I’ve always been a pup that’s not afraid to do my own thing.
I have my own standards and expectations. So, I was never concerned about societal expectations or how other pups say I should be. I set my own goals, so I never compared myself to what other pups are doing.
I’m all about pup self-care and treating myself positively. So, other pups (and humans) often follow suit. And, although I stay current on the latest trends, I only incorporate those trends that work for me and my life.
In other words, I’m more concerned with being me no matter what anyone else thinks.
Being myself has always been my greatest asset. It’s got me some really positive attention over the years. In fact, my reputation has proceeded me before I even step in a room. So, there have been several times when I meet someone for the first time and they already have glowing compliments about me.
What can I say? Being myself has worked for me thus far. So, why would I ever decide to change it. The way I see it, I think it’s better to focus on being a better me. However, my cousin Cali never saw it that way.
Cali and I have been close ever since we were little pups. We’d play together, go for walks together and even sit up all night barking with one another. However, as we got older things started to change a little. While I focused on competing with myself and own achievements, Cali focused on competing with me.
I saw this in real action while hanging out in The Lounge one day. The Lounge is the local dog park in the area. Pups come here from around the city to hang out, get some exercise and relax.
During this one particular day, the local pups decided to get together and host a pupcake baking contest. Any pup could enter. The proceeds of the entrance fee would go towards supporting the Youth Pup Business Program, which gives young pups tools and resources to help them start their own pup-business venture.
Of course, everyone knows that I bake pupcakes, and they had even heard buzz that I was turning my love for pupcakes into a business. So, they encouraged me to enter.
Cali, who hates to bake and rarely steps foot in her kitchen, decided to enter. Not because, she wanted to support the Youth Pup Business Program, or even because she wanted to try something new. She entered solely because I was entering, and as she stated “why should you get all of the attention.”
So, while Cali fumbled, dropped and spilled her way through bake off, I focused on the pupcakes I was creating at my own station. And, not to toot my own horn, but I really outdid myself. So, I was super excited when I won. Winning the bake off would create a nice buzz about my new business venture.
Cali, on the other hand, was not happy of course. She walked around annoyed that I was getting the attention. But, it’s true what they say….
If you compete with others you become bitter. If you compete with yourself you become better.
I love Cali dearly. She’s a beautiful pup with so much talent. However, she fails to see it in herself because she spends so much time focusing on what other pups are doing. Instead of figuring out how to compete and better herself, she tries to compete with other pups to get the same type of attention they get.
However, Cali has taught me two valuable lessons. First, you can never beat any pup at their own game, so don’t even try. You focus on your own game instead. Plus, you never know what the other pup has done behind the scenes to get them to where they are now.
Secondly, comparing yourself to other pups will make you lose sight of your dreams and ambitions. You’ll spend your life trying to meet another pup’s expectations instead of your own. So…
These Peanut Butter & Strawberry Jam Pupcakes are dedicated to the only pup (or human) you should compare yourself with…YOU.
And of course, we believe that every pupcake has a love story. So, while your favorite pup is PUPPY LOVIN’ on these pupcakes, we’d love to hear from you.
What’s one way you continue to compete with yourself? Or, how do you work to avoid the trap of comparing yourself to others?
Please share your pupcake story in the box below.
Checkout the recipe below
After you’ve tried this recipe please share it with us @pupcakesugar on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or all three. We’d love to see how they turned out for you.
Yields
- 10 – 12 Mini Pupcakes
Ingredients
Strawberry Jam Filling
- 1/2 Cup Strawberries, stems removed
- 3/4 Teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1/4 Cup Pure Honey
Peanut Butter & Strawberry Jam Pupcakes
- 1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1/3 Cup Plain Yogurt
- 1 Tablespoon Pure Honey
- 1 Egg
Peanut Butter Cream Frosting
- 1/4 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter (unsalted with no added sugars)
- 3 Tablespoons Plain Yogurt
Instructions
For Strawberry Jam Filling
- 1Put strawberries, apple cider vinegar, and honey in a saucepan. Cook and stir occasionally for 40 minutes over low heat until juices are released.
- 2Bring pan to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir occasionally for 15 minutes until mixture registers 210 degrees on a candy thermometer.
- 3Cut small hole in middle of the pupcake. Fill pupcake with strawberry jam filling.
For Peanut Butter & Strawberry Jam Pupcakes
- 1Preheat oven to 350° F. Line 10 – 12 1.75-inch mini-muffin pan with paper bake cups and set aside.
- 2In small bowl mix together, flour and baking powder. Set aside.
- 3In a large mixing bowl add olive oil, yogurt, honey and egg. Beat on medium speed about 2 minutes or until combined.
- 4Add dry ingredients into the mixture and blend for approximately 2 minutes until well mixed.
- 5Fill each cupcake liner with 1 tablespoon of pupcake mix.
- 6Bake pupcakes for 12 minutes. Pupcakes are done when you can stick a toothpick into the cake and it comes out clean. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.
- 7Cut small hole in the middle of the pupcake. Fill pupcake with strawberry jam filling.
- 8Spread or pipe peanut butter cream frosting onto the pupcakes.
- 9Add one sliced strawberry on each pupcake for garnish (optional)
For Peanut Butter Frosting
- 1In large mixing bowl beat peanut butter and yogurt together on medium speed. Mix until creamy.
- 2Spread or pipe peanut butter frosting onto the pupcakes.
- 3Add one sliced strawberry on each pupcake for garnish (optional)
Notes
Pupcake Sugar in no way provides any warranty, express or implied, relating to any recipes on this website. The recipes are based on Sugar’s personal experiences with them. Please be aware that your pup may have allergies or other conditions that may make the recipes not suitable for their lifestyle— consult with your vet as needed or roll with your judgment as the pet parent in charge. Pupcake Sugar is not liable for upset tummies or any other outcomes of experimenting with our recipes on this site.
