Sunday, November 22, 2020

Welcome, guest author Cate Conte aka Liz Mugavero with a #Thanksgiving Pupcake #recipe + book #giveaway

 


Please welcome our guest Cate Conte!    

Cate  writes the Cat Cafe Mysteries and the new Full Moon Mysteries. As Liz Mugavero, she writes the Pawsitively Organic Mysteries, the first of which was an Agatha Award nominee for Best First Novel. She lives in Connecticut with her rescue pals.


 

Take it away, Cate!

 *
 

 Who says dogs can’t enjoy the holidays too?

 

I love Thanksgiving. Which is odd because I don’t eat meat, right? But it really has nothing to do with the meal. It’s all about the feeling the holiday brings, the gratitude it inspires, and yes, the vegan meals I’ve been ordering from Whole Foods the past few years (they are SO good!)

 

I like to think that Thanksgiving is especially poignant for all the rescue pups and kitties out there. Even though they may not know that the day is a holiday specifically, I’m sure they feel the vibes that come from a safe, warm home with people in it who are equally thankful for them, as they are for their humans.

 

And what better way to show our thanks for their constant love, companionship and comfort than baking them some homemade treats?

 

I have to admit that I’m not a big cook or baker. I just can’t seem to find the time to devote to it. But while I’m not always keen on taking the time for myself, I’ll make an exception to give the pups something special. And since they don’t get leftover turkey (because I don’t eat it), I usually feel guilty enough that it will send me to the kitchen.


So this Thanksgiving, their holiday table will include apple and cheddar pupcakes - a healthy, human-consumable treat that can be made either gluten free, or with regular flour. My babies love this one - I hope yours will too!

 

And because it’s Thanksgiving and a time for thanks, I’m giving away one copy of my new book, Claws for Alarm, to a commenter here. Tell me what you like to give your favorite furries as a special holiday treat!

 

With gratitude for all the readers out there,

 

Cate/Liz

 

Apple & Cheddar Pupcakes

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour ( 1-1 gluten-free flour)

1/4 cup Traditional Rolled Oats

2 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 cup Applesauce

1/2 cup Water

1/4 cup Vegetable Oil

2 tbsp Honey

2 Eggs

1 Apple - peeled, cored and minced

1 cup Grated Cheddar Cheese

 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line muffin tins with paper liners.

 

2. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, oats, baking powder and baking soda. In a medium bowl, whisk together the applesauce, water, oil, honey and eggs, then stir in the apple and cheese. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and stir until just barely blended.

 

3. Spoon the batter into the muffin tins, filling almost full (you may have a couple spoonfuls of batter leftover). Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in the tins for a few minutes and then remove to a cooling rack to cool completely.

 

Yields: 8-10

Cate's Giveaway

 

I’m giving away one copy of Whisker of a Doubt

#4 in the series 

to one commenter here. 

Tell me what you like to give your favorite furries as a special holiday treat!  

Remember to leave your email so I can contact you.



Social links:

 



71 comments:

  1. I love to give xmas catnip toys to my kitty! Thanks for the chance.
    Jess
    maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    Replies
    1. My guys love catnip toys too! Although the dogs usually take them and destroy them :(

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  2. Thank you for the recipe for Apple & Cheddar Pupcakes. We do love to spoil our furbaby. He a chihuahua that just turned 16 years old so he deserved to be spoiled. :) He loved it when I make him homemade chicken jerky. It's a special treat that's high in protein, contains no byproducts and is good for him.

    Appreciate the chance to win a copy of "Claws for Alarm". It's on my TBR list and I can't wait for the opportunity to read it. Great title and cover which I'm sure will be drawing folks to pick up the book for a closer examination.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  3. One of my dogs seem to get tummy troubles if I give her anything besides her dog food even if it's homemade. So for a special holiday treat they get stuffy toys. ckmbeg (at) gmail (dot) com

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    Replies
    1. Stuffy toys are always a good deal too! My dogs destroy them so they can only have the super tough toys.

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  4. My cat Hemi always gets a new toy and some of her favorite tuna flake treats. I'll save out some safe food for her from our holiday meal. She loves turkey and if we make any pumpkin dessert she's more than willing to finish off any leftover plain pumpkin.
    kozo8989(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    Replies
    1. I love that. My dogs are getting turkey this year too. I always make them some even though I don't eat it.

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  5. My dog gets bark boxes every month, so she’s super spoiled. My kitties get lots of their fav treats and extra canned kitty food. The recipe sounds yummy, even for humans. I appreciate the chance to win a book - it sounds great and I’d love the opportunity to check it out! michelle_english_major (at) Hotmail.com

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  6. My cats get nothing special other than there temptation cat treats.

    Pugpower63 at Gmail dot com

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    Replies
    1. Those are my cats' favorites too, especially Jack. He is OBSESSED with them....

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  7. I have no furries to feed, but I'd make make muffins for me with your recipe :-) Thank you for sharing it, Liz

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  8. Our tabby Evie Marie loves steamed shrimp more than anything else, so she always gets that on special occasions. Our hounds would probably enjoy these pupcakes, so we need to try them.
    browninggloria(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Steamed shrimp is a nice snack! Let me know how the dogs like them if you make them!

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  9. I have 4 kitties and each likes different treats lol. But they ALL love catnip mice! So, while it isn't something to eat....I like to find different holiday themed catnip filled toys for them to enjoy! The book sounds GREAT! Thanks for the chance to win! ladyofshalott03(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Johnny, my cat who is the model for JJ in the books, loved catnip mice. They were his absolute favorite. I miss that orange guy so much...

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  10. I have no fur babies as husband is allergic BUT I have a couple granddaughters with cats and a son with four cats and two dogs. They believe in rescuing their animals. I am going to try the recipe tho'!!

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    Replies
    1. I love that they rescue! I hope they enjoy the treats :)

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  11. My dog who loves treats gets certain biscuits which are so enticing. His toys are always updated since they bring him enjoyment.

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  12. Unfortunately I don't have a furry anymore. My mini-schnauzer crossed the Rainbow Bridge when my kids were little. The co-op we live in doesn't allow pets. (then why do they allow children?) I used to slip Cuddles food from my plate (mom was a terrible cook) and Cuddles would gobble it down.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so sorry Nora (and I'm totally with you on the kids!)

      Delete
  13. My little dog Albert gets a new toy or two at Christmas. During Thanksgiving he always gets a few bites of turkey, which he loves, and it's a couple bites of ham at Christmas. He's in heaven when those days roll around.
    smurphee@yahoo.com

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  14. The three kitties get catnip toys and new cardboard scratching pads that sit on the floor.
    kimheniadis at gmail dot com

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    Replies
    1. Nice, Kim. Catnip toys seem to be the winner for all the kitties out there.

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  15. These sound like tasty morsels, for dogs and humans!
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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    Replies
    1. Libby, congrats. You're the winner of the giveaway from Cate Conte aka Liza Mugavero by random number selection. I'll put the two of you in touch. ~ Daryl

      Delete
  16. Rescue pups are the best! I make a batch of peanut butter, bananas and yogurt and freeze them. They get one every day after dinner. They love them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is a great idea! I'm going to have to try it.

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  17. Pita my cat gets extra treats and toys. I buy her something that she hasn't tried yet, because it might turn out to be her next favorite treat. I love this series. Thank you for this chance! areewekidding(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  18. You are the best furry-creature mom out there, Liz/Cate! My copy of the new book is on order, and I can't wait to read it.

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  19. I’m not sure if my previous comment took. I don’t have any pets right now, but your recipe is great! Legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com

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  20. For a special treat, my dog enjoys Frosty Paws

    jtcgc at yahoo dot com

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  21. I always give my cats new catnip toys for Christmas and squeaky toys for my Sister's dog. They also get their usual treats.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  22. Our furbabies always get a little taste of turkey. At Christmas the dogs always get a new stuffy toy and treats and the cats get a catnip toy and treats. My Sassy cat would never forgive me if I didn't get her kitty treats. She lives for them. bella_ringer@hotmail.com

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  23. My babies like cardboard scratching boxes. They are a mess but the babies love them. So the get new ones for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

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  24. I forgot my email! Shobrock66@gmail. Com

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  25. They love getting a new catnip toy! JL_Minter(at)hotmail.com

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  26. We don't INTENTIONALLY feed our "littles" people food...EXCEPT for some fruits and veggies. When they hear me chopping veggies in the kitchen they are like little circling sharks hoping some rogue carrot or cucumber will roll off the edge. So as a treat I do give them cucumber on special occasions. konecny7(at)gmail(dot)com

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  27. I don't currently have a cat, but I'm starting to look. Been without too long. I passed your pupcake recipe to a couple of friends with dogs. Thanks for the chance. mackisa (at) gmail.com

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  28. We always save out some of the turkey for the furbabies (2 dogs, 2 cats), but they really love the homemade cookies I make for special occasions...banana & oatmeal. Even the cats love them!

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  29. Our 2 cats are odd in that they don't like people food or wet food or catnip, so we just spoil them on holidays like every other day - by brushing them and giving them belly rubs. I do work in a dog-friendly office, though, so when we're all back to work I will make these for the office dogs. Congratulations on the new release! aut1063(at)gmail(dot)com

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  30. i love to give kitty toys with catnip! thanks for the chance to win! amandasmother(at)aol(dot)com

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  31. I usually go to the Three Dog Bakery and get some of their special dog trips. I also get my dog Frosty Paws ice cream as a special treat. cking78503(at)aol(dot)com

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  32. We do not currently have any pets. If we did, I would give them Greenies treats to take care of their teeth and have a treat at the same time.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  33. I don't make any treats for my kitty. She does get store bought treats in her stocking tho.
    turtle6422 at gmail dot com

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  34. I usually give the dogs biscuits and the cats treats. Nothing special. They just don't get them too often. lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  35. I got the pups Viking collars and the cats I got them their favorite treat which are temptations. ptclayton2@ aol.com would love to read and review your book on a few sites. peggy clayton

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  36. So, our cat Pepper will actually be having turkey this Thanksgiving too. I found some soft turkey cat food yesterday and thought it would only be right if he had turkey on Thanksgiving too. For Christmas, he usually get some sort of cat toy to add to his collection. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity. This book sounds very interesting! I hope have a very lovely holiday season! Jenniferkoller46@gmail.com

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  37. Love the cover. Allergic to cats and a no dog building. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

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  38. Don't have any animals but yours sounds good! tWarner419(at)aol(dot)com

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  39. Your books have the best titles and covers. I like to spend time with my 2 cats just petting them. lindaherold999(at)gmail(dot)com

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  40. I cook the liver & giblets for the cats and give the dogs some turkey. Horses get peppermints & chickens get some pumpkin!

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  41. I don't make anything special for my cat Sylvester but I do give him a can of tuna on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. He loves it. He's a big boy , part Maine Coon, and weighs about 20 pounds. 1cow0993(at)gmail(dot)com

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  42. I like to give my cats a special treat of tuna and Friskies treats. I give my dog Nudges and some meat left overs. sclickner at juno dot com

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  43. I would give my loving cat the juice from a can of tuna. He loved it. My 1st Christmas without him. He recently passed away after he rescued me 14 years ago. Miss him so much. Usersns8800@aol.com

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  44. I would give my loving cat the juice from a can of tuna. He loved it. My 1st Christmas without him. He recently passed away after he rescued me 14 years ago. Miss him so much. Usersns8800@aol.com

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  45. I give my Winnie catnip mice as she loves them. Spooky gets did treats as he doesn’t really play with things but loves food! Augie plays sometimes but she really just wants extra attention, so I give her extra scritches. Barb
    Bnickelsen@hotmail.com

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  46. Welcome. Thank you for this wonderful recipe. When we had a dog, I always bought her one of her special bones. She always got a lot of loving on during the holidays and I know she loved it. We now have two kittens who have not gone through holidays yet so this will be a fun time for all. They dont eat fish or treats so still thinking here LOL
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

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  47. This is such a sweet idea (no pun intended)! I usually just roast an extra sweet potato or two for the pups, but one year I prepared sweet potato and oat biscuits for my first dog's Gotcha Day.

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  48. I don't have any pets, but my niece's dog loves zucchini.
    wskwared(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  49. The winner of this giveaway by random number selection is Libby Dodd. Cate/Liz will be in touch. Congrats and thanks to all for fun comments. ~ Daryl

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