A fun, energy-packed start for a wet, dreary day

by Katerina Lorenzatos Makris ~

Dreary, wet day in San Diego. We desperately need the rain but there’s no law that says we have to like it, is there?

To brighten things up a bit here at Spicy HQ, we made this Tahini Breakfast Kitty for our Elder Loved One (ELO) Savvy Stella, and in the process found ourselves inspired to run a little contest.

We’ve got a brown rice cake with sesame tahini, jam for ears, cranberries for nose and eyes and… who can guess what the whiskers are made of?  Send us an email to spicystories AT yahoo DOT com with your guess, and if it’s right (or maybe even if it’s wrong but amusing enough) we’ll send you one of our romantic fiction stories for free! Read on to find a couple of hints…

Tahini gives Savvy Stella a boost for exercise

Subtle, nutty, buttery and nutritious

Tahini is one of our fave breakfast ingredients. Made of ground sesame seeds, it’s got a subtle, nutty, buttery flavor with zero cholesterol, yet is rich in calcium, iron, thiamine, and beneficial omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, with a good little boost of protein too. Spread it on warm whole grain toast or a crunchy brown rice cake, top with some banana, and there’s an energy-packed start to your day.

Tahini Breakfast Kitty is purrfect for our ELO Stella, because a) she loves tahini, b) needs calcium for her osteoporosis (brittle bones), and c) it fits in fine with her special Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) diet. (IBS is a problem some folks have where their digestive systems react unpleasantly to certain foods, causing constipation, bloating, fatigue, and other symptoms.)

Hints on the whiskers

Want a couple of hints about the whiskers? Our Kitty’s whiskers were made from a fruit, and it’s a fruit that is a no-no on the IBS diet. But since Stella is doing so well now that she’s been carefully following the diet for six weeks, we’re starting to experiment with small amounts of forbidden fruits to see how she does with them.

So far so good with today’s experiment. After the Kitty breakfast, Stella felt revved up enough to work out on her arm pulley. Meow!

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Here at Spicy Stories Save Lives, we depend on sales of our romantic fiction to help create  real-life happy endings.

Won’t you please use a couple of bucks to enjoy a fun read, to spice up your life, and to replenish our rescue fund?

We, our fellow rescuers, and the animals will thank you kindly!

Spicy Stories Save Lives proudly sponsors needy animals in the U.S. and around the world.

For example we help Kefalonia Animal Trust (KATs) provide free spay/neuter for hundreds of animals per year, which is one of the best ways to prevent the abandonment and misery of puppies like Noah and Kyla. Please give to KATs via PayPal or bank transfer. Spay/neuter and education are the animals’ best hope for a better future.

Also please consider Animal Rescue Kefalonia (ARK), another group on the Greek island of Kefalonia who run a shelter  and work miracles with terribly few resources. 

Spicy Stories Save Lives and the author of this article have no affiliation with the rescue groups mentioned above, other than as a volunteer and donor.

Seen our book?  Your Adopted Dog: Everything You Need to Know About Rescuing and Caring for a Best Friend in Need, by Shelley Frost and Katerina Lorenzatos Makris, available through Amazon.com.