Take TIme To Care For Your Dog

July is a great time to get all the work outside done. This should include the animal care that needs to be done in the warm weather as well. July is National Dog House Repair month and that is just what it should be. A doghouse for an outside dog should be able to offer a dog a place to retreat from the very hot summer weather as well as a place that offers protection from the rain and icy cold weather conditions

IF you are a dog owner and have an outside doghouse for your dog then its time to get out and inspect it and make sure it is in good shape. If repair is needed take a note of whatever needs fixed and put it on your to do list. Make sure the doghouse is waterproof as well as insulated. Wood portions that have been chewed or wore down should be replaced. Make sure not to use pressure treated wood as it may contain arsenic that can make your dog sick if they lick or chew on it.

Second, check for nails and screws that are sticking out that may cause injury. Ensure that the roof is in good repair as well. Portable doghouses should be moved to shady spot in the hot summer months. In the winter dog houses should be acing to the sun but not the "wind and weather"

Dog houses should be cleaned with nontoxic soap and rinsed well. Remove any waste, dead leaves and branches that can attract other pest as well. Comfy bedding seems like a good idea but it can also cause fleas, ticks, and other pests. So rather than the fluffy bedding try using a mat or small carpet. Other accessories that your pet may like are a sand box to bury toys as well as a wading pool to cool off in hot summer days

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Chili Dog Day

STOP!!! Don't let the day go yet... today is the last Thursday of July and that means that it is National Chili Dog Day.  One of my favorite all time family pleasing meals is chili dogs. Why you may ask because no longer is the choice between what to eat occuring. You have 2 great dishes that of hotdogs or chili or both together. Perhaps you understand where I am coming from.

Say it ain't so.... you have no idea what a chili dog is??? Well let me try to fix that issue for you. A chili dog is a hot dog that is served in a bun and topped with a meat sauce commonly known as chili. At times the sandwich may be topped with other ingredients like cheese, onions and mustard depending on where it is that enjoying that chili dog. 

• A "Texas Dog" or "Texas Chili Dog" is a bit deceiing as it does not come from Texas but rather is popular up around New Jersey or Pennsylvania. Prior to 1920 the Texas hot dog became popular because of the chili sauce that it was topped with. 
• Another sytle of hotdog that became a bit lost in location is the Coney Island dog. Invented in Southeastern Michigan 

1 pound lean ground beef

1 (15oz) can chili beans

1 (15oz) can tomato sauce

4 hot dogs cut into small bites

2 teaspoons chili powder

1/2 teaspoon each garlic powder and onion powder

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional

1/2 cup chopped onion

3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided

1 (32oz) package tater tots

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish, set aside.

CHILI: Brown ground beef until no longer pink. Drain completely. Add in chili beans, tomato sauce, hot dogs and seasonings. Stir to combine.

ASSEMBLY: Spoon chili into prepared dish. Sprinkle chopped onions on top then sprinkle 2 cups cheddar on top. Arrange tater tots on top of the cheddar (the whole package may not be used). Bake for 30 minutes. Remove and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Return to oven for 3-5 minutes just to melt the cheese.

recipe resource and photo <https://www.countrysidecravings.com/chili-dog-tater-tot-casserole/>

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Yes Garfield Did Love Lasagna You May as Well

Garfield is one of the most famous cats in America cartoons. Nearly everyone that knows Garfield also knows that his favorite food is lasagna. The reason may deceive many others but for those true fans they will know that Garfield began life as the pet of an owner of the Mamma Leoni's restraunt. However, when Garfield was a little older the owner had to sell him to pet shop to save the restraunt. 

O.K so I will get to the point July 29th is National Lasagna day and I feel that it is a great recipe to share with you here on Annies Home blog. Lasagna can be made large enough to feed a crowd or adapted down to be a single serving. Some recipes can be complex and others easy to make. Become creative in your cooking skills and make up your own variety of lasagna from veggie to cheese. to meats. Perhaps you are one that loves to cook once and eat a second time as well Lasagna is perfect for doing that. 

• 1/2 package lasagna noodles
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound bulk Italian sausage (sweet or spicy, depending on your preference)
• 2 jars marinara sauce (you may only need 1 jar depending on how much sauce you use)
• 15 ounces ricotta cheese
• 2 pinch salt and pepper
• 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (you will need between 2–4 cups, depending on how cheesy you like your lasagna!)

1. Preheat oven to 375º F.
2. If using traditional lasagna noodles, follow directions for boiling the noodles as indicated on the package. If using oven-ready, no-boil lasagna noodles, move on to next step.
3. Add olive oil to a large skillet and heat pan over medium heat on the stove (which would be 5 on a dial scaled 1-10) for a few minutes. Add the sausage and cook until the meat is no longer pink, stirring regularly and breaking up the sausage into crumbled pieces. Remove from heat.
4. In a 9″ x 13″ casserole dish, spread a few spoonfuls of marinara sauce on the bottom of the dish.
5. Place one layer of lasagna noodles on top of the sauce, then spread a few spoonfuls of ricotta cheese on top of the noodles. Sprinkle the ricotta cheese evenly with salt and pepper, then spread a handful or two of shredded mozzarella cheese over the ricotta. Add a layer of the crumbled, cooked sausage, using up half of the sausage. Drizzle several generous spoonfuls of sauce over everything. Add another layer of noodles and repeat the layers of this step (ricotta cheese, salt and pepper, mozzarella and sausage). Drizzle again with marinara sauce then add one more layer of noodles.
6. Top the final layer of noodles with more marinara sauce and finish with shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
7. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Carefully remove foil then bake for an additional 5-10 minutes to brown cheese slightly.
8. Remove lasagna from oven and let sit for 10-15 minutes before cutting and serving.

enjoy!!!

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Skunked at the New Home

Recently our family moved to a rural sort of town. There are many changes that we are all getting used to and I guess our dog learned one big one today as well. While investigating his sorroundings he got a scent that I think he should of avoided (it was a stinky sort of scent) He continued on and well earned a good spray by a scent for his troubles. Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is get the tomato juice.... 

However,,, I did a quick search and found a treatment that will help remove the terrible scent. One of the most important parts is to check their eyes for red or irritation. If they are then they must be at once flushed with cool water. 

Mix together:

• 1 quart of 3-percent hydrogen peroxide 
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap

Using the mixture and wearing gloves you should wash your dog. Be careful not to get the mix into their eyes. So you say you don't have the ingredients that make up the mix on hand??? Then use vinegar that has been diluted with water. 

You will want to know 

• If using peroxide you will want to rinse quickly as peroxide can dye the          fur of your pet.                                                                                          
• This mixture needs to made at the time it is needed otherwise it could             be  an issue to explode in bottle

Now the hard part should be over and you can relax and give your dog a normal bath. Be sure to towel dry your dog to make sure he is good and dry. 

photo credit

U.S. Beacon <http://www.usbeacon.com/Illinois/Rosiclare.html>

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