Dining With the Dog-Ma! E-Book

Amber Chef DiGiovanni

• Herausgeber: Spines
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

From trauma to triumph, Chef Amber’s journey is one of fierce love, resilience, and purpose. Alongside Simon the Wonder Dog and Hamilton the Great, she’s become a national force in canine nutrition and healing. As founder of the Canine Hero Fund—the first U.S. scholarship for search and rescue dogs—Amber was named 2025’s Top Canine Philanthropist and Best Inspirational Speaker, and is honored in Who’s Who in America. Through raw storytelling and real-world wisdom, she empowers dog lovers to transform lives—one meal, one moment, one miracle at a time. This book is your invitation into that journey—full of heart, healing, and hope for every dog and human who’s ever needed a second chance.

Leseprobe

Dining With The Dog-Ma!

ONE WOMAN. TWO DOGS. A THOUSAND WOUNDS AND THE MEALS THAT MENDED THEM ALL

SECOND EDITION

CHEF AMBER DIGIOVANNI

Amber DiGiovanni

Dining With the Dog-Ma!

All rights reserved

Copyright © 2025 by Amber DiGiovanni

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Published by Spines

ISBN 979-8-89950-769-4

Special Acknowledgment

Dedicating the love and labor of writing a book can be hard,

because so many people can and do influence what and how

you get to the finished product.

However, in this case it is not difficult at all.

To my dear, sweet Helmut, for always believing in me

and encouraging my every step along this journey.

You are my Cape, now and always.

I love you darling boy and the dude woofs you too.

SIMON THE WONDER DOG

Dining with the Dog-Ma does not intend to provide veterinary advice. The information provided is for general canine education and is the result of the 12 years of cooking for Simon the Wonder Dog. The content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance.

Contents

1. Simon Shares his thoughts on eating

2. Treats

3. Simon and the Dog-Ma

4. Hamilton the great Dines on the prairie

5. Spices and Herbs

6. Breakfast

7. The Slow Magic of Homemade Yogurt

8. Simon the Wonder Dog shares his thoughts…

9. The Dos and Don’ts of Fruit, Veggies, Nuts and More

10. Simon The Wonder Dog Shares His Thoughts…

11. Dinner

12. Bone Broth

13. A Canine’s Well Stocked Pantry

14. A History Of Dog Food In America

About the Author

Simon Shares his thoughts on eating

I wonder who decided it was alright to abuse dog food? The very food you feed to your fur-babies.

As for me, growing up in a no-kill shelter, I ate kibble daily. It fed my body, but not my soul. Then one day a lady came to visit… I could see her from a long distance away, with her long blond hair. When she got to my pen, I was speechless. Her pale blue eyes met my deep brown eyes and all the unspoken words in the world lay between us. This lady would soon become my Dog-Ma and life would never be the same.

She not only taught me that love was possible, but opened the entire universe of real, fresh food. It was gradual, as it should be. I would say to you, be gentle and take baby steps to take this journey with your little babes. We dogo’s, your four-legged family are just like people. Not everyone is going to like the same things. Also, we can be allergic to some things just like people can be. We started my transition to “real” fresh food with simple things like oatmeal, celery and carrots. I think the Dog-Ma allowing me time to learn and grow in my new eating lifestyle was really important. She always says when we are trying new things to be brave, because I might just find something I really like! For example, broccoli. I thought broccoli smelled kind of funny when it was cooking, but WOW! I really woofed it! I have thoughts about all kinds of food, and I always want to try everything, but she explained that there are some things that could make me sick and so we are careful.

In the mornings, I never make a sound until I hear the Dog-Ma start to stir. We have our morning ritual… She stirs and I get up to tell her good morning. She slides into her slippers and goes to let me out. I love mornings. It’s a quiet and gentle time of the day, before the sun comes up and the world is calling. When I come back inside, she holds my face and stares deeply into my eyes, stroking my ears and telling me how fine I am.

While I was outside, she started cooking my breakfast and hers too, because we eat the same thing. Old fashioned rolled oats cooked with milled flax and chia seeds. While it’s cooking, the Greek yogurt, frozen fruit and ginger make their way to the counter. The frozen fruit helps cool my breakfast faster and it can be hard not to be impatient, but I quietly lay on the floor and supervise. My brown eyes watching her every move. The way she taps the wooden spoon on the side of the pan and then again on my bowl is almost musical. Before you know it, it’s time to eat and it makes me dance and when I start to dance, she starts to dance. Like I said, I love mornings. Before the sun comes up and the world is calling, when it’s just us.

Let me share with you the lyrics of my favorite song, I think you might know it!

Raindrops on berries and bouncy fuzzy hares

Bright crispy apples and warm poached pears

Bundles of Carrots tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things

Cream-colored taters and old-fashioned succotash

Dinner bells and breakfast bells, and chunky beef hash

Wild squirrels that dash with a big backyard splash

These are a few of my favorite things

Ma in the kitchen with a long wooden spoon

Vegetables on the cutting board that are all about strewn

And green cucumbers chopped that make my heart sing

These are a few of my favorite things

TREATS ARE BETTER WITH FRIENDS… KNUCKLES, HAMILTON AND SIMON

Treats

Just as the name indicates, these are treats and should be consumed in limited quantities for you and your dog’s health.

CAROB BROWNIES