Calvin is now officially one year of age…
so I had to do a retrospective post, taking a look back at how he’s grown since last spring.
In the blink of an eye, he’s transformed from this helpless little bitty …
into this strong, strapping 23-pound beagle.
So I guess this will be my last chance to call him a “puppy ” in a post title.
At the ripe old age of One, Calvin has already has already “seen it all.”
He’s “hiked” the White Mountains in the fall…
…learned to love the snow (we got heaps of it for Cal’s first winter)…
…enjoyed his first Christmas…
…which was a little too much excitement for Calvin…
…too many gifts to explore and too many unfamiliar holiday sights and smells completely wore him out.
Life is tough for this beagle.
By now, Calvin knows what he likes…
…sneaking into Meat-and-Potatoes-Guy’s duffel bag to steal his hockey tape (Cal’s favorite chew toy)…
…taking a comfortable seat on the day bed (perfect for watching all the activity going on outside the window) while pulling all the stuffing from each of his stuffed toys, until they’re entirely destroyed…
…and claiming that day bed as his own for naps in the sun…
His big (sometimes goofy) personality has earned him a long list of nicknames:
Cal-Cal,
Calvie,
Cal-Bean,
Bumble,
and Bubble, to name a few.
To commemorate a full year in the life of Calvin, I had to take a look back at the first photos I took.
From this tiny…
…soft…
…sweet little 4-bound cutie…..
…to this full-grown beagle with a very healthy appetite.
I wanted to make something a little unique and special to celebrate Calvin’s first year of life.
So I made some homemade birthday cupcakes just for dogs.
They’re very quick and simple to make.
As they should be.
Calvin eats any treats that are handed to him in under .4 seconds flat.
And, since peanut butter is one of Cal’s all-time favorites, they have a special peanut butter frosting.
Cal heartily approved of the recipe.
Very heartily approved – he adores these!
Here is the complete printable recipe:
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Yield: 6 cupcakes
- ½ cup rye flour (or whole wheat flour or brown rice flour)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ⅓ cup canola oil
- ⅓ cup applesauce
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 1½ tablespoons peanut butter
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a mixing bowl, stir the flour, baking powder, canola oil, applesauce, egg, and honey until well combined.
- Insert cupcake liners into a muffin or cupcake pan. Spoon mixture into cupcake liners, filling each about halfway.
- Bake for about 10-12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
- Allow cupcakes to cool to room temperature.
- Meanwhile, in a bowl, stir yogurt and peanut butter until mixture is smooth and creamy. Use a small spatula or butter knife to smooth a thin layer of the peanut butter frosting over each cupcake.
- Storage: cupcakes should hold up for 4-5 days if stored in an airtight container in a cool, shaded, dry spot. Peanut butter frosting should be stored separately, covered and refrigerated. Frost cupcakes immediately before serving.
Absolutely Adorable!
LOVE the photos. He is so adorable. I can’t believe how big he is now
Thanks Jen. I still want to see the day when Dora and Calvin meet!
Awww what a cute little puppy!! I’ll have to pass this recipe on to my friend with dogs!
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes recently posted…Reese’s Peanut Butter Banana Bread
You’re so adorable .. and so is he. Cupcakes for dogs … how sweet is that. Love your gallery of him. Maybe not a puppy, but he are cute as one … I think dogs should always be puppies .. and cats kittens. I wonder why I haven’t got your other notices .. for you posts. Ages since I heard anything from you.
Here I can see .. you have posted quite a few.
I don’t like that you have gone to another planet. Give him a new 4 sec flat treat from me. *smile
Viveka recently posted…i stands for ingemar stenmark
IT’s so adorable you made him a cupcake! You can call your baby a puppy for forever, I think!
Kelly @ Hidden Fruits and Veggies recently posted…Super Quick and Easy Whole Wheat Bread
Awwwwwwwww!!! I love beagles!! Happy Birthday Puppy!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) recently posted…Sandwich Rolls
GAH! He is just the cutest! Happy birthday to your little darling. These pupcakes are adorbs!!!!
Kate @ Kate from Scratch recently posted…How To: Homemade Surface Cleaner
Calvin is the cutest, love that you celebrated with dog cupcakes!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) recently posted…chocolate-caramel graham bars
Happy 1st birthday to Mr Adorable my friend he is such a cutie
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Choc Chip Uru recently posted…Guest Post #9: Peanut Butter Quinoa Oat Muffins
He is gorgeous!
Author Rebecca Mugridge recently posted…Custard Apple Coconut Crumble
He looks so different – from his colouring of his ears to those adorable pink pads on his paws! What a good looking fella Jen. It reminds us all why photos are so precious x
Pyjama Gardener recently posted…Fairy Garden
OMGOSHHH how cute is that little pup? My pup actually turns two in a couple days so I’m really glad to see this recipe! She is also a lover of peanut butter (as is every dog).
xo Jackie
Jackie l Food.Wine.Fashion recently posted…Mashed Cauliflower & Potatoes
Such a sweet doggie!
Happy Birthday little guy!
Diane @ Life of Di. recently posted…Tuesday Thoughts.
That little puppy face is just too cute!
What a cute idea! I will have to make these for my dog’s birthday in July!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl recently posted…A Nearly Wordless WIAW
I have to admit that this is about the sixth time I’ve been to this post. Every time I needed a lift yesterday and today, I stopped by and left with a huge smile! Thanks!!!! Calvin is as cute at one year as he was when he was a puppy. What a loving family that would make him his own cupcakes.
mjskit recently posted…Green Chile Pecan Cheese Spread
Aww what a cutie! I have a 15 year old beagle. She’s still my little puppy
-Lauren
What a great idea! Happy birthday Calvin!
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe recently posted…Gettin’ Tarty | Brûléed Lemon Tart
Aww what a sweet little pup! I love Beagles so much. Does he bark/howl a lot? My boyfriend and I might get a dog when we move in together and I want to lobby hard for a beagle, but he says they bark too much. I say that’s just upbringing though.
Ashley Bee (Quarter Life Crisis Cuisine) recently posted…Since You’ve Been Gone
He is so adorable!
We have a beagle too and I know how obsessed they are with food, youCalvin him the best birthday gift ever!!
Daniela recently posted…Figs Au Gratin With Goat Cheese And Crisp Prosciutto
So cute! I don’t have a dog but if I did he looks like he would be the perfect puppy.
He is still very cute and what a fun recipe! Looks like it’s Calvin–approved!
Cynthia recently posted…Grapenut “Meat” Loaf
I messed up this year. My dog Julius is tres jealous: https://www.facebook.com/JuliusChenwald
Lynn Chen recently posted…Cooks County
Happy Birthday to your sweet puppy, he’s always adorable!
sweetlife recently posted…Sweet Week n.3
Oh my goodness — absolutely adorable! So, so cute! These cupcakes are such a great idea and your puppy photos are beyond cute. I love the wrapper hanging from his mouth.
Oh my goodness! These pictures are adorable. I love the doggie cupcake idea…I’d love to see more of our friendly companions’ treats in the future!
xo, Vinni
masalaandmissoni.wordpress.com
Thanks for sharing his birthday…he certainly has grown from that adorable puppy into a beautiful dog.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted…Sicilian Pasta With Saffron And Cauliflower
Oh these pictures are adorable – too cute!
Simply Life recently posted…Living to 100
I found your website through my daughter, Stephie, who has the Eat Your Heart Out food blog (found you on twitter). You have a beagle! We have two of these babies–my 5th and 6th beagles; my husband’s second and third beagles. Ours are both rescues through Midwest BREW, and they are our babies (since we are empty-nesters). I’m always looking for beagle goodies and goodies for ourselves, too, so I’m glad I found your blog! Your baby is so cute.
I found your blog while searching for healthy dog treats for the 2nd anniversary of our puppy’s arrival home and am so glad that I did. They were a breeze to make but, more importantly, he absolutely loved them. You managed to calm my Jack Russell puppy for as long as he sat down and licked the frosting off of his paws. Thank you!