Dog-Friendly #Hanukkah Gelt

Hanukkah is almost here and I can't wait!  With all of the presents, dreidels, candles, and latkes - Hanukkah is such a festive winter holiday.  But there is one Hanukkah tradition that I have always missed out on, until now:  HANUKKAH GELT!  Wait, I know what you're thinking, "nooo Daisy, stay away from the chocolate!!!!!"  This gelt is different; it's made out of 100% completely dog-friendly ingredients which means that I get inhale enjoy some this year, too.  Even though I don't normally share my food, you all are some of my bestest friends, so I am sharing my recipe with you.  And since sharing is caring (especially when there is food involved) please share this recipe with your bestest dog friends, too!

Please note that this post contains affiliate links.  This means that if you click and/or purchase an item using these links, I receive a small commission.  These commissions help to support my blog, as well as my bacon addiction.  Thank you for your continued support, friends!

First, gather all of your ingredients and materials.  Here's what you'll need:

• 1 c. unsweetened carob chips (these are the ones that I used: SunSpire Unsweetened Carob Chips, 10 Ounce Bag)
• 2 tsp. organic coconut oil (I used something similar to this: Carrington Farms Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil)
• A double-boiler or a small pot and a heat-safe (glass is best) bowl
• A spatula or wisk
• Foil (I didn't use these this time, but for a really festive and professional look I think I will try these next time: Wilton Foil Candy Wrappers, 4 by 4-Inch, Gold, 50-Pack) 
• A coin-shaped chocolate mold (this is the exact one that I used: Cybrtrayd M122 Small Coins Chocolate Candy Mold )
• Your most festive Hanukkah sweater (optional)   

 Now, it's time to get started.  Combine the carob chips and coconut oil in a your bowl or top portion of your double boiler.  A taste test at this point is completely acceptable.  [Sidenote: notice that one teaspoon of coconut oil is missing in this photo.  That's because I used my chameleon-like tongue to grab the coconut oil while my human snapped the photo.  My human didn't worry though, because coconut oil is good for dogs.]

Heat up your double boiler or, if you are like me and using a pot and bowl, put some water in your pot (approximately 1/2 c. - 1 c.) and heat over medium heat.  Place your owl over the pot (or, just use your double boiler) and stir the carob chips and oil frequently.  Ultimately, the consistency should look like this:

Next, carefully spoon the melted carob chips into your mold.  It is best to recruit a human with steady hands (and thumbs) for this step.

Once your mold is filled, place it in the refrigerator to chill for approximately thirty minutes.  Meanwhile, go ahead and cut your foil squares (or simply open your package of Wilton Foil Candy Wrappers - so much easier).

 

After the carob has chilled and become solid, simply pop the coins out of the mold and wrap in foil.

 

 Then pose for a photo and give your human the saddest eyes possible until they give you a piece. 

 

Oh, and don't forget to capture your first taste on video!  If you try out this recipe be sure to take a photo and tag it with #DaisyFrenchie on social media!  I'd love to see and share your photos and videos with all of my friends!  Here's my first taste of Hanukkah gelt - Happy Hanukkah!:

That means that I get a small commission if you click and/or purchase an item through these links.  These commissions help to support my blog, as well as my bacon addiction.  Thank you for your continued support, friends! - See more at: http://daisythefrenchbulldog.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2015-12-01T06:00:00-05:00&max-results=2#sthash.BKyWnxMq.dpuf

Please note that some of the links contained in this post are affiliate links.  That means that I get a small commission if you click and/or purchase an item through these links.  These commissions help to support my blog, as well as my bacon addiction.  Thank you for your continued support, friends! - See more at: http://daisythefrenchbulldog.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2015-12-01T06:00:00-05:00&max-results=2#sthash.BKyWnxMq.dpuf

Please note that some of the links contained in this post are affiliate links.  That means that I get a small commission if you click and/or purchase an item through these links.  These commissions help to support my blog, as well as my bacon addiction.  Thank you for your continued support, friends! - See more at: http://daisythefrenchbulldog.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2015-12-01T06:00:00-05:00&max-results=2#sthash.BKyWnxMq.dpuf

Please note that some of the links contained in this post are affiliate links.  That means that I get a small commission if you click and/or purchase an item through these links.  These commissions help to support my blog, as well as my bacon addiction.  Thank you for your continued support, friends! - See more at: http://daisythefrenchbulldog.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2015-12-01T06:00:00-05:00&max-results=2#sthash.BKyWnxMq.dpuf

Please note that some of the links contained in this post are affiliate links.  That means that I get a small commission if you click and/or purchase an item through these links.  These commissions help to support my blog, as well as my bacon addiction.  Thank you for your continued support, friends! - See more at: http://daisythefrenchbulldog.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2015-12-01T06:00:00-05:00&max-results=2#sthash.BKyWnxMq.dpuf

#ShedHappens, So Share the Love of Swiffer®.

Thanksgiving is over and the holiday season is officially here!  The winter holidays always put me in a good mood - the songs, food, family, and friends all make for some special, memorable experiences.  But with family visiting from near and far, I want to make sure that the memories that happen in my home this season are not because of a pet mess.  Let's face it, #ShedHappens, but I like to make sure that I am prepared with plenty of Swiffer products to keep my home fresh, clean, and company ready this holiday season!

This post is sponsored by Swiffer® and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am helping spread the word about Swiffer but I (Daisy the French Bulldog) only share information that I feel is relevant to my readers. Swiffer is not responsible for the content of this article.

A few weeks ago I told you about the Welcome Home Kit from Swiffer and Bark Box that I had the opportunity to test out.  

Well, today it is time to help spread the holiday cheer by sharing Swiffer with a friend and neighbor of mine - Winston the Pug.  I chose to share Swiffer with Winston and his family because November was "Adopt a Senior Dog Month", and I wanted to help bring attention to this important cause!  Also, pug's shed.  A lot.  (I know from experience - my sister looks like a potato with legs, but trust me, she's a pug).  Because a whole lot of #ShedHappens when you have pugs, a special Swiffer delivery is just what my friend Winston needed.  (We let his little brother Truman the pug participate, too).  Take a look at how I surprised him with his very own Welcome Home Kit from Swiffer and Bark Box:

Clearly, Winston and his family are ready for company this holiday season now that they are prepared for stress-free clean up when #ShedHappens.  Did you know that more than half (58%) of pet owning parents think that cleaning up their pet's messes is a major source of stress?  Don't let your children miss out on the benefits of owning a pet just because #ShedHappens - Swiffer is here to help (in more ways than one)!

Speaking of the benefits of owning a pet, let me tell you a story about my little humans and I.  I'll start with my littlest human.  My littlest human is a rough-and-tough, fun-loving little boy.  Oh I just love to play tag and tug-of-war with him!  Not long ago, my littlest human was struggling with language.  In fact, he really didn't speak at all - unless I was around.  The word "Daisy" was among my littlest human's first words, and it was the only word that he would speak on a regular basis.  Encouraging my littlest human to speak to me helped him to improve his language skills and eventually communicate using the spoken word.  (In case you were wondering, I tried to teach him how to say "bacon", but that didn't work out so well).  The fact that my littlest human would only speak to me for a long while shows what an incredible bond children (of any age) and pets can have.

Age certainly doesn't matter when it comes to children and pets.  My other human (slightly older than the little one) is one of my most favorite playmates.  He loves garbage trucks.  LOVES THEM.  And because I love my human, I trained myself to alert him when the garbage truck is in front of our house; I hear the rumble coming down the street and I bark to sound the alarm!  There is no way that my human is going to miss seeing his favorite truck on my watch!  This goes to show you the impenetrable love that exists between a child and his or her pet.  

Pets are also a great way to teach children about responsibility.  Children can assist with feeding and walking their pet, and with Swiffer, they can help to clean up after their pet, too!  The Swiffer Duster with dust-lock adhesive is the perfect tool for my littlest human.  He can easily grip the handle to use the duster on the baseboards and furniture.  Because the Swiffer Duster has 50% more fibers than regular dusters, up to three times more dust is easily trapped, which makes my littlest human proud and my big human happy that the job is done.  The same is true with the Swiffer Sweeper, which is the perfect tool for my older human to use when he helps to clean our hard floors.  Cleaning is so much fun with Swiffer that it becomes a family affair in our household!

This holiday season is the perfect time to add a new furry-family member to YOUR household!  Swiffer and Bark & Co. (Bark Box) are providing 10,000 Welcome Home Kits (like the one I gave to my buddy Winston) to participating shelters across the United States, as well as making a $50,000 total donation to shelters this holiday season.  When you adopt your new furry family member from a participating shelter this holiday season, make sure to snap a photo of your fur-baby enjoying his or her Welcome Home Kit and share the photo with @Swiffer and @BarkBox on social media to show that you are ready for when #ShedHappens.  

Don't let the fear of a little pet mess get in the way of creating the most memorable holiday season yet for your child.  #ShedHappens, so share the love of a new pet this season with help from Swiffer.

Check out Swiffer online:

http://www.swiffer.com

http://www.facebook.com/swiffer

http://www.twitter.com/swiffer

http://www.youtube.com/swiffer