INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Set up a double boiler by placing an inch (2.5 cm) of water in the bottom of a saucepan. Fit another saucepan or glass bowl on top of the original saucepan, making sure the water doesn’t touch the bottom of the bowl or pan. Pour out some water if it’s touching.  Place the butter and 2 ounces (57 g) of chocolate in the top of the double boiler and heat it over medium heat. Whisk regularly and vigorously until the chocolate and butter are melted and fully combined. When the ganache is melted, remove it from the heat and set it aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, yeast, salt, cocoa powder, and 2.5 ounces (71 g) of the chopped chocolate. Use a whisk or wooden spoon to mix and combine the ingredients. You can use any type of chocolate for this bread, including milk, dark, or bittersweet. In a small bowl, whisk together the lukewarm water, the two lightly beaten eggs, and the honey. Make sure the water isn't above 100 F (38 C), or it will kill the yeast. Instead of honey, you can also use sugar or agave. Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and combine them with a dough whisk or wooden spoon. When the ingredients start coming together, spoon in the ganache and mix until everything is incorporated. If necessary, use your hands to knead the bread a little in the bowl to incorporate all the flour. Soak a clean tea towel with water and wring it out to remove as much water as possible. Cover the bowl with the damp towel. Leave the dough for about two hours, which is long enough for it to rise and then collapse again.  After two hours, you can use the dough immediately or transfer it to the fridge for up to five days before using it. The dough will be easier to work with if you chill it first.  If you do chill the dough first, allow it to warm up for about an hour and a half before making the bread. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Use a floured rolling pin to roll the dough out until it’s about a half inch (1.2 cm) thick. Then, sprinkle the prunes and the remaining 2 ounces (57 g) of chocolate evenly over the dough. Roll the dough up into a cylinder and knead it a few times to incorporate the filling into the dough. Grease the bottom and sides of a loaf pan with a generous layer of butter, and then sprinkle a thin layer of sugar over the butter. This will add some extra sweetness and prevent the dough from sticking. Transfer the dough to the loaf pan and set it aside to rise for an hour and a half.  This recipe makes about a 1.5-pound (454 g) loaf, so use a loaf pan that’s around 8.5 by 4.5 inches (21.6 by 11.4 cm).  In the last 10 minutes of the rising time, preheat your oven to 350 F (177 C). In a small bowl, whisk together the last egg and the water to make an egg wash. Use a pastry brush to brush the top of the dough with the wash. Sprinkle the top with sugar. Bake the bread for 50 minutes to an hour. The loaf is ready when the dough becomes firm. Remove the bread from the oven and turn it out onto a wire cooling rack. Allow it to cool until it’s safe to touch and eat, then serve warm with your favorite toppings, such as butter, jam, or nut butters. To reheat the bread, cut off a slice and toast it before serving.

SUMMARY: Make the ganache. Mix together the dry ingredients for the bread. Mix the wet ingredients separately. Add the wet ingredients to the dry. Set the dough aside to rise. Add the filling. Let the dough rise. Brush the dough with egg wash before baking. Cool the bread slightly and serve warm.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Watch for excessive scratching, which may be indicative of fleas. If you see your cat scratching himself often, you will need to perform a spot check. Get a fine toothed comb and run it through your cat’s fur. Look for little, fast-moving brown specks (which are fleas) particularly around your cat’s neck and tail.  You can also check for fleas by grooming the cat over a sheet of blank white paper. You may see fleas in the comb's teeth or flea dirt on the paper. Flea dirt is black and comma shaped. If placed on damp cotton wool it dissolves into bloody streaks. Many commercial products are available to kill fleas and remove them from your home. Ask your vet for specific recommendations. Hairballs can also cause bad breath or low appetite. Serious hairball problems may become Trichobezoars (hard lumps of matted hair and undigested foul-smelling food) and extreme cases may require surgery. Regularly groom your cat to reduce hairballs.  Other effective home remedies include adding supplements to their diet such as: Slippery Elm Bark to lubricate the hairball passage or pumpkin pulp (canned) which adds bulk fiber to stools, easing the hairball out. These items can periodically be added to treats like fish or cooked chicken/livers as a preventative for hairballs. You should consult with the veterinarian to be certain that a more serious problem is not the cause. Symptoms include increased appetite or thirst, unexplained weight loss (particularly muscle mass), nervousness or irritability, frequent vomiting, lethargy and weakness, diarrhea, or a messy coat. If two or more symptoms are present, your cat will need to see the veterinarian. Hyperthyroidism typically occurs in middle-aged to older cats and is rare in a young cat. Increased appetite is a handy warning sign that your cat needs veterinary attention. The thyroid hormone that triggers appetite also raises the metabolic rate and puts organ function under strain. Signs of diabetes include vomiting, dehydration, weakness and loss of appetite, increased thirst and urination, weight loss, breathing abnormalities, and an unkempt coat. Feline diabetes affect cats of any age, but is most common in older, obese male/female cats. If your cat has any or several symptoms, take him/her to the vet where blood and urine sugar levels can be tested. Signs of FLUTD include inappropriate or difficult and frequent urination, appetite loss, listlessness, blood in the urine, or frequent licking of the genitals. This disease is a painful inflammation of the lower urinary tract that has the potential to quickly become fatal. FLUTD has a number of causes, from decreased water intake and urine retention to viruses, bacteria, or diet. Some dry foods can cause crystals to build up in the urine which scuff and irritate the bladder lining. If left untreated, they can form bladder stones which are potentially serious if they cause a blockage.

SUMMARY:
Check your cat for fleas. Listen for dry coughing and vomiting that may signify hairballs. Look for hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid. Watch for symptoms of feline diabetes. Watch for symptoms of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD).