Some say, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” I disagree. I say…

You can teach any dog a new trick as long as she’s ready and willing to learn.

It’s not enough these days to stay complacent. The world moves too quickly for that. In fact, I feel that with every new piece of knowledge you learn, you retain that much more of your youth. I guess that’s why they say that you’re only as young as you feel.

Stimulating your mind is how you maintain your youth. It keeps your mind open to new ideas, philosophies, and even your own possibilities.

One of my favorite ways to keep my mind stimulated is my puzzle.

I remember the first time Mom brought one home for me. I stared at this contraption for several minutes trying to figure out what kind of toy it was. How was I supposed to play with it? It was too hard to chew on and definitely didn’t squeak. I got annoyed and started to walk away from it.

However as I turned my back, I noticed Mom coming out of the kitchen with a pupcake. So, I sat patiently. She bent down, opened one of the doors on the puzzle, put the pupcake down, and flipped the door back down. I sat for a few seconds then took a few sniffs.

After about a minute or so, I realized that I had to figure out how to get this pupcake out of this puzzle. Once again, Mom was making me work for it. And, that was the only motivation I needed to play with this thing.

I spent the next few minutes pawing, sniffing, and trying to lift each of the doors on this puzzle. Finally, I opened the magic door to find a delicious pupcake.

Henry Ford once stated “Anyone who stops learning is old. Whether at twenty or eighty….

So, find ways to stimulate your mind. Whether it’s solving puzzles, reading new books, or trying that new dance that looks absolutely complicated. Stimulating your mind can even be as simple as changing your morning walk and catching some new scenery. The world is constantly changing, and learning helps you change with it.

Learning is our own little fountain of youth.

In my mind, youthfulness means being enthusiastic and energetic about anything new. Learning keeps you active, inspires you to take risks, and leads you to new ideas.

Think of it this way. Babies and puppies have no fear. They take every chance to learn and explore without worrying about mistakes. That’s where their energy and enthusiasm come from. Just think how great we all would be if we took on that attitude.

These Carob Zucchini Pupcake Squares are dedicated to learning and finding new ways to stimulate our minds.

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 your favorite way to keep your mind stimulated?

Please share your pupcake story in the box below.

And, 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.

Ingredients

Carob Zucchini Pupcake Squares

• ½ Cup Brown Rice Flour
• 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
• 2 Tablespoons Carob Powder
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• ⅓ Cup Plain Yogurt
• 2 Tablespoons Shredded or Diced Zucchini
• 1 Egg

Carob Icing (Optional)

• ¼ Cup Plain Yogurt
• 1 Tablespoon Carob Powder

Instructions

Yields: 4 – 6 Carob Zucchini Pupcake Squares (16 – 24 Small Pupcake Squares)

For Carob Zucchini Pupcake Squares

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. In small bowl mix together flour, baking powder and carob powder. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl add olive oil, yogurt, zucchini, and egg. Beat on medium speed until combined.
4. Add dry ingredients into the mixture and blend until mixed.
5. Fill each brownie pan with pupcake mixture. I used a 2.5-inch by 1.5-inch Wilton 12-Cavity Brownie Bar Pan. Bake for 20 – 22 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.
6. Cut each brownie square into 4 smaller pieces.
7. Pipe, drizzle, or spread carob icing onto the pupcakes (optional).
8. Add extra shredded or diced zucchini for garnish (optional).

For Carob Icing (Optional)

1. In small mixing bowl beat yogurt and carob powder together on medium speed.
2. Pipe, drizzle, or spread carob icing onto the pupcakes.

Notes

• This recipe is for a fun treat ONLY. It should not replace your dog’s regular meals. Please consult with your vet on the best plan for your dog’s diet.