Hugo blogs,  Savoury

Cheesy cornbread and downwardly mobile dogs

cornbread
hugo
by Hugo,
Canine Correspondent
I’ve been chewing something over for a while now: Why are humans the only race that don’t automatically stretch when they get up? Dogs stretch, horses stretch, cats stretch and even hens who, let’s face it, aren’t the brightest, stretch. Humans like to think they rule the roost, but they’re not always very clever when it comes to basic body-maintenance. Bossy often complains (loudly and at length) about her hurt back and she sometimes goes to the bone doctor. What a lovely job that must be, specialising in bones. I must look into that – I’m sure it would be a good job for me.
Bossy has also taken to lying on a soft blue mat (which makes very satisfactory chewing material) and bending her body into most unhuman positions; she looks a bit silly actually. Apparently it’s called yoga. At first I thought it was just a phrase, but she does it quite regularly. When I have time, I show her how it should be done properly. Usually the Tall One or the Noisy One interrupts to try to talk to her and they get very short shrift indeed. I like to lie on the soft blue mat with her, but she doesn’t seem to like that either. All in all, she’s not very easy to please *desolate doggie sigh*.
hugoyoga2
Thank you Hugo, not only for writing today’s blog, but also for the invaluable ‘tips’. This cornbread is based on a Jamie Oliver recipe.
Ingredients (serves 10)
60g butter
2 onions, peeled and thinly sliced
1 small tin of sweetcorn, drained and rinsed
4 large free-range eggs, beaten
325g polenta (or cornmeal)
250ml full-fat milk
1 teaspoon baking powder
6 tablespoons spelt flour
sea salt and freshly-ground black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
140g hard cheese (I used Cheddar and Parmesan), grated
Preheat the oven to 200°C and grease a 22cm cake tin with olive oil. Gently fry the onions in melted butter for about 15 minutes until golden and sticky. Add the sweetcorn and cook for a further five minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. Mix the eggs, polenta, milk, baking powder, flour and seasoning in a bowl. Add most of the grated cheese and mix well. Stir in the onion and corn. Pour the mixture into the cake tin. Bake for 35 minutes, remove from the oven and sprinkle the remaining grated cheese on top and return to the oven for ten minutes. Delicious served still warm from the oven or cold.

8 Comments

  • apuginthekitchen

    Hugo, you are so right, why don’t we humans stretch. Izzy and Nando do every morning. I hit the ground running without a good stretch, will try it tomorrow morning and you know a thing or two about yoga, like your moves! The bossy one knows her way around the kitchen, that cornbread looks wonderful cheesy goodness! BTW Hugo tell Bossy to buy you a yoga mat, Nando has one he stands on it and eats his food, a blue one he enjoys laying on it near his bowl in the kitchen.

    • The Healthy Epicurean

      Thank you Mrs Pug. You should really take example from Izzy and Nando (please give them a kiss from me) and stretch in the morning – it’s very bad not to – you’ll end up in the same sorry state as Bossy. I will show this comment to her and hopefully she’ll buy me my own mat, although perhaps not because I do tend to chew up mats and blankets. I must say that her cornbread was good though. 🙂

  • Stacey Bender

    Hugo- It is Ginger here. I read your thoughts on that flat doohickey thingy my Mom is always pressing on; she was in the shower and it dinged so i looked up from chewing my feet. i went over and stepped on it. it lit up and i saw your words. It is the only time she puts it down long enough for me to peak unless she is in the kitchen and then i am, of course in there with her.
    I like yoga too but i don’t call it yoga either; that’s what Mom says i do. My brother thinks i’m smart cuz he started copyingy my moves.

    • The Healthy Epicurean

      Well hello there Ginger. Thank you for taking the time to comment – I’m sure if you’re as busy as me you’re rushed off your paws. Bossy spends lots of time on that thing too, in fact I now I have my own or I’d never get any work done. Perhaps we should start a doggie-led yoga class – I’m sure it would very helpful for all those stiff humans. Please keep reading my posts – perhaps you could ask for your own laptop like me? Hugo.

  • Sally

    My Bossy finds me in perfect repose when she comes downstairs in the morning and seems amazed when, after an essential stretch, I am suddenly wide awake when she holds up the blue thing she attaches to me. She tries to get the hang of my teachings too but she’s not a very good pupil at all. Hazel – Border Terrier

    • The Healthy Epicurean

      Hello Hazel, thank you so much for reading my post. I feel your pain with your Bossy. I sometimes wonder if they’re as smart as they like to think. Is the blue thing she attaches to you a lead? I used to have one of those but I found it too restraining so I chewed it up! 🙂 Hugo xx

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