Yummy Things

What's in Auntie Maren's Cookie Jar this week?

SKUNK-BE-GONE

Okay ... maybe not in my cookie jar ... and definitely not edible ... but it is a RECIPE!  

- 4 cups Hydrogen Peroxide
- 4 Tblsp baking soda
- 1 tsp liquid dishwashing soap (Ivory brand is good)
Wear rubber gloves and be careful not to get solution in eyes, ears or mouth (yours or your dogs!) When you wash your dog always start at the head end and work towards the rear. Massage thoroughly into coat and rinse and rinse and rinse again! A second shampoo and rinse cycle may be needed.

Tuna Brownies

2 cans Tuna with liquid
11/2 cups flour
1 Tbsp garlic powder or minced garlic
2 eggs
1/3 cup of grated Parmesan cheese

Process the tuna, garlic and eggs in food processor or blender (or mix in bowl). Add flour and Parmesan cheese and mix to a brownie-like consistency. Spread to a half-inch thickness on a greased cookie sheet. Mixture will only cover 1/3 of the sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes. When cool cut into small sized training treats. Portion into several baggies and freeze what won’t be used right away.

Summer is a time for pupsicles!

I have frozen stuffed Kongs’ in my freezer as well as some gourmet ice cubes that are kind of fun. I make a cookie dough consistency mush of soaked kibble, canned dog food, and all kinds of cut up treats mixed in just like chocolate chips. Stuff the Kong, stick in a biscuit for a handle and freeze. I give them to the dogs frozen and it keeps them busy for a while!
 

Peanut Butter Buddy Bones

1 cup unbleached flour
3/4 cup unsalted natural peanut butter
1/2 cup water
2 Tbsp. honey
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. Sea salt

Place peanut butter, honey, cinnamon, sea salt and water in a metal mixing bowl or small pot on medium heat and stir quickly until all ingredients blend into a liquid.

Put flour in another mixing bowl and slowly fold in liquid peanut butter mixture. Be prepared to keep flouring cutting board. As peanut butter dough is rolled out, add flour as needed. Because of the high oil content of peanut butter, it is necessary to flour frequently.

Use a bone shaped cookie cutter if you have one! (or a heart, or an owner shaped one?)
Bake in 375 F oven for about 25 minutes. Turn oven down to the lowest setting and let buddy bones get hard for about 1 hour. Turn over off, let treats remain in oven to get bone hard!
This recipe is an honest –to-goodness “buddy bone” to share. If you actually plan on sharing this with your best friend, remove some from the oven after the 25 minutes, and do not return yours to heat unless you have teeth you don’t particularly care about. Makes 8 – 2x5” bone shaped peanut butter buddy bones. You might choose to quadruple the recipe!

Cheese Nippers

Cheese is a favourite of many dogs. I often slice some firm cheese up, stack the slices, and then slice them and slice them again. Voila!  Teeny cubes to use as treats!  Shaking them in a bag of flour to dust them helps to prevent them from sticking together. Fresh cheese doesn't carry very well though and quickly gets soft and greasy and difficult to handle.

The teeny cubes do take well to air drying or freeze drying though!

Small amounts of cheese air dry well when you spread them out on a paper towel and leave them in the dairy drawer of the refrigerator for a few days. I like spreading some out on a cookie sheet and leaving them in the freezer for a few days. Always easy to have small batches on hand.

Larger quantities can be put on trays on paper towels and put in a dry, closed room with extra air circulation (such as a fan) for a few days. Stirring them to expose all sides to air helps quicken the process.

The oils in the cheese come off on the paper towels with a little bit of blotting. You can also toss the cheese cubes with dry dog treats or healthy cereal bits and then you have two types of training treats!

These cheese treats will keep for quite a while at room temperature depending on how dry you got them and what climate they are stored in.

Party Pupcakes
 
1 large apple
1 1/2 cups wheat flour
1/4 cup oatmeal
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons honey 2 eggs
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
 
For the Frosting
8 oz Neufchatel Cheese (lowfat cream cheese)
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
2 tablespoons honey
2-3 tablespoons flour
 
Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 ° F (200 ° C). Grease muffin tins.

Core, slice and mince the apple (use a food processor if you have one). Set aside. In a large bowl, mix together flour, oatmeal, baking powder, and baking soda. In a medium bowl, blend together the yogurt, water, oil, honey, and eggs, then stir in the apple and cheese. Add to the flour mixture and stir until mixed.

Spoon into the muffin tins, filling each cup about three-quarters full. Bake for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Let rest in the muffin tins for a few minutes, then remove and set aside to cool.

For the frosting, combine the Neufchatel cheese (at room temperature), honey, and yogurt until smooth. Add enough flour to thicken the frosting to a good spreading consistency. Frost the pupcakes and you're ready for a doggone good party!

Makes 16-18 pupcakes. If you prefer a single-layer cake, spoon the batter into a sheet pan and bake for an extra 15-20 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean). Let the cake cool, then frost and decorate.

Hot Dogs ... The Particleboard of Meat!

This recipe in in honour of a band I love called "The Arrogant Worms". Check them out :0)
http://www.arrogantworms.com/music/hot-dog-song/

Now if you still are considering feeding hot dogs to your dog or to your family for that matter ... consider it a junk food and use it sparingly. Choose a variety as "healthy" as possible.

Cut them in half lengthwise. Slice them thinly. Spread them out on a plate covered with paper towels. Cover with another paper towel and NUKE them until they get blistery and dried around some edges. Blot and squish with yet more paper towels. Store in a baggie or container in the fridge ... or you might get greasy pockets just like me :0)

 


Training Trail Mix

This recipe makes about 500 delicious dog training treats for class or for training and it takes only minutes to prepare.

  • 25 pieces of kibble (low level reward)
  • 1/2 Cup of your usual training treats (cubed cheese, hot dogs, Zukes mini treats, Lean Treats) cut into split pea-sized pieces.
  • 1/2 cup of real meat or dog jerky type treat (steak, lunch meat, chicken, or see recipe for Tuna Brownies)
  • 1/2 cup of Natural Balance or sausage type treat

    Combine these ingredients and store in a covered container overnight. All the food in the container will take on the flavor of the tastiest ingredients.