Behind The Butter

Meet Mikan

I don’t think I have ever introduced the other love of my life!

This is Mikan, my family’s puggle!

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  • Kelly
    March 9, 2008 at 5:29 pm

    oh. my. goodness. 🙂

  • erica
    March 9, 2008 at 5:37 pm

    AWWW!! that dog is so adorable, i’m such an animal lover!

  • Alyssa
    March 9, 2008 at 5:45 pm

    He (a he right?) is sssoooooo cute! I have a beagle and I can definitely see the resemblance! He looks so cuddly!

  • Mel H
    March 9, 2008 at 5:46 pm

    yumm Jenna! Your wrap looks so good (I just went to the store and I picked up some ww wraps bc yours look so good always! haha) and your dog is so darn cute!! I can’t wait to move out of my apartment and make some money when i graduate so I can actually get a dog!! Have a great day!! My b day is tomorrow and my mom is making my favorite no bake chocolate pie tonight! yumm! do you have any good pie recipies? I’m a TERRIBLE baker but need some inspiration! 🙂

  • Caryee
    March 9, 2008 at 5:50 pm

    Hey Jenna! Just wondering…I was in the Whole Foods chip aisle the other day…eyeing the veggie chips. Do you (or any of you blog-readers) have a brand/type that you recommend? I was looking at Pico de Gallo, Black bean chips, Sweet Potato chips….so many choices!!! 🙂 Most are 140 calories per 10-15 chip serving, which I think is reasonable for an occasional afternoon crunch.

  • Eliza
    March 9, 2008 at 5:53 pm

    So. So. CUTE!

    Jenna & others, I was wondering what you thought of dried fruit?

  • VeggieGirl
    March 9, 2008 at 6:07 pm

    Oh my goodness gracious, Mikan is PRECIOUS!! I bet our dogs would get along just fine :0)

    **Eliza:

    I LOVE dried fruit – it’s a great, concentrated source of energy (calories), fiber, iron, and other nutrients. It’s best to purchase the unsulphered, organic kind, which is free of preservatives and added sugar.

  • LT
    March 9, 2008 at 6:39 pm

    is that pug + beagle?? i didn’t know those even existed!!! oh my goodness i must have one.

  • BethT
    March 9, 2008 at 6:47 pm

    LOVE puggles! Sweet baby!

  • blueberrybabe
    March 9, 2008 at 7:37 pm

    Eliza,

    I agree with VeggieGirl that dried fruit is a great form of high energy in a small package- but it is super healthy and something you can feel good about eating. It is also ridiculous how yummy it is considering it is just fruit! I have been eating a lot of raisins and dates lately for night snack but i am excited bc i am going to go get some more fun stuff like dried peaches and maybe papaya or something!

    Jenna,

    What kind of earth balance spread do you use? Is there a picture of it in your blog somewhere? Thanks.

  • Ana
    March 9, 2008 at 7:44 pm

    cutest dog ever! (i love small dogs ^_^) that’s so funny! i’m going to see the Other Boleyn Girl tonight, too! SUCH a good book and i love Natalie Portman (the friend i’m going to see it with loves Scarlett so it’s kinda funny! ^_^)

  • jenna
    March 9, 2008 at 7:49 pm

    Blueberrybabe,

    I just use regular whipped Earth Balance spread. You can find it at your local health food store…some regular grocery stores may carry it. It can be subbed 1 for 1 for regular butter in all recipes and its made out of plant oils with no animal fats. I love it!

  • Courtney F
    March 9, 2008 at 7:54 pm

    Jenna, Veggiegirl, other readers:

    I have been reading your blog for a while now and absolutely love it. I have been doing some research and have decided to become at least semi-vegetarian. I am on a very strict budget, and am wondering if this will be an issue. I was also looking for a suggestion for a cookbook to buy and/or websites to check out for recipes. I can really only afford to get one cookbook right now, so I am looking to the experts to see which one is a must-have (though I’m sure there are more than one). I would really appreciate any advice!

    Thanks!
    Courtney

    Oh, and Jenna, your dog is ADORABLE!!!

  • Lauren
    March 9, 2008 at 7:55 pm

    What a cute dog! I love the eyes!

  • arimcg
    March 9, 2008 at 8:03 pm

    He’s so funny! I love him.

  • Leng
    March 9, 2008 at 8:10 pm

    awwee he’s too cute! looks about the size of my cat. I Love pugs they’re the perfect size dog to keep in the house with other animals.

  • 530tracker
    March 9, 2008 at 9:21 pm

    My boyfriend and I will have been together for 2 years this June, too. Wow!

  • LT
    March 9, 2008 at 9:49 pm

    Courtney F,
    I just recently started eating semi-vegetarian and have found that it is actually MUCH cheaper than eating meat! I buy in bulk: grains like quinoa, brown rice, bulgar, steel cut oats, beans, vital wheat gluten (not necessary but it does make great meat-like patties). I do still eat eggs, mainly egg whites, which are pretty cheap. I get the big tubs (4 cups) of yogurt. Oh and Bob’s Red Mill products are great – the TVP (textured vegetable protein) is a great high-protein, low fat & calorie meat replacement…at my store it’s like $2.39 for an 11-serving bag. You won’t find meat that cheap!!

  • Danielle
    March 9, 2008 at 9:57 pm

    Sooo cute, I am such a dog lover!

    Sorry for re-posting below… I just want to get as much responses as possible 🙂

    Hey Jenna & friends,
    Guess what?! I’m in France!!!!
    I’m visiting my best friend (a girl that lived with me as an exchange student during my senior year of high school) and it’s absolutely fabulous! She lives a half hour outside of Paris and because she’ll be in classes all day tomorrow, I’m venturing in… alone :). I’m really excited/nervous because although I’ve been before, I have yet to use the little French I know to explore such an amazing city. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do? I’ve toured the major sites but I’d love to get an insider’s scoop on places to go/see/eat at (my favorite option of the 3, haha), and Jenna, since you spent a few weeks there not too long ago I figured you could help. Thanks so much! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

  • Betsy
    March 9, 2008 at 10:09 pm

    omg…love him. the sweetest little face i’ve ever seen.

    I spent an afternoon at my friend’s boyfriend’s house a few weeks ago who has a puppy puggle, and I was the one the entire time rolling on the floor with him while everyone else was having real conversations. they are the cutest!

  • sperly
    March 9, 2008 at 10:17 pm

    Courtney>>

    My tips for a low cost vegetarian diet:

    – Think BULK! (beans, grains, rice, pasta, dehydrated tvp, dried fruit, trail mixes, nuts, spices, anything you can!)
    – Make extra servings, freeze portions for later in the week
    – Avoid the prepackaged convenience foods. Sure soy pepperoni slices and tofurkey deli slices are nice, but when you only get like 3 or 4 “servings” (read: 1 or 2!) in a box, it quickly adds up!
    – Plan your meals in advance
    – Pack your own lunch
    – In terms of fruits and veggies, if you’re gonna be going organic, only buy what you know you up without it going bad. I read some ridiculous statistic one time that said something like 70% of produce brought home in the US is wasted because it goes bad =<

    LOL hope some of these help!

  • Cara
    March 9, 2008 at 11:03 pm

    Aww how cute!!!

  • Lisa from CA
    March 10, 2008 at 12:08 am

    That dog is ridiculously cute. How did you name him? All I know is that “mikan” in Japanese means tangerine.

  • jenny
    March 10, 2008 at 1:02 am

    he is soo cute!!!. how old is he?

  • nicole r.
    March 10, 2008 at 1:10 am

    Hey Courtney–
    I’m graduating college this May (read: i have lots of loans) and looking ahead at med school in August (read: more school loans + a 12k/year “living expenses” loan) and so i’m on a really strict budget myself (that 12k has to cover my rent, food, etc…). I’m a vegan and find this is MUCH cheaper than what my meat-eating friends have to deal with. Honestly, I can’t imagine what I’d be up against having to pay for meat. You just need to be really particular about what you buy—utilize the scales, and buy in bulk where you can. Whole Foods’ bulk bins are my best friends! I eat a lot of produce, and I’ve gotten to the point where I know exactly how many of each fruit/veggie I’ll use in a week, or otherwise how long it takes me to eat them. I don’t even remember the last time something spoiled on me. Beans are also REMARKABLY cheap. Keep things in the freezer always—freezer items are quick in a pinch and aren’t too expensive. It’s definitely doable and I really do think in addition to making bodies happy, it is a less expensive prospect 🙂

  • Maritza
    March 10, 2008 at 1:29 am

    OH my goodness!! He is adorable!! I have a pug and I can see how similar they look! More pictures when you get a chance, ok?

  • Kammie
    March 10, 2008 at 1:54 am

    aww Mikan is adorable!
    Mikan means tangerine in Japanese=)

    Opps! ^^sorry Lisa from CA! I didn’t see your comment.

  • Romina
    March 10, 2008 at 2:22 am

    What a cutie!!!

  • jenna
    March 10, 2008 at 2:36 am

    Danielle,

    Sorry its taken me so long to get back!

    PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!! Go to 2 places for me 🙂

    1. Laudree. There’s a couple locations…its easy though to just take the metro to St.Honore because its right near the metro stop. They sell the best macaroons in the world. You don’t even have to sit down in there (although I suggest it because its such an experience)–go to the “to go” area and just buy yourself a large chocolate macaroon and devour every crumb. I will live vicariously through you. 🙂

    2. Berhillion ice cream shop on Ile St.Louis. Have the raspberry-rose sorbet or the tarte tatin and love every lick/bite. Omg…I can still taste it now. I dream of raspberry-rose sorbet. Literally dream. My mom and I still talk about all the time and how amazing it was. You can find Berhillion ice cream at different cafes all around Paris but be sure its Berhillion (it will say) and try, if you can, to get to the original shop on Ile St.Louis. I believe the metro stop is Pont du Marie. Metros make Paris so easy!

    The rest is up to you….have an amazing time…eat, eat, eat and please don’t feel guilty. Go to a bakery and eat some fresh baked bread…..savor some french onion soup….eat a nutella crepe.

    Give me details!!!!

  • Courty
    March 10, 2008 at 4:53 am

    Awwwwwwwww, SO cute! I love puppies, and she is definitely one of the most adorable ones ever!! Glad you were able to get out and have a nice walk together 🙂

  • one food guy
    March 10, 2008 at 1:37 pm

    Mikan is one fine looking pooch, let’s get some action photos!