Sunny, a golden retriever in a chef's hat, with his paws on the kitchen counter

The Main Floor

The Kitchen at Dawn

Culinary

First light on copper, bread warmth, the day not yet begun.

For Our Human Friends

We don’t want you hangry. We want you cozy.

Outside the Inn

For human friends

Golden Hour Green Tea

FocusContains caffeine (green tea)

Bright and light, for a clear head on the front steps.

You’ll need

  • 1 cup water240 mL water
  • 1 bag green tea
  • 1 tsp honey, maple syrup or sugar, to taste5 mL honey, maple syrup or sugar, to taste
  • 1 tsp lemon juice, or 1 lemon slice5 mL lemon juice, or 1 lemon slice

Steps

  1. Bring the water just to a boil, then let it rest about 2 minutes, to about 175°F. Boiling water makes green tea bitter.Bring the water just to a boil, then let it rest about 2 minutes, to about 80°C. Boiling water makes green tea bitter.
  2. Steep the tea bag 2 to 3 minutes, then remove it.
  3. Stir in your sweetener and the lemon.

Optional magic

Before your first sip, find the nearest lantern, lamp or window light and tell it one thing you’ll finish today. Lanterns are very good at keeping promises safe.

For our human friends only. Tea and cocoa aren’t safe for Sunny, Pearl, or your pets.

Brewing guide: Tetley

For human friends

Porch-Light Chamomile

CalmCaffeine-free

A chamomile latte with vanilla, for when the lanterns come on.

You’ll need

  • ¾ cup water180 mL water
  • 2 bags chamomile tea
  • ¾ cup milk180 mL milk
  • 1½ tsp honey, maple syrup or sugar7.5 mL honey, maple syrup or sugar
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract1.25 mL vanilla extract
  • a pinch of ground cinnamon (optional)

Steps

  1. Bring the water to a simmer, take it off the heat, add the tea bags, cover, and steep 10 minutes.
  2. Warm the milk until steaming and whisk until frothy.
  3. Remove the tea bags, stir in your sweetener and the vanilla, and pour the milk on top. Dust with cinnamon.

Optional magic

Raise your cup to the porch light and say goodnight to the day, out loud or in your head. The light will keep watch from here.

For our human friends only. Please keep people drinks away from Sunny, Pearl, and your pets.

Adapted from The Kitchn, via UCSF

The Library Hearth

For human friends

Hearthside Fog

FocusContains caffeine (black tea)

An Earl Grey latte with vanilla, also called a London Fog. Good company for a long chapter.

You’ll need

  • ½ cup water120 mL water
  • 1 bag Earl Grey tea
  • ½ cup milk120 mL milk
  • ¼–½ tsp vanilla extract1–2.5 mL vanilla extract
  • 1–2 tsp honey or sugar (optional)5–10 mL honey or sugar (optional)

Steps

  1. Pour just-boiled water over the tea bag and steep 3 minutes. Remove the bag.
  2. Warm the milk in a small pan and whisk until frothy.
  3. Stir the vanilla and sweetener into the tea, then pour the frothy milk on top.

Optional magic

Blow gently across the foam and watch the fog swirl. Whatever shape it makes is a clue to your next chapter. (Sunny says it always looks like a biscuit.)

For our human friends only. Tea and cocoa aren’t safe for Sunny, Pearl, or your pets.

Adapted from America’s Test Kitchen

The Writing Study

For human friends

Inkwell Chai

FocusContains caffeine (black tea)

Spiced black tea and warm milk, for the next page.

You’ll need

  • ¾ cup water180 mL water
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 cardamom pods, lightly crushed (or ⅛ tsp ground)2 cardamom pods, lightly crushed (or 0.6 mL ground)
  • 2 whole cloves
  • ½-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced (or ¼ tsp ground)1.3 cm piece fresh ginger, sliced (or 1.25 mL ground)
  • 1 bag black tea
  • ¾ cup milk180 mL milk
  • 1–2 tsp honey or sugar5–10 mL honey or sugar

Steps

  1. Simmer the water with the cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and ginger over low heat for 5 minutes.
  2. Turn off the heat, add the tea bag, and steep 3 to 5 minutes.
  3. Warm the milk until steaming and whisk until frothy.
  4. Strain the tea into a mug, stir in the sweetener, and top with the milk.

Optional magic

Stir three times one way to invite a new idea, and once the other way to keep the good ones you already have. Then write down the first sentence that arrives.

For our human friends only. Tea and cocoa aren’t safe for Sunny, Pearl, or your pets.

Adapted from A Beautiful Mess

The Art Studio

For human friends

Sap Green Matcha

FocusContains caffeine (matcha green tea)

Bright green tea whisked smooth under warm milk, named for a painter’s green.

You’ll need

  • 1–1½ tsp matcha powder5–7 mL matcha powder
  • 2 tbsp hot water, about 175°F (not boiling)30 mL hot water, about 80°C (not boiling)
  • ¾ cup milk, any kind180 mL milk, any kind
  • 1 tsp honey, maple syrup or sugar (optional)5 mL honey, maple syrup or sugar (optional)

Steps

  1. Sift the matcha into a small bowl or a cup with a spout, so it doesn’t clump. Add the sweetener and the hot water.
  2. Whisk briskly in a W shape for 30 to 45 seconds, until smooth and a little frothy. A bamboo whisk is traditional; a small whisk or a milk frother works too.
  3. Warm the milk until it steams, and froth it if you like.
  4. Pour the matcha into a mug and top it with the milk.

Optional magic

Pour the milk in slowly, in one long spiral, and watch it marble the green like wet paint on wet paper.

For our human friends only. Tea and cocoa aren’t safe for Sunny, Pearl, or your pets.

Adapted from Gimme Some Oven

For human friends

Color Wheel Lemonade

CalmCaffeine-free

Blue in the glass until the lemon finds it, then purple, then pink.

You’ll need

  • ½ cup water (filtered, if your tap water turns the tea greenish)120 mL water (filtered, if your tap water turns the tea greenish)
  • 1½ tbsp white sugar (brown sugar dulls the blue)22 mL white sugar (brown sugar dulls the blue)
  • 1 tbsp dried butterfly pea flowers15 mL dried butterfly pea flowers
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)30 mL fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
  • ¼ cup cold water60 mL cold water
  • Ice (crushed ice keeps the colors apart longest)

Steps

  1. Bring the water, sugar and flowers to a simmer in a small pan, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Take it off the heat, cover, and steep 10 minutes.
  2. Strain out the flowers and let the blue syrup cool completely.
  3. Stir the lemon juice into the cold water.
  4. Fill a glass with ice and pour in the blue syrup. Then pour the lemon slowly over the top, and watch the blue turn purple, then pink, where they meet.
  5. Stir before you drink, so it’s sweet all the way through.

Optional magic

Before you stir, hold the glass up to the light and name every color you can see. Stir once, and name them again.

For our human friends only. Please keep people drinks away from Sunny, Pearl, and your pets.

Adapted from Love and Olive Oil

For human friends

The Palette Cleanser

CalmCaffeine-free

Cucumber, mint and lime over cold bubbles: a fresh start before the next color.

You’ll need

  • 6 to 8 fresh mint leaves
  • 4 thin slices of cucumber
  • 2 thin rounds of lime, plus a squeeze
  • Ice
  • 1 cup cold sparkling water240 mL cold sparkling water
  • 1 tsp maple syrup or sugar, for a little sweetness (optional)5 mL maple syrup or sugar, for a little sweetness (optional)

Steps

  1. Tear the mint into a tall glass and press it gently with the back of a spoon to wake up the scent.
  2. Add the cucumber, the lime rounds and a squeeze of lime, then fill the glass with ice.
  3. Top with the sparkling water, add the sweetener if you like, and stir gently.
  4. For a deeper flavor, let the cucumber, lime and mint sit in ½ cup of cold still water in the fridge for an hour first. Then add ice and top with ½ cup of sparkling water.For a deeper flavor, let the cucumber, lime and mint sit in 120 mL of cold still water in the fridge for an hour first. Then add ice and top with 120 mL of sparkling water.

Optional magic

Take one sip before each new color you pick up, and you’ll see it fresh.

For our human friends only. Please keep people drinks away from Sunny, Pearl, and your pets.

Adapted from Heart & Stroke

For human friends

Blank Canvas Steamer

CalmCaffeine-free

Warm vanilla milk with a canvas of foam on top. Paint on it before you drink it.

You’ll need

  • 1 cup milk, any kind240 mL milk, any kind
  • 1–1½ tsp honey, maple syrup or sugar5–7 mL honey, maple syrup or sugar
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract2.5 mL vanilla extract
  • For painting: ground cinnamon, a toothpick, and a paper stencil if you like

Steps

  1. Warm the milk, sweetener and vanilla in a small pan over medium-low heat, stirring, until it steams. Don’t let it boil.
  2. Froth it with a milk frother, or pour it into a heatproof jar, close the lid tightly, hold it in a towel and shake until foamy.
  3. Pour it into a wide mug and spoon the foam over the top. That’s your canvas.
  4. Paint: dust cinnamon through a paper stencil laid over the mug, or dust a little over the foam and draw into it with a toothpick.

Optional magic

Whatever you draw on the foam, drink it before it fades. A painting that disappears is still a painting.

For our human friends only. Please keep people drinks away from Sunny, Pearl, and your pets.

Adapted from Real Mom Nutrition

The Tin Roof Guest Room

For human friends

Tin Roof Golden Milk

SleepCaffeine-free

Warm milk with turmeric, cinnamon and ginger, for rain on the roof.

You’ll need

  • 1 cup milk240 mL milk
  • ½ tsp ground turmeric2.5 mL ground turmeric
  • ¼ tsp ground cinnamon (or 1 cinnamon stick)1.25 mL ground cinnamon (or 1 cinnamon stick)
  • ¼ tsp ground ginger1.25 mL ground ginger
  • a pinch of black pepper
  • 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup15 mL honey or maple syrup

Steps

  1. Whisk everything together in a small pan.
  2. Heat over medium-low, whisking, until steaming. Don’t let it boil.
  3. Strain into a mug if you used a cinnamon stick.

Optional magic

Listen for the rain on the roof. With each sip, hand one worry to a raindrop and let it roll down the tin and away. Keep going until your cup is empty.

For our human friends only. Please keep people drinks away from Sunny, Pearl, and your pets.

Adapted from Spoonful of Flavor

The Stargazer Observatory

For human friends

Starlight Cocoa

FocusContains a little caffeine (cocoa)

Hot cocoa from scratch, for counting stars.

You’ll need

  • 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder30 mL unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1–2 tbsp sugar15–30 mL sugar
  • a pinch of salt
  • 1 cup milk240 mL milk
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract1.25 mL vanilla extract

Steps

  1. In a small pan over medium-low heat, whisk the cocoa, sugar, salt and about 2 tbsp of the milk into a smooth paste.In a small pan over medium-low heat, whisk the cocoa, sugar, salt and about 30 mL of the milk into a smooth paste.
  2. Whisk in the rest of the milk and heat until hot, without boiling.
  3. Stir in the vanilla.

Optional magic

Pick one star (if it’s cloudy, imagine one; the Observatory always has a spare) and give it a name. Take your first sip in its honor. Now you have a star of your own.

For our human friends only. Tea and cocoa aren’t safe for Sunny, Pearl, or your pets.

Adapted from Epicurious, via Umami

For human friends

Moonlight White Hot Chocolate

CalmNo caffeine to speak of

White chocolate melted into warm milk, pale as the moon through the dome.

You’ll need

  • 1 cup milk240 mL milk
  • 2 oz white chocolate, chopped (or chips)56 g white chocolate, chopped (or chips)
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract1.25 mL vanilla extract

Steps

  1. Stir the milk, white chocolate and vanilla together in a small pan.
  2. Heat over medium-low, stirring now and then, until it just reaches a simmer. Don’t let it boil.
  3. Pour and serve right away.

Optional magic

Hold your cup, look at the moon, make a wish, then take a sip of your hot chocolate! The moon loves to listen, so have a chat if you’d like!

For our human friends only. Please keep people drinks away from Sunny, Pearl, and your pets.

Adapted from Gimme Some Oven

The Attic Eaves

For human friends

Attic Eaves Rooibos

SleepCaffeine-free

A rooibos latte with vanilla, for storms over the rafters.

You’ll need

  • ⅓ cup water80 mL water
  • 2 bags rooibos tea (or 2 tsp loose)2 bags rooibos tea (or 10 mL loose)
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract1.25 mL vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp honey, maple syrup or sugar5 mL honey, maple syrup or sugar
  • 1 cup milk240 mL milk
  • a pinch of ground cinnamon (optional)

Steps

  1. Bring the water to a boil, take it off the heat, and steep the rooibos 5 minutes.
  2. Remove the tea, then stir in your sweetener and the vanilla.
  3. Warm the milk until steaming, whisk until frothy, and pour it over the tea. Dust with cinnamon.

Optional magic

When the thunder rumbles, wrap both hands around your mug. A storm can rattle the shingles, but it can’t reach a warm cup. Whisper “goodnight, storm,” and it will grow a little quieter.

For our human friends only. Please keep people drinks away from Sunny, Pearl, and your pets.

Adapted from Oh, How Civilized

Sunny’s Favorite Dog Treats

Taste-tested by Sunny. Many, many times.
Pearl: “He calls this research.”

Sunny has been helping in the kitchen. Mostly by sitting very close to the oven. These are four simple treats you can bake or freeze at home for your own dog.

Before you bake

  • Peanut butter must be plain and xylitol-free (xylitol is sometimes listed as “birch sugar”). Unsalted is best.
  • Use plain canned pumpkin purée, never pumpkin pie filling or anything with pumpkin spice.
  • Use plain, unsweetened yogurt with no artificial sweeteners.
  • Treats should stay within about 10% of your dog’s daily calories.
  • If your dog has allergies, a sensitive stomach or a special diet, ask your vet first.
For dogs

Peanut Butter & Pumpkin Biscuits

“A good dog decision, every time.” — Sunny

About 25 minutes375°F190°C

You’ll need

  • 2 cups flour480 mL flour
  • 1 cup plain canned pumpkin purée240 mL plain canned pumpkin purée
  • ½ cup xylitol-free peanut butter120 mL xylitol-free peanut butter

Steps

  1. Heat the oven to 375°F.Heat the oven to 190°C.
  2. Stir the pumpkin and peanut butter together until smooth.
  3. Mix in the flour to make a dough.
  4. Roll it out on a floured counter and cut out shapes.
  5. Set them ½ inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet.Set them about 1.3 cm apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
  6. Bake about 12 minutes, then let them cool completely.

Optional magic

Before you hand one over, ask your dog for their very best trick. Whatever they do, it counts. (Sunny’s best trick is “being very good.”)

Adapted from the AKC

For dogs

Frozen Pumpkin Yogurt Drops

“No oven. Just patience. I am working on patience.” — Sunny

5 minutes, plus 24 hours in the freezerNo oven

You’ll need

  • 1 cup plain, unsweetened yogurt240 mL plain, unsweetened yogurt
  • 1 cup plain canned pumpkin purée240 mL plain canned pumpkin purée

Steps

  1. Stir the yogurt and pumpkin together.
  2. Spoon the mix into an ice cube tray or a silicone mold.
  3. Freeze for 24 hours.
  4. Pop them out and keep them in a freezer bag.

Optional magic

When you slide the tray into the freezer, make a wish for your dog. It comes true the moment they take the first lick.

Adapted from the AKC

For dogs

Banana Pumpkin Biscuits

“Bananas are the happiest fruit. I checked.” — Sunny

About 35 minutes350°F175°C

You’ll need

  • 3 cups whole wheat flour, plus a little for the counter720 mL whole wheat flour, plus a little for the counter
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup plain canned pumpkin purée240 mL plain canned pumpkin purée
  • 1 ripe banana, mashed

Steps

  1. Heat the oven to 350°F.Heat the oven to 175°C.
  2. Mix the eggs, banana and pumpkin.
  3. Add the flour and stir until it comes together.
  4. Roll the dough about ⅛ inch thick on a floured counter and cut out shapes.Roll the dough about 3 mm thick on a floured counter and cut out shapes.
  5. Bake on a baking sheet for about 20 minutes.
  6. Let them cool completely before sharing.

Optional magic

Cut one biscuit into a star and save it for last. The star carries a wish from you to your dog, so whisper it before you hand it over.

Adapted from the AKC

For dogs

Pumpkin & Carrot Bites

“Pearl says carrots are not a treat. Pearl is wrong.” — Sunny

About 50 minutes350°F175°C

You’ll need

  • 1 cup flour240 mL flour
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup plain canned pumpkin purée120 mL plain canned pumpkin purée
  • 1 jar (4 oz) plain carrot baby food, with nothing added1 jar (112 g) plain carrot baby food, with nothing added
  • Optional: 1 jar (4 oz) plain green bean baby foodOptional: 1 jar (112 g) plain green bean baby food

Steps

  1. Heat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment.Heat the oven to 175°C and line a baking sheet with parchment.
  2. Mix everything together. Too sticky? Add a little flour. Too crumbly? Add a little water.
  3. Drop spoonfuls onto the sheet (makes about 24), or shape them into little pumpkins.
  4. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, until the edges start to brown.
  5. Let them cool completely before serving.

Optional magic

Sit down at your dog’s level, look them in the eyes, and say “thank you for being my friend.” Then hand over the treat. Sunny says that’s the most magic part.

Adapted from the AKC

Sources: AKC: Easy pumpkin dog treats · AKC: Easy-to-make pumpkin recipes for dogs · AKC: How many treats can a dog have? · ASPCA: People foods to avoid feeding your pets