Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peas
Some may find it crude. Some may be downright offended. I've simply decided to fully embrace all the pea-ness that this fleeting spring harvest has to offer. Really, there's no way of going back at this point. I've already pea'd on my pizza. I even pea'd on my toast- At work, no less! Dining alfreso has been a true joy as the weather continues to improve, allowing me to pea outside with Luka, too. It's safe to say that I'm going to keep on pea-ing everywhere until this stream of inspiration runs dry.
Did you really think I could resist sharing another pea-s of my mind before the short growing season passed us by? Girl, peas.
Hungry
but tired after a full day of work, I seriously had to pea by the time
dinner rolled around. Riffling through the fridge and pantry yielded a
few delectable treasures to create an instant, effortless peas de
résistance. Spinach and ricotta ravioli, quickly sauteed in garlic and butter, needs no further culinary intervention to shine, but a light sprinkle of coarse black pepper and crunchy veggie bacon certainly didn't hurt.
Still,
for all that fancy frippery, the real focal point of this meal was
still those glorious green orbs; the overall combination easily a-peas'd
my appetite.
No Bones About It
iconic as it is deeply flawed, the imagery of a dog gnawing away at a huge, meaty bone is one embedded in our cultural fabric, a remnant of misguided early training practices.
Our tiny beasts are carnivores at
heart, some argue, irresistibly drawn to the taste of meat, who love
nothing more than savoring our scraps while getting a good dental
workout at the same time.
Without picking apart the umpteen faults in
that shaky logic, the irrefutable truth is that bones are dangerous for
dogs big and small, young and old. Brittle and easily snapped into
pointed shards, those sharp pieces can result in choking, digestive
blockages, cuts around the gums and throat, vomiting, and in the worst
cases, yes, those symptoms can be compounded, and that innocent treat
can become fatal.
Vegan
or not, bones have no place on the menu for humans, so why should they
suffice for our canine companions? Countless alternatives exist for
safer, softer options, including those made from scraps of a different
sort. Polishing off a few yards of leftover remnant yarn, this quick knit bone was a satisfying project for both human and animal participants.
A
prodigious chewer with especially pointed little teeth, I thought for
sure my monster baby would tear right through my handiwork in less time
than it took to complete, but I'm happily surprised by its longevity
thus far. Content to teethe rather than shred, Luka seems to savor this
new toy with a sense of appreciation. It's only a matter of time before
the plush facsimile lies in ruin, no doubt, but that can easily be
replaced; the pup himself most certainly cannot.