I know you haven't heard from us in awhile, blog readers. I've been pretty busy, of late, but wanted to post this news bulletin for all you devoted (?) readers. This is the first picture of our grandson/daughter. There - to the right of the word BABY. It might look like a gummy bear alright, but it's already the light of our lives. And now we can be real grandparents to people, not just dogs - not that that hasn't been good too.

Dogs are such creatures of habit. They all seem to have their particular rituals - things they just have to do all the time, the exact same way. When Madddie goes out the front door, she veers to the right, potties, and then trots around to the north side of the house, and commences to bark in the general direction of the house where the old rottweiler lives. Our previous Sheltie, Tess, used to go flying out the back door like a bullet - running clear to the property line. That's where she skidded into a skunk one night. Bonnie, the Barbarian, exits, pauses on the front step, then trots to the left side of the driveway and begins to bark.

Bonnie likes to sit on the heat register in the winter. Maddie lays on my rugs - not the one that is under the side chair in the living room , that was placed there for her use - no, not that one, the other rugs, located in strategic places like at the top of the stairs and in front of the stove - where people will have to step over her. Yeah, dogs are creatures of habit. If they went to church, I bet they'd always sit in the same pew.

The small appliance du jour appears to be something called a cupcake maker. It sits on your counter and you use it to whip up cupcakes in minutes. I guess you need this because "sometimes you just want a cupcake. You're not dressed nicely and you don't want to get dressed nicely to go out to one of those fancy bakeries just to buy some towering buttercream priapus for $3.50 when you can make your own at home." I found that quote online - written by somebody who was making fun of this appliance - which is what I'm also doing here.

Who would need this appliance? Kids in college dorms? I don't think they're supposed to be plugging such things into the walls. People in hotel rooms? People who don't know how to turn on their OTHER CUPCAKE MAKER - the oven?

When I was checking out sunflower seeds at Rural King on Sunday afternoon, I saw a Cheese-making magazine that was promoting, on it's cover, an article entitled "Make it your Whey!" Ha-ha. which is a good segue to the Recipe of the Week -Great dinners made quickly - No Pressure!

I am lovin' me some pressure-cooking. I did another chicken recipe in the pressure cooker a couple of weeks ago, and then last Saturday, I made a pot roast that was delicious!. Great gravy- great leftovers. I hope you'll give it a try. I'm going to make it again, very soon.

Pressure Cooker Pot Roast

1 pot roast, rump, sirloin tip, etc., about 4 pounds

2 tablespoons oil

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 large onion, chopped

1 cup red wine

1 & 1/2 cups beef broth

2 carrots, coarsely chopped

8 small potatoes, halved

2 tablespoons flour

2 tablespoons cold water

Brown meat in oil in the pressure cooker. Add the salt, pepper, onion, broth, and 1/2 cup water. Cover and bring to full pressure. When steam appears, reduce heat to low and cook for 25 minutes. Reduce pressure completely and add the carrots and potatoes. Cover and simmer (not under pressure) for 20 minutes, until tender. Remove meat and vegetables with a slotted spoon and skim off excess fat.

Combine flour and 2 tablespoons water until smooth; stir into the simmering brother. Continue simmer, stirring, until broth is thickened.