Very Cheesy Treats

Blogging Friends.... Thank-you for your comments on the other day's post!! I truly appreciated them!! I guess one of the lessons I needed to learn while riding waves of mood swing-infused pity parties {Oh. By the way? I am still surfing, sometimes going under and sometimes gracefully riding!!} was humility, plus gratitude. And you, my dear Friends, have taught me this very lesson!! I am a writer. For which I'm grateful. And minuscule is good!! So, thanks.

 

Please remember to keep precious little Clay in your thoughts and prayers. Today he is scheduled for his third congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair operation.

     

September 21st was Rose's sixth birthday. Well, actually. It was our third gotcha day, really!! I cannot believe that I've owned Rose for three years, already!! Time certainly does escape into outer space, I am convinced of it!! As a present, I purchased Rose this long-limbed brown, tan and white plush monkey. I named "him" Holmes after Sherlock, because "he" slightly resembles one of Robert Downey Jr.'s many costumes in the second movie. How befitting that this toy is a monkey!! Before handing Rose her new friend, I, of course, needed to sever Holmes' tags. I did not say one word. And, as though she were the great know-it-all Sherlock Holmes herself, Rose wanted this toy!! She knew!! I also baked Rose a batch of biscuits. I must note. In less than three years of baking treats for Rose, I've made nearly every single recipe from my first cookbook!! Wow. The biscuits that I baked for Rose's third gotcha day tasted like Goldfish crackers!! They were so delicious!! Not only did I test-taste these home-baked dog treats, but I ate them, as well!! Yeah. My youngest brother--Rose's Uncle Michael--has been known to call me Shaggy from "Scooby Doo", because that character eats his Great Dane's Scooby snacks!! Well!! It turns out that this Shaggy has been busted--caught red handed--for enjoying these home-baked dog treats!! By Rose!! Yes, her colossal chocolate-brown eyes watch me, as I walk away with my scored snack. Mmmm!! Then, Rose comes running in my direction, because her ebony nostrils picked up the scent. Darn!! Then, with a cockeyed smirk written on my face, I give Rose the last bite!! Must I get caught for everything?!

 

Needless to mention. Rose would rate this recipe: Four 'paws' way, way up!!

Chasing Cheese
A NEW THING FOR YOUR DOG TO CHASE AFTER. {Literally!! After Rose's guilty-as-charged treat thief!!}
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons softened margarine {I used butter. We like the real thing around here!!}
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream together cheese and margarine. {I was clueless as to what exactly, that meant. Cream together cheese and margarine. So. I just mashed those twain ingredients together with a small spoon. I know what it means now!!} Add milk, and flour. Mold mixture into ball {My dough was crumbly. I felt quite nervous as to whether or not it ever would form a ball. Quite nervous. But I kept adding water until it softened!!} and roll dough {On a floured countertop!!} to 1/4 inch thickness. {I do not follow that rule. I roll my dough very, very thin!!} Cut dough with cookie cutter {I used two dog-shapes, one paw print, plus two bone-shaped cutters!!} and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes {I made my first tray of nine for 20 minutes. The second was rolled out a little thicker, so it required 25 minutes.} or until edges start to brown.  Makes 3 dozen. {I baked 18!!}

Bake bones on the middle oven rack. If your dough is sticky, apply a light layer of flour to your hands, the rolling surface and rolling pin. Because of variations in oven temperatures, monitor the cooking time for your batch of "Doggy Bones". Bake bones until the bottoms of the biscuits become medium brown, and adjust remaining baking times accordingly. If bones do not become "bone hard", bake bones for an additional five minutes or leave them in the oven as it cools. Store "Doggy Bones" in an airtight container. For extended supply, double your batch and freeze them!

Happy birthday. Happy anniversary. Happy gotcha day, Rose!! Either way you phrase it, I am so glad you're mine!!