My friend Ruth likes scotch.  We met about 10 years ago when I volunteered to help with the local Animal Rescue League and she was about to become the director of the shelter.  For three years in a row we put on a fancy tea and held a fashion show–with dogs as the models, naturally.

One year my elderly Pekingese, Lillie, modeled a yellow-checked sundress.  It was quite a sight, because she only had one eye and three teeth, plus Pekes don’t have waists.  She hyperventilated from nerves, so Glen rushed her home before the meet-and-greet.

Anyway, Ruth and her husband Kenny are good friends of ours.  We share the same taste in music.  I always make Kenny meatballs (Ruth is a vegetarian) because they make him so happy.  Kenny always makes me hot dogs, which I like better than meatballs or salad.

It took years, but I finally convinced Ruth to try quilting.  The woman appliques like a fiend (I am so jealous!) and we now share a fabric addiction.

So I made her a pear tart.  The pears weren’t very good, so it was a pretty thin tart, but we ate it anyway.

It’s a good thing that friends don’t care if the dessert looks weird and you forgot to put the parmesan in the meatballs.