hazel's 1st birthday + dog treat recipe

Our little princess is celebrating her 1st birthday today!

David and I continually find ourselves declaring that bringing Hazel into our lives was the best decision we have made since being married.  We got her just before Christmas this past year.  She was much smaller then, and her hair was sort of straight!  If you want to see some pictures from when we brought her home for the first time, click HERE!

Our mini goldendoodle comes in just under 30 pounds.  She loves to curl up in our laps or snuggle all night.  David jokes that she has to be close enough to us to feel our heart beat at all times.  Hazel is sweet, loving, and brilliant.  We have given her so many nicknames, but most popular--Hazey, Hazette, Hazel Bunch and Baby Girl.  We are so blessed to have this precious puppy in our lives.

So of course, I had to throw a small party for my special little one!

For quite sometime I've been wanting to attempt homemade dog treats.  But I ran out of time to get to the grocery store for some of the recipes I found online.  I knew I wanted to use peanut butter, one of Hazel's favorites.  And I came up with something that she LOVED!

Frozen Peanut Butter Dog Treat

 1/2 cup JIF peanut butter

1/3 cup 0% Fage Greek yogurt

Melt peanut butter for 45 seconds, until creamy.

Mix in greek yogurt until consistent.  

Put a little flour on your hands and ball the mixture up.

Place in cupcake wrappers and freeze overnight.

Now, let your pup enjoy!

David's parents came over to join in the puppy fun too.  Hazel got many new toys at her birthday celebration, and she was VERY happy!  Except for when I put her hat on... she wasn't a fan of that.  But she loves her new flamingo!

Happy Monday! Love Hazey!

no flour peanut butter cookies

Cookie, cookie, cookie, cookie.

Yeah I said it, and I ate it.

Because I could!

Last year, David and I went to a party where brownies and vanilla ice cream were served after dinner.  After tasting the ice cream, David looked at me and said, "I forgot what real ice cream tasted like!"  I felt bad for him.  Often times, because I try to have such a specific diet, he ends up eating like me as well.  Which he doesn't mind... most of the time.  I only use Splenda when cooking with sugar and I only buy "sugary" things made with Splenda.

Let's just say, I'm a fan.

I took a common recipe for peanut butter cookies and used Splenda instead.  There are only FOUR ingredients and none of them are flour!! Woohoo!  I made half plain and the other half with roasted no salt peanuts.  They were delicious and easy!

Peanut Butter Cookies (No Flour)

Makes 12

1 cup JIF Reduced Fat Peanut Butter

1 cup Splenda

1 egg

1/4 tsp Vanilla

Preheat to 325.

Mix all ingredients together.  If your ingredients seem to be dry when mixed together, you can add 1 egg white.  If you add too much Splenda, add some additional peanut butter and it will balance the flavors for you.

Bake for 12-14 minutes until outer edges are a shade darker than the rest of the cookie.

I enjoyed these with a glass of almond milk while working on some back-to-school projects.








Hazel helped too, but no cookies for her!