Shawn found the perfect name for him, Milou, since he was a wire hair fox terrier, the same breed as the dog in the Tin Tin comics and he has been a cherished member of our family since the day we brought him home.

Milou wore many hats around our place. His main duties included serving as midnight security surveillance, monitoring the local squirrel population, performing as a energy-efficient vacuum cleaner, and earning an Olympic gold medal in Napping.

Milou’s devotion to Daisy was astonishing. The day we brought her home from the hospital, he would whimper and rush to her crib every time she cried. He was ever-patient with her, despite all the tail-tugging she subjected him to. One of his most favorite things was chasing the garden hose, ears flopping, bouncing up and down, trying to get big gulps of water.

He was such a lovable character. When it came to food, he never refused anything from our plates, but he was not a canned dog food connoisseur, not even the fancy stuff. He much rather preferred the healthy chicken dinner Shawn made for him with care.

If you are thinking of getting yourself a dog, then you might consider doing some research first on what you can do for your dog to make sure that s/he has the best life possible. For example, it might be a good idea to check out something like this Pet Food Exposed page to help you understand what is (and isn’t) good for you dog. Basic ingredients such as chicken, rice, pasta, beans and vegetables all go into the mix. Milou loved this stuff. And who wouldn’t? There’s so much goodness in there.

Instructions
Fill a pot 3/4-full with water, cover with the lid and set onto medium-high heat,

When the water begins to boil, remove the lid, add a drizzle of olive oil and the pasta.
Give it a quick stir, put the lid back on.
Cook about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Drain excess liquid and set the pasta aside.

Transfer the rice and bulgur into another pot and add enough water to just cover them.
Put the lid on and set onto medium-high heat.
Cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat, drain excess liquid and set aside.

Combine pasta, rice and bulgur into one big pot.

Add frozen vegetables and beans.

My favorite time of day started when work ends and I finally got home. I always rung the doorbell to announce my arrival, because I loved being ambushed by my welcoming committee. Daisy ran to the door, calling out “Mamaaaaaaaaaa!” and gave me a big hug. My hubby greeted me with a smile and a kiss.

And Milou ran toward me, skidding and sliding across the hardwood floor, jumping up with his front paws over my knees to say hello.

Making dog food at home takes a bit of time, but Milou was so worth the effort. And, while he’s now gone, we still have Ozzie and Winnie running around. A big batch lasts almost a month, so it actually saves time and money. Feeding our furry friends the healthy stuff Shawn makes ensures many more happy homecomings for me.