Cheddar Cheese Treats

Blogging Friends.... Thank-you, from the depths of my heart, for your sweet get better wishes, positive vibes and prayers on behalf of this strained right knee of mine. I have felt every single one!! I am slowly but surely "in recovery" and noticing day-to-day progress!! In fact. As of yesterday, I was limping around sans my Mom's cane!! However. I did fall again this morning around 3:30AM as I attempted to stand back up from our half bath toilet. This fall was graceful, at least, and practically controlled. See. I lost my balance, fell forward, realized that there was absolutely nothing I could do to avoid it, and softly landed on my good knee. The injured leg? It was mostly straight and dragging behind. I looked like some Olympic runner before her race!! All alone, I must have been a sight to behold!! My pants were still dropped, and suddenly our tiny half bath felt much, much, much smaller somehow!! "What am I gonna do?" I wondered aloud. "I gotta get up!!" I did not want to push against either the toilet or sink, as they both look un-sturdy for my weight. Well, I possess a great deal of iron will!! I slid open the half bath door. I forced that injured knee to bend. And pulled myself up by the doorframes!! My right knee hurt like hell, though. An agonizing pain which I walked off!! Plus. I swallowed some over-the-counter pain killers!! There were no reinjures, though!! Thanks be to God!! Setbacks, on the other hand....? Uh. I am back to using that trusty cane and feeling pain once more. Sigh....

Today is January 16th!! Do you know what that means? It is Shadow Sunshine's Gotcha Day!! Fourteen years ago, I was blessed with my first mutt, this beautiful "blond"-furred German Shepherd/Golden Retriever cross, on a stormy, windy Sunday morning!! We were, as per usual, attending church service, when, suddenly, sans warning, the power was knocked out!! Our windowless sanctuary then turned pitch black!! This forced everyone to evacuate toward the gymnasium. There, my Dad saw a friend who needed to give up his canine. And the rest is.... Well, history!!

So, what does one do three days after straining her right knee? She bakes her canine a batch of dog biscuits!! Sitting down the entire time, of course!! Allow me to explain. See, I "hired" the help of my sweet youngest brother--Uncle Michael to Rose--for assistance!! He was my "gofer", bless his servant's heart!! Uncle Michael found every ingredient, plus utensil which we needed for this recipe!! He held up the cookbook so that I could read it. {Voluntarily!!} He rolled the dough {Voluntarily!!} and pressed cookie cutters through the dough. As it turns out. Uncle Michael is quite the little baker!! I had no idea!! {We watched a movie and played Wii afterward!! That was my "thank-you"!!} I baked Rose a batch of dog biscuits for twain valid reasons. One. Shadow's birthday. Two. Ever since this injury, I have felt like a neglectful Mama. I've not loved on poor Rose like I normally do. Which hurts worse than the strained knee itself. Baking dog biscuits was a simple way to show Rose just how much I love her!! I chose this recipe for twain reasons. One. We have every ingredient in our kitchen!! Two. Rose could sample nearly everything along the way!! Plus, she cleaned up my doughy mess on our kitchen floor!! Thanks, Rose!! Well, showing my food lovin' little girl love through home-baked biscuits was a success!! Because....

Rose would rate this recipe: Four 'paws' way, way up!! {I would, as well, by the way!! They are freakin' yummy!! I am helping Rose eat these!! Gladly!!}

Cheddar Biscuits

Dogs love cheese! Any type of cheese will do for this recipe, so if you don't have cheddar on hand, try mozzarella, Swiss, or any other cheese you have in the refrigerator.

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese {Rose was, of course, given a sprinkling of that ingredient!! She loves cheese!!}

2 tablespoons butter {Rose was given a liberal taste of that ingredient!! She also likes butter!!}

3/4 cup milk {I poured some into a bowl for Rose to lap up!! She enjoys milk, as well!!}

Grated Parmesan cheese for topping {I forgot this ingredient!! I could not believe it!! Rose would have loved her sampling of Parmesan cheese, too!!}

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Put flours and cheese into food processor. Pulse to mix Add butter and milk. Mix well. {We haven't got a good food processor, remember? So I just mashed everything together!! I chopped up the butter while it was in with the flours, cheese and milk!!} Turn out into floured surface and roll out to 1/4-to 1/2 inch thickness. {I do not drive myself crazy over such measurements!! I simply roll the dough evenly!! But I must note. That the dough was so very crumbly, I had to continuously add water!!} Poke with tines of fork {I forgot to do that step!! Oh well!!} and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters. {I have two bones. One paw print. Plus two dog shapes!!} Place on baking sheet covered with greased or non-stick foil. {I sprayed it!!} Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. {I cooked them for 20 minutes!!} Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

We baked 17 treats!!

Happy Gotcha Day, Shadow Sunshine....