8.15.2011

August 15, 2011

White Dog gathered the others for a planning session. This is Steve's Birthday Week and they have a lot in store. The actual day is tomorrow and Steve has taken the day off of work so that we can all celebrate together during the day. In the evening friends have insisted on feting him at one of our favorite special restaurants.

The plan under production now was tonight's dinner, a homecooked, family-celebration, featuring some of Steve's favorite dishes. Steve enjoys cooking and rarely gets the chance to just fuss for fun. White Dog knows that and cleverly planned a menu that we would partially prepare during the day and would finish up all together when the Birthday Boy got home from the office.

So right after he left this morning, the White Dogs and I started the all day slow cooking process of making authentic Mexican barbacoa. Everyone volunteered to supervise the trimming of the beef. Only White Dog, who was experienced, assisted as we made the spice rub of garlic, red chile powder, peppers, cumin and vinegar.It was a beautiful deep red as we massaged it into the meat. We covered it and started cooking; within a few hours the house smelled like heaven. When Steve came home later the WDA helped him shred the meat while I made a tomatillo cilantro sauce fragrant with garlic. YoYoMa was the one interested in the garnishes of chopped cilantro, diced onions, and minced jalapeno to be piled on the warm tortilla filled with the barbacoa and sauce. He even tried the hot pepper.

Next we mashed perfectly ripe avocados with garlic, tomatoes, and lime juice to make a chunky guacamole. Quinn and White Dog were the tasters here; both are guac specialists. The others just sampled the tortilla chips.

This afternoon we made a blueberry pie, Steve's favorite dessert to accompany the meal. Blueberries are one fruit all of the pups enjoy and the prospect of warm pie and vanilla ice cream almost superseded the barbacoa's allure.

Tonight we made a spinach salad sprinkled with Mexican semi soft farmer's cheese, mangoes and roasted corn kernels and warmed corn tortillas for the barbacoa. Every pup and person got a plate and we shared a meal of celebration honoring the quiet but constant voice who is always there to fill our water bowls, to take us fun places, to scritch the right spots, and to love us in every way imaginable.

Steve has already told us to expect a special birthday breakfast...us?...wait a minute, it is YOUR birthday...but he insists and has hinted at bacon. that is just the kind of dad he is...incredible. We are SO lucky. Happy Birthday Eve, Dad! We hope you liked our dinner and after-cuddle.

13 comments:

24 Paws of Love said...

Stop it, your making me so hungry!! That sounds absolutely delicious. :)

Sounds like the birthday boy is going to get the best of both worlds, being able to cook breakfast and have a great home cooked dinner.

Sounds divine. Happy Birthday Steve!

Shane Kent Louis said...

I smell delicious! sniff, sniff..thanks for sharing..LOL! :)


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Angels Amber and Max DaWeenie and Mom said...

We think we can smell it all the way across the country.....hmmmmmm!

Happy Birthday to Steve!

Kari in Alaska said...

August birthdays are the best ;)

kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com

Brian's Home Blog said...

I just know y'all will make it a truly special Steve day!

TimberLove said...

We think it's delightful that YoYo likes veges:) Please send the birthday boy all our best!

RA, Isis & NukNuk

Remington said...

Smells great! If I follow the smell I should be at your house in no time at all....hope there are some leftovers! Ha, ha! Happy Birthday Steve!

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

We are all just drooling here. Mom loves all the smells of Mexican food, but her tummy doesn't tolerate it very well. Sometimes she just can't resist and says the heck with it.


Blueberries - a huge hit here with all but Phantom - he will enjoy the ice cream.

Oh, did we forget to tell you we are on our way to give Steve our birthday wishes in pawson?

Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

Stella said...

It sounds like you celebrate the three day Polish birthday like we do. The day before the birthday, the birthday, and the day after. Your food sounds divine and we wish you the happiest three dayer ever!

Kisses,

Stella, Jo and Zkhat

Teddy Bear said...

That sounds like a fantastic meal for Dad.:) Happy Birthday Eve to him!:)

Love,
Teddy Bear & Sierra

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Oh the fragrance is sooooo wonderful! Can we have a bite?
Sounds like good times to me!
Happy Birthday Steve
love
tweedles

Stephen Sehi-Smith said...

I greatly appreciate your birthday wishes. Your friendship has always meant so much to the White Dog Army. The birthday notes remind me of how loved I am. Thanks!

Sagira said...

Oh boy...I bet it smells yummy over there. :)