Saturday, December 22, 2012

Apple Chunk Treats


"He's making a list, he's checking it twice, he's gonna find out who's naughty or nice....". So the well-known song's lyrics go!! Interestingly enough, we all have lists of our own to make, and check twice this time of year!! Gifts purchased. Cookies baked. Tree decorated. Cards sent out. Check, check, check, check. On December 20th, I completed my Christmas To-Do List 2012. I baked Rose a batch of dog biscuits!! This time--unlike last year when I was ill-prepared for my cookbook's Christmas recipe--we baked their holiday treats!! Score!! I was "ahead of the game" as that phrase goes!! These treats are intended to be reserved for Christmas morning. However. Rose followed my every move, watching me closely with her colossal brown eyes, telepathically begging for one!! Who can possibly resist? Not me.... Once cooled, I allowed Rose a candy cane-shaped biscuit!! She also sampled some dried apple, which my food-lovin'" girl very much enjoyed!!

Rose would rate this recipe four 'paws' way, way up!!

Santa Paws
SERVE THESE YUMMY YULETIDE GOODIES WITH THE "BEG" NOG. (They were quite yummy. Sweet-tasting!!)
2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/3 cup pecans (I chopped them!!)
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup dried fruit*
*your choice: apricots, bananas, apples, pears (We used apples, which I sliced!!) Caution: raisins are toxic to dogs
3/4 cup milk
4 tablespoons margarine (I used butter. We like the real thing around here!!)
1 egg


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine dry ingredients and gradually (I never follow the "gradually" rule. Because I am a rebel!!) add milk, margarine (Butter!!) and egg. Knead until a dough is formed. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness. (I do not follow the exact "1/4 inch" rule anymore. It just makes me crazy-er!! Instead, I cut our dough. Then I flatten the shapes out with my hands, while molding them. I have been doing that for several recipes now!! My goal is to attempt at making each shape evenly flat!! It's less OCD that way for me!!) Cut with cookie cutter (I used adorable holiday shapes, such as a gingerbread man, candy cane, gingerbread woman, Christmas tree, snowman, and stocking!!) and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 35 minutes (I baked nine at a time for 28 minutes!! Watch to make sure those dried apple slices do not burn!!) at 350 degrees. Makes 1 1/2 dozen. (I baked eighteen!!)

The dough was, for whatever reason, very crumbly!! But I had myself a "trusty glass" nearby. It was about half-full of water. I definitely needed that "trusty glass". Because I kept adding more and more drops to my dough along the way until at last we could work some "Christmas magic" with it!! Speaking of Christmas magic. While baking these treats, I was listening to festive holiday music on our radio. And singing, plus humming along!! One of the songs they played was Bruce Springsteen's fun, rocking version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"!! Excitement immediately brewed within me. There is something about The Boss' version of that classic song!! It makes me smile my cockeyed smirk. I laugh, soon "ho, ho, ho-ing" along with the late Clarence. I dance as though nobody is watching. I crank it up. And I rock out!!

Sing with me now!!

[Spoken intro:] (Clarence laughs) It's all cold down along the beach, the wind's whipping down the boardwalk... Hey band! (Yeah? Hey, babe!) You guys know what time of year it is? (Yeah!) What time, huh? What? (Christmas time!) What? (Christmas time!) Oh, Christmas time! You guys all, you guys all been good and practicing real hard? Yeah? Clarence, you been, you been rehearsing real hard now, so Santa'll bring you a new saxophone, right? Everybody out there been good, or what? Oh, that's not many, not many, you guys are in trouble out here! Come on.


Yeah, you better watch out, you better not cry
You better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
He's making a list, he's checking it twice
He's gonna find out who's naughty or nice
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
You better be good for goodness sake
[Clarence:] You better be good for goodness sake
Oh, you better watch out, you better not cry
You better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
[Clarence:] Ho ho ho ho!
He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
You better be good for goodness sake
[Clarence:] Better be good for goodness sake
Oh, you better watch out, you better not cry
You better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Yeah, Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
[Clarence:] Ho ho ho ho
Santa Claus is coming to town
[Clarence:] Ho ho ho ho
Santa Claus is coming to town
[Clarence:] Ho ho ho ho
Santa Claus is coming to town
[Clarence:] Ho ho ho ho
Santa Claus is coming to town
[Clarence:] Ho ho ho ho
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
[Clarence:] Ho ho ho ho
Santa Claus is coming to town
[Clarence:] Ho ho ho ho
Santa Claus is coming to town
Alright!
Santa Claus is coming to town, yeah
Santa Claus is coming to town, yeah
Santa Claus is coming to town, whoa
Santa Claus is coming to town

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 comments:

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

We got home made cookies from several of our dog friends...but we want to try Beg nog!

Hope you have a VERY Merry Christmas.

XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

Mary Lou said...

Daisy, Bella & Roxy....
Thank-you for the comment!!
"Beg nog"? You called this recipe "Beg nog"!! I like that!! ;)
Hope you have a VERY Merry Christmas, as well, and happy baking!! ;op

Unknown said...

Love the cookies.

To all the family

We wish you.....

A happy holiday
A merry Christmas
& A happy new year.

Have a super Sunday.
Best wishes Molly

Mary Lou said...

Molly....
Thank-you for the comment!! I truly appreciate it!! Especially since I am a bit behind in commenting on yours right now!! ;)
We wish you.....
A happy holiday
A merry Christmas
& A happy new year in return!! ;op

Stacey said...

haha, you definitely had me singing with this post! :-)

bbes tribe said...

Hey Raelyn, Don't feel bad about being a bit behind. We are AWESOMEly and Hugely behind in blogging and staying in contact. Thank you for checking on us. The last couple of months has been a bit overwhelming. Mom's cataract surgery for both eyes and hubby with open heart surgery and foster pups. Finally getting back to normal. Really enjoyed your post today. You are so filled with a joyful Christmas Spirit and we thank you for sharing with us. Those dog yummies sound delicious! Gonna have to try some of them. Take care we wish you a Merry Christmas and a very happy, love filled, and peaceful New YeaR.
Ernie, Sasha,Chica,Lucas, Rosie and Tarzan and Celeste our 2 fosters. :-)

Sketching with Dogs said...

They sound delicious Raelyn!
Hope you have a very Merry Christmas and Rose too.
Love Dip Bridge Elliot and Lynne x

Mary Lou said...

Stacey....
Thank-you for the comment!!
Did I? You were actually singing? Too fun!! ;op

Mary Lou said...

bbes tribe....
Thank-you for the comment!! I truly appreciated it!! ;)
You're welcome for checking up on you!! Sorry to hear that things have been overwhelming!! :-(
We wish YOU a Merry Christmas and a very happy, love filled, and peaceful New Year!! In return!! ;-D
Happy baking!! ;op

Mary Lou said...

Dip, Bridge, Elliot, and Lynne....
Thank-you for the comment!!
Oh, Rose will have a very merry Christmas!! What with two new toys, three different kinds of treats, plus love and attention.... ;op

Anonymous said...

Thanks for stopping by! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!! We are just taking a little break from blogging, will be back soon!

Mary Lou said...

Finn....
Thank-you for the comment!!
Oh good!! I am glad that everything is well in your little world!! Breaks are good. I am looking forward to upcoming Blog posts!! ;op