), but Colt fits perfectly into the family. Three dogs has turned out to be a breeze. Does anyone out there have four dogs? More? Never mind, don’t tell me, I don’t need any encouragement (please tell me, leave a comment).
We were told that he was a German Shepherd-mix, but since he came into the shelter as a rogue pup they didn’t really know what his lineage was, so we did a DNA test on him, which is a totally normal thing to do, right? I felt justified in doing it once the vet told us that the DNA test can actually give them valuable information about his genetics should he ever need serious antibiotics or medications.
The results showed that he is actually mostly Lab with some Staffordshire Terrier (pit bull) mixed in, a bit of hound, and a bit of “herding dog” (which we assume could be a small amount of Shepherd).
Leia absolutely adores her little brother. Penny is… well, she is adjusting. Zach and I like to say that Penny thinks she’s a person, and she’s not really a dog person. She has started to come around, though, and even was tugging with Colt yesterday.
At 5 months old, Colt is completely housebroken. He’s also proven to be a fast learner, and it helps that he’s extremely, extremely, extremely food motivated. We’re currently working on his leash manners, which have been the biggest struggle so far, so any tips would be appreciated.
We adopted Colt from a small PA rescue called PA Caring for K-9s, they rescue dogs from high kill shelters in the south and find them new families, we are so grateful to have gotten our little boy from them.
In less cuddly news…
I’m currently in the process of developing my own macaron recipe for you, and guess how much the extreme humidity around here is helping (answer: not at all… please have patience with me, this could take a while).
Silpat recently sent me one of their macaron mats, and while my recipe isn’t quite perfect yet (macaron experts will be able to tell by looking at the picture above!), this Silpat mat totally is, and it’s the only thing I bake my macarons on anymore. It also has a macaron template printed right on the mat, which is so helpful since I’m terrible at freehand piping.
And guess what — I’ll be giving one away on Instagram in the next few weeks, so make sure you are following me for your chance to win!
A lot of my summer so far has been spent working on making those quick, how-to videos that I share in my posts and on my Facebook page, and I just finished filming my bakery-style chocolate chip muffins.
Have you tried them yet? They’ve gotten great reviews! Probably not surprising when you look at all that melty chocolate 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻
In addition to the video, I’ve been doing a lot of baking here (shocking, right?), playing with the pups, and trying to squeeze in as many good books as I can, reading them while I work out on the elliptical.
I just finished The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (very engrossing!) and picked up Uprooted, which is a fantasy/fairy tale sort of book, and while it’s not Game of Thrones, it’s pretty good and has helped make my cardio sessions fly by (that never happens)! I would love any great book suggestions from you — just none that will make me cry, please!
In addition to the afore-mentioned books and my Silpat, here are a few of my other current obsessions:
- These bright blue spatulas — they are my absolute favorite color and I use them constantly. Should a spatula make a person so happy? Probably not but, I love them anyway.
- This cheap, simple, and so comfortable dress that popped up in my Amazon recommendations and I fell in love with — I wear it everywhere.
- I got my whole family to take this Myers Briggs personality test, it was entertaining and a fun throwback to my Psych major days.
- I made this Spicy Chicken & Riggies meal from Host the Toast for dinner earlier this week and it’s definitely going to be a staple household meal from now on. So good!
OK, that’s all from me for today, have a wonderful weekend, from all of us!
Ivy
I have 1 dog [ a German Shepherd ] , 3 sheep , 4 chickens , Bees & 2 kittens. A LOT of work!
Sam
You sure do have your hands full, but German shepherds are so wonderful. 🙂
Duncan MacKinnon
I know its been 3 years but will your macaron recipe come out? haha. I’ve loved all of your recipies so far and whenever I try macarons they’re burnt with no feet 🙁 They’re just too finiky
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much for your kind words and for being a fan of my recipes, Duncan! I have them on the list to publish in the next few months. Check back soon. Tricky one to perfect! 😉
Kayla
Hi Sam! I love your Crumbs posts! Yes.. I have 5 dogs! Yes five!
Skylar: Labrador/ Pit bull mix
Bear: King Shepherd (German shepherd/ Shiloh shepherd/ Akita)
Cooper: Golden Doodle
Gizmo: Chihuahua mix is my best guess…(He is a rescue)
Hanna: German shepherd
Your dogs are so adorable! I don’t know if you remember but I made your Easy Birthday Pupcakes and posted a pic on “Skylar’s” Instagram story. I saw you reacted to it. So if you do remember that’s two of the dogs. Kind of random but still… it’s cute dogs. Thanks for taking the time to read this and I love your recipes!
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much, Kayla! FIVE DOGS!!!! I love it, a house full of love. I do remember your story. Thanks for trying the my pupcupcakes. I hope that they were a hit. 🙂
Lisa
A lady after my own heart! I have a 2 year old maybe vizsla/shepherd mix( he’s a rescue, so we don’t know for sure), and a 9 month old German shepherd. I saw the pic of Leia when she was a puppy on your about me page, and my girl Lucy looks just like her!
The muffins look delicious!
Sam
Vizsla/shepherd sounds like such a cool mix, ah I wish you could share a picture! My uncle has vizslas and they are such cool dogs, and you already know I love shepherds! 😉
Muffy Wilson aka Penny Jiuditta
Hi, I love getting your news and recipes. They are always fun to read AND eat!! So, all my pets have been rescues and we are now on our second Havanese rescue.
Also, I am an author, and if you see anything that you think you might be interested in on my Amazon Author Page, let me know and I will be happy to gift it to you just because I love your Chocolate Chip cookie recipe with the secret ingredient (shhhhhh! We know what it is!)
I write provocative Romance and PNR Romance, a rare shifter or vamp here and there:
https://www.amazon.com/Muffy-Wilson/e/B00O54A9EY/
Thanks for all the great eats,
Love,
Muffy
Sam
Muffy I am so glad that you are enjoying following along and that you like the cookies! I think that is wonderful that you also rescue, and that is so cool that you are an author!! Wow! I will absolutely be checking out your work, thank you so much!
Brenda
My daughter has 4 rescue cats. She also has two feral cats that she has befriended and actually got them into the house. Another feral she had brought into the house was actually adopted by someone!
Sam
I’m very impressed that she was able to befriend feral cats, wow! I would love to rescue a cat but am not sure how one would do with all of our dogs.
Joanne
Your dogs are adorable!! And those chocolate chip muffins are the best!
Sam
Thank you so much, Joanne!! Glad you enjoy the muffins 🙂
Kathy
Your dogs are soooo cute!! Thanks for sharing. I made the “One Pot Spicy Chicken Riggies” tonight (subbed ground beef for chicken and made a few other adjustments with what I had on hand) and we LOVED it! Thank you so much for sharing, Sam!
Sam
Thank you, Kathy! I bet that was delicious with the ground beef, I think I may make it that way myself next time. Thank you for stopping by and commenting!! 🙂
Alejandra
If you are at all into witches and vampires, the Deborah Harkness trilogy of “A Discovery of Witches” kept me enthralled for weeks.
Sam
Oh, I’ve actually had that one on my wishlist for a while now! Looks like I’ll be getting that next! Thanks, Alejandra!! 🙂
Lisa
We have 5. All strays. All indoors. I literally lint roll my bed daily. Sigh. I probably shouldn’t tell you this BUT it’s actually easier. It becomes a “pack” and the new dogs acclimate very quickly. 🙂
–Lisa
P.S. They are a chocolate lab, a lab Doberman mix, a terrier lab mix, a smooth fox terrier and a rat terrier. All boys. All totally random since they were truly strays.
Sam
Ahaha my husband won’t be happy to hear this when I tell him that 5 dogs are as easy as 3 😉
It sounds like you have a wonderful (and yes, quite random!) pack, I can’t imagine how quickly you must go through those lint rollers!
Kathy R
Curious as to whether or not that new macaron silpat can be used for regular cookies as well.
My daughter has two rescue dogs… both very loving, but large and full of energy.. along with a toddler… energy overload sometimes..
Sam
Yes, definitely, I use mine for regular cookies and it works like a charm 🙂
Phew, I can’t imagine having two energetic dogs plus a toddler, she must be exhausted!
s maltby
i have 6 rescue dogs
Sam
😲😲😲 (you are kind of my hero)
Jackie Sammartino
I simply love the chocolate chip muffins and I’ve made them 7 times so far. Along with the blueberry ones.
Ps. We have 3 dogs too.
Sam
I’m so glad that you enjoy the muffins, Jackie! I always appreciate your comments, thank you for writing. I didn’t know you have three! What kind!?