For the love of two dogs...

Going from one dog to two dogs is a huge life change. Much like one to two kids, but more pee on the floor, more blood, and heavens WAY more poop. We added Bernard to our pack in January and have yet to head out of town and do the dog watching dance. Perhaps you don't know the dog watching dance. When you have dogs (or a dog), you need to figure out who might be willing to take them out to do their business while you are gone. Also, feed them... they do like to be fed.
We'd been planning a weekend in Wisconsin for quite some time and had been talking about boarding both dogs. We finally narrowed down our pick for places, then picked one we felt comfortable with. Well... the night before they were both to go and have their temperament screening (to make sure they weren't total idiots - Bernard may have been a lost cause) we found out they didn't have the right shots and medical testing to be allowed at the facility. There was no way we could get all of that done and do the temperament screening all before drop off on Friday. Oof! So then we did the dog watching dance - who would be willing to watch our dogs. Thankfully our friends Chad and Kelly said yes!! Our request was accompanied by an offer of baked goods to sweeten the deal. It works out - they want their kids to get the full brunt of puppy to dissuade their kids from wanting one. Enter Bernard! Oh, they will have fun with him!
Kelly asked for something fruity while Chad wanted chocolate. I made my favorite Lemon Cream Cheese Cupcakes for Kelly - selfishly I wanted a few of them too. Andy gets all twitchy when I make a batch for home - something about lemon, allergies, not breathing, etc.
For Chad - chocolate. Brownie Cheese Cake Swirl Cupcakes - lots of chocolate. I believe Chad said these were amazeballs. So let's say job well done on these chocolate filled yummy goodness treats.
We are so thankful we have friends who love us enough to love our dogs, or at least put up with them for a few days. :) Oh, and the whole dog watching backfired - now their kids want a dog even more! Oops!

Fudge Cheese Cake Cups

Cheese Cake Ingredients:
8 oz cream cheese, room temp.
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 egg, room temp.
1 tsp vanilla extract

Brownie Ingredients:
1 brownie mix
ingredients on box

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 F. Line a muffin tray liners.
In a medium bowl, using an electric hand mixer, beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until JUST smooth. Don’t over mix.
Mix together brownie mix and ingredients suggested on teh box.
RESERVE SOME BROWNIE BATTER. Fill each muffin liner about 1/3 to 1/2 way full. NEXT, evenly divide the cream cheese into each muffin liner. LASTLY, top and dollop each with the remaining brownie batter. Using a toothpick, swirl around the cream cheese and brownie batter.
Bake for 30 minutes. Allow to cool on a wire rack before removing and consuming. Must store leftovers in the refrigerator.