Cooking for the Ladies

The ladies being Liz and Amy, English Bulldogs extraordinaire!  I love cooking for them, not only because they love what I make no matter, but also because I want them to have the best, most nutritious, healthy food they can sink their fangs into!  Seriously, it does help that they are so appreciative.  They always look at me as if to say, “You made this?  I cannot believe what a great cook you are!  You must really love me to make this for me!”. Of course, they are right on all counts…

Below you will find some recipes, mostly for treats.  I also cook for them trying to follow the prey model for raw feeding.  Here are some foods and substances that you must NOT let your dogs ingest:

Poisonous Foods for Dogs:

• Chocolate (contains Theobromine)
• Onions & garlic
• Pear pips, the kernels of plums, peaches and apricots, apple core pips (contain cyanogenic glycosides resulting in cyanide poisoning)
• Potato peelings and green looking potatoes
• Rhubarb leaves
• Moldy/spoiled foods
• Macadamia Nuts/Walnuts
• Alcohol
• Yeast dough
• Coffee grounds, beans & tea (caffeine)
• Hops (used in home brewing)
• Tomato leaves & stems (green parts)
• Broccoli (in large amounts)
• Raisins and grapes (damages the kidneys)
• Cigarettes, tobacco, cigars
• Nutmeg
• Raw Potatoes
• Turkey skin
• Voltarin (in arthritis medication)-Very Fatal
• Baby Food (can contain onion powder)
• Citrus oil
• Fat trimmings (Can cause pancreatitis)
• Human vitamins containing iron (can damage the lining of the digestive system)
• Large amounts of liver
• Mushrooms
• Raw fish

These are Good for Dogs!

Coconut Clusters

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup applesauce, unsweetened
• 1 tablespoon applesauce, unsweetened
• 1/4 cup low-fat milk or 1/4 cup nonfat milk
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats

Instructions:

In a large bowl, combine flour, 1/4 cup applesauce, milk, and coconut. Slowly add in the oats, 1/2 cup at a time; you should get a mixture that sticks together when you squeeze a small amount in your hand (if not, add the additional tablespoon of applesauce).

Use a cookie scooper to scoop about one tablespoon of mixture, then using wet hands, form into a ball or disk shape, and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Refrigerate at least one hour.

Keeps up to 2 weeks, refrigerated, or up to 3 months, frozen.

Berry Muffins – for Dogs

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 1 cup cherries, stoned and chopped or 1 cup blueberries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F; grease and flour muffin pan.

Combine oats, flour, baking powder, and cinnamon; in another bowl, slightly beat the egg, beat in milk and applesauce.

Slowly add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients; stir in berries.

Fill muffin cups 2/3 to 3/4 full; bake about 20 minutes for regular-sized muffins and 15 minutes for mini-muffins at 375 degrees.

Parsley Kisses – Homemade Dog Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 1/8 cup dried parsley flakes ( you can use fresh but you have to triple up)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup applesauce, unsweetened ( or you can just puree an apple or pear)
• 1 eggs

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Whisk together the flour, wheat germ, and parsley.

Add in the water and applesauce and mix well; add the egg and mix well.

Knead some of the dough in your hands, then flatten on a work surface until about 1/4-inch thick; use a small biscuit cutter or other cookie cutter to cut neat shapes.

Repeat with remaining dough.

Place cookies on a cookie sheet and bake for about 15 minutes (bottoms will be just starting to brown), then shut oven off and let rest in oven for 2 hours.

Will last 3 weeks refrigerated or 4 months frozen.

Tuna Bites for Dogs

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley
• 5 ounces tuna in vegetable oil, undrained
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 egg

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F; lightly coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together oats, cornmeal, flour and the herbs.

Use a blender or food processor to puree the tuna, oil, water and egg.

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the puree; stir until combined.

Use a 1 inch cookie scooper to pack the dough, then place on the prepared cookie sheet (I just use my hands to compress and try to make them all about the same size).

Bake for 25 minutes; cool on a wire rack.

Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 cup reduced-fat milk
• 1 cup peanut butter (use natural, not sweetened)
• 1 tablespoon molasses

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Whisk together the flour, oats, and baking powder.  Gradually mix in the milk, peanut butter, and molasses.  Knead until a soft dough forms.

Roll out to 1/2 inch thickness (or use your hands, this dough is easy to work with).  Cut out shapes and place on baking sheet.

Bake for 20 minutes; turn off heat and let cool in oven or cool on wire racks.