A Tribute to Kora | How to Live Like a Dog

Kora's Story

When I was in undergrad, I knew I wanted a dog.  But living in rented apartments and moving each year was not the time to do it.  So, I started volunteering with a local rescue to get my "dog time" in and try to make a difference since I could not adopt.  During that time, I was asked to take a dog we had in foster to an event so she could get some exposure.  I was told she was 10 and had been with the rescue for over a year but nobody wanted to adopt her.  She was a rugged and outdoorsy dog, and by that I mean that she needed a bath and a brush.  When I took her to the event she leaned on my side the whole time.  There were kids and other dogs around playing with toys and she cautiously watched them and looked back at me.  A rescue member who had met her before commented on how attached to me she seemed to be and how she was behaving so much better than she normally does (i.e. should would normally try to eat those dogs and kids for breakfast).  And then came the innocent "Ha!  Maybe you should adopt her!"  (Oh the risks of working in rescue!  They will tell you anything to get you to adopt!)  I told them I couldn't because I lived in an apartment, but that I would be moving into a house in 6 months so we'll see then.  I really didn't think she would still be around.  And honestly, I always pictured adopting a puppy when the time came.  So, in comes skepticism.

Over the next 6 months I took her to a few more events, some visits being several months apart, and she remembered me every time.  Not only did she remember me, she was elated to see me.  I loved seeing her, but also was getting more and more saddened that she still remained in rescue after all these months, with no interest.  With the move into the new house a few weeks out, I started to consider that I might be the one who adopts her.  I was 23 at the time and almost everybody thought I was crazy to want to adopt a 10 year old dog….who stunk and looked a little rough around the edges.  My roommates at the time were less than thrilled, as was my boyfriend, and some family members gave me fair warning that it was going to be hard to have an older dog.  When I explained that everyone who knows her says that she acts different around me, they said "They will tell you anything to get you to adopt."

I adopted her anyway.  There was one other woman interested in her but that fizzled out and by the time I moved, she was still available.  I had no idea what I was getting into.  She was on regular medication, and had lumps and bumps all over, panted and drooled like CRAZY, but otherwise had TONS of energy.  Almost puppy-like.  I was told she loved to swim, hike, and run…and was a great cuddler.  All those things were true.  People soon began to see that it was also true that she was just "different" around me.  She would not leave my side and hardly listened to anyone else.  I could tell she was always tempted to be aggressive towards other dogs when a toy was involved that she thought was rightfully hers.  I was told to be careful around her and other dogs.  But instead, she just kind of looked at me, waiting for approval to pounce.

Playing in the mountains

When Kora's foster mom brought her to me on the day I adopted her, she came with some papers.  A lot of them were just vet records from her previous owner, with their information blacked out.  But all other information pertaining to Kora was left intact (other than her original name).  I learned that Kora was in fact only 8 years old, going on 9.  Supposedly born on November 11, 1999.  We were now in August of 2008.  I also learned from her foster mom that Kora made her way into rescue at such an old age because her owner recently got married and the wife was no longer okay with having dogs around.  So her, and her yellow lab brother, who was 2 years her senior, were dropped off to our rescue at a PetSmart, with a $1000 donation, because he "could not go back to the car with them."  I now see why the previous owner's information is blacked out on all of their paperwork - to prevent people like me from paying them a little visit.  At any rate, after I learned that, it was no wonder that she was glued to my side every moment, and made sure I never left her behind.

We had many great years together - more than I could have asked for.  For some reason, I always told myself that I thought she would make it to 14, and I hoped she made it to 14.  And she did make it to 14.  I don't know what the significance of that number was - maybe it's just my definition of what I perceive a "good, long life" for a dog to be.  Maybe that's when I felt I would be satisfied with the amount of time we had together, who knows.  But up until that time, she hiked like crazy, wouldn't leave the water, fetched like a mad woman, licked my tears when I cried and was almost glued to my side every second of every day.  Along the way there are things that I surely wish I did differently - it's what I would imagine having your first child to be.  You make a lot of mistakes, and you learn a lot about yourself that you wish wasn't true, but you love them like crazy.

Kora swimming circles around my canoe.  Makes it tough to paddle :)
(Two summers ago.  Age 12)

How To Live Like a Dog

This portion of the post, I started writing many months ago when I realized Kora wasn't going to be around forever.  (Some days it was easy to think she would have).  My years with her taught me that dogs, especially Kora, innately possess qualities in their short lives that it takes many humans a lifetime to learn, if they learn them at all.  I will consider myself to have reached enlightenment if I could master even half of these things.

-Always be excited to see the ones you love when they come home
-Always try to please the ones you love
-Forgive and forget
-Love the one you're with
-Stay loyal
-Sleep often
-Play often
-Sense when someone needs help
-Lower your expectations:  you have food, water, and someone who loves you.  Why be unhappy?
-Power through until you can't anymore.  And even when you can't anymore.
-Don't complain

Could you imagine what the world would be like if we all possessed these qualities?

Am I sad that Kora is no longer with me?  Hell yes.  You have no idea (or maybe you do).  But a dog will never admit defeat, although you can see it coming.  And it gives me great relief to have been able to help her at a time when she needed it most but would have never asked for it.

Kora and I camping.  Thank you Jason for taking this photo.  It remains one of my favorites.

Hug your dogs.  Adopt a dog.  Love a dog.  Or any animal for that matter.  These things are not wasted on them.

Chicken Chipotle Tacos, And a Short Hiatus

Hello there everyone!  I hope you all survived the holidays and are ready to start the new year!!  Our holidays were very relaxed and that was a good thing given all of the excitement that the next few months are going to bring.

Shortly, we will be wedding planning our butts off, and I have recently set a goal of completing 2 more exams towards my architectural license before wedding planning gets too crazy.  That leaves little time for my beloved blog, so please forgive the extended silence that will no doubt be happening on here.  I will try to get on as much as I can, but as you are already starting to see, it's not as often as I have been on in the past.  Hopefully the distance makes your love grow stronger, right??  Maybe?  My true hope is that by the time I start blogging regularly again, I will have gained some new lighting equipment that makes indoor shooting in the winter (with minimal daylight!) look so much better!



Before I go, I wanted to leave you with a recipe that I made for a monthly supper club that I recently started with friends (so fun!).  This chicken chipotle taco/burrito recipe is something that I have held onto since having it at one of my friend's houses long ago (Stacy, I'm talkin' about you if you are out there!)  It has remained a hit with anyone I have shared it with since…anyone who can handle the heat, that is.  This dish is crazy hot the way I make it, but you can adapt it to your spice level by using fewer chipotle peppers, and still get that great smoky flavor.  (Or, you can just smother it with sour cream and cheese to help with the heat, like I do!  Sour cream is your friend with this dish.  Just let it happen.)

In this variation, I threw all of the ingredients in a slow cooker and let it cook away.  Usually I sauté it all in a pan and get great results too.  You really can't go wrong with this one.

Chipotle Chicken Tacos/Burritos

2 Boneless skinless chicken breasts (chopped into 1/2" chunks if cooking on stove top, can leave whole for the slow cooker)

1 7oz Can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped

1 4oz Can of diced green chiles

1 Yellow or red onion, diced

1 Package of corn tortillas for tacos (or flour tortillas for burritos)

Sour cream and cheddar cheese to taste

Cooked white rice (optional)

This is all you need if you are making this on the stove top.  But I also added about 1/2c of chipotle salsa for the slow cooker version.

Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker and let heat on low for 5-6 hours.  For the last hour or so I take the lid off and turn the cooker on high if there is a lot of liquid that needs to thicken up.

For the stove top version, heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a pan and sauté onions until translucent.  Add diced chicken and cook through.  Lastly add chopped chipotle peppers and green chiles, combine and heat through.  Remove from heat and serve immediately

Spoon chicken mixture into tortillas, or on top of a bed of rice, and top with sour cream and cheese!

I hope you all miss me while I am gone, I will miss you!

Weekly | Links I'm Likin' (Thanksgiving Detox Edition)

Hey there! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Our dinner went off without a hitch and was quite delicious.  I hope I get to cook every year (famous last words, I'm sure)

That being said, I feel like I really need to chill out on the Thanksgiving leftovers.  So, last night I hunkered down with some of the healthiest cookbooks I could find and made a grocery list that puts last week's eating habits to shame.  By about Saturday, I was craving simple things like, oh I don't know, a banana, or some lettuce.  But there was still so much left to eat.  I froze as much as I could, and am now on the road to recovery (I hope.)  (Spoken like a true addict.)

So, this week's links are dedicated to healthy eating and will hopefully give you some ideas for detoxing after Bingefest 2013.  I know I will be trying a few of these.

Re-stocking healthy food!

Curry Sage Butternut Squash Soup
Southwest Quinoa Salad with Chile Lime Vinaigrette
Asparagus Corn Salad
Chickpea Sweet Potato Burgers
Baked Balsamic Chicken
Almond Butter Soba Noodles with Garlic Shrimp
Poached Eggs in Tomato Sauce
Farmer's Market Skillet (might have to make this one with frozen veggies)
Turkey Santa Fe Lettuce Wraps (if you still have turkey left over!)
Curried Chicken Soup (this was featured on the links a couple of weeks ago, but I have to repost because it is very healthy and PHENOMENAL...like, seriously)

Thanksgiving Lineup

Ok, I know this is supposed to be a "food blog" of sorts and I have not given you any Thanksgiving recipes.  And for good reason.  I freaking love Thanksgiving, and if I start making and eating Thanksgiving food well before the "big day" actually gets here, I am worried that 1) I will quickly be on a downhill spiral of eating "Thanksgiving style" for more than my (1) alloted day per year, and 2) that it will take the luster and excitement out of Thanksgiving when the day actually comes.  Thank goodness for the other food bloggers and recipe makers out there who don't have these superstitions and are fully committed to making nothing but Thanksgiving food for practically the entire month of November.  Otherwise, none of us would know what to make on Thursday.  So cheers to them!

What I will give you is a very simple list of what we have have planned to make, with photos to follow!  (I feel like such a bad blogger right now...sorry!)  What do you all have planned?

Truffle Mac - from Homeroom's Mac n Cheese cookbook, which I have already raved about.

Bacon Brussel Sprouts

Kale Salad

Joy's Feta & Chive Sour Cream Scones

Garlic Mashed Potatoes (I am going to try adapting a simple family favorite)

 

Pies (from my dad)

 

Turkey and a chuck roast that Denny is in charge of :)

 

Gravy

 

Stuffing

 

Giada's Quinoa Salad with some adaptations, from one of my new favorite cookbooks.

 

Have a great Thanksgiving!!

Weekly | Links I'm Likin' (10)

Today I found the love of my life - truffle gouda cheese.  The Thanksgiving mac n cheese recipe that I will be making revolves around this cheese and I am scared to find out how I will act around other people with whom I am supposed to share this dish.  Is it going to be like when people ask if we should all share sushi in a group larger than 2?  I sure hope not.  An anxiety rises within me that convinces my little brain that I will not get my fair share, or I will leave feeling cheated by the very people I love most.  Issues.  I have issues.  Anyway, here are some links.

 



1. What if we always had Instagram?  Like even when the Mona Lisa was being created.
2. This song is so damn catchy!  This is a great rendition.
3. Get your family in line this holiday season.  Powerpoints help.
4. Justin Beever.  Zach G.  YES.
5. My dad cracks himself up, I can picture him pulling a few of these stunts :)
6. These are the types of projects that I would love to do.  Unfortunately for me, they are also the types of projects that I start and never finish :(  Maybe this year can be different! I do really love the clock.
7. These people need a big hug from life. Or maybe some bubble wrap.
8. I felt so giddy while watching this, I couldn't stop smiling!!
9. Just a good laugh, that is all.

Open Faced Dippin' Eggs Sandwich

Weekends with my dad were always fun, but some of my fondest memories are of him making breakfast for my brother and I.  I have told you before about how he is the master of egg frying and taught me what I know today.  His specialty is eggs over easy.  Or as we liked to call them, dippin' eggs.  Back in those days, eggs in our house were never without their counterpart, bagels and cream cheese.  We loved puncturing the soft, runny yolk with the toasted bagel and making a mess on our plates.  For a very long time, mopping up the yolk with a toasty piece of bread was the only way I would eat eggs.  Today, even though I have learned to love eggs in all forms, I still return to this way of eating eggs quite often.

Last Saturday was one such occasion.  Denny and I awoke from a (rather...ambitious) Friday night and all I wanted was a sloppy, hearty, flavorful egg dish.  I don't know how I scrounged this all together, because let me tell you, I was in rare form, but I will tell you that I had this recipe in the back of my mind so it couldn't come out all that bad.  When all was said and done, Denny and I scarfed.this.down.  It was delicious.  But it also may have been the type of morning where almost anything would have tasted delicious to us, who knows.  You guys will just have to make it and tell me if we are crazy or not.  It was tart, yet rich and creamy and had a whole lot of textures going on.  And messy, boy was it messy.  See Exhibit A below.  If you think you are going to daintily eat this like a normal breakfast sandwich, think again, because once you break the yolk it's game over.  You better save yourself the time and humility and just grab a fork and knife from the get-go.

Open Faced Dippin' Eggs Sandwich

(makes 2 sandwiches)

4 eggs

1 everything bagel

Enough cream cheese to spread on a bagel.  1 tsp or half a cup.  Your call.

2tsp dijon mustard

1 cup arugula

1 shallot, finely chopped

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1tbsp goat cheese, crumbled

1tsp butter

Non-Stick cooking spray

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 an avocado, sliced

In a small frying pan, melt the butter and sauté the shallot until translucent, 2-3 min.  When finished, add the shallot and lemon juice to the arugula and toss together.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Set aside.  Pop two bagel halves in the toaster until golden brown.  Top each half with cream cheese.  Spread 1 teaspoon of dijon mustard on each bagel.  Set aside.

Spray down your small frying pan with non stick spray and heat at medium low.  Crack 2 eggs in there.    Top with salt and pepper.  For sunny side up eggs, cover the pan and let cook until the white is no longer runny.  For over easy eggs, flip when most of the white, aside from the top layer, is no longer runny.  Repeat with 2 more eggs for the second sandwich.

Divide the arugula mix in half and pile on top of each bagel.  When the eggs are done, place them on the bed of arugula.  Top each with half of the avocado.

Sprinkle generously with goat cheese and go to town.

Weekly | Links I'm Likin' (9)

Today, I need a break from work.  I want to go home, put on some PJs and watch endless episodes of Friends.  Who feels me?  Hopefully this gives you the break you need!  Oh, and here is another pretty picture from Moab!  Have a great week!

1. I really really want this mug :)
2. I really really want these napkins :)  I mean, mapkins.
3. Surreal places to see before I die.  Hopefully I will have a life of travel some day.
4. Hanger.  It happens to the best of us.
5. I want this soup in my stomach, now!
6. I'd like to think that I could do better, but I probably can't.  Sad face.
7. Someone needs to prove to me that these images are not fake.  So crazy!
8. Who knew?  Giant arrows that guide you across America.
9. So cute, I can't handle it!!
10. I recently bought this cookbook and I cannot say enough good things about it!!  I have made 5 recipes from it and all were amazing.  Like seriously, amazing.
11. And finally, a great laugh.  Oh, what was life like before the internet again?