Gingerbread Men/Women Treats

Blogging Friends.... Well, now this just feels strange. I have yet to post the Halloween and Thanksgiving dog treat recipes that I baked for Rosey on Beautifully Unique.... And yet, here we are {Five days until Christmas!! Gasp!!} and I am posting the dog treat recipe that I'm planning on giving Rosey for Christmas?! Ugh. Love you later.

I own a dog treat cookbook which features four different Christmas-themed recipes. Cool, right? However. The recipe that I initially planned to bake, we lacked the ingredients for!! So.... I logged Online the other night and did a lengthy Google-search which lasted until about 11:30!! The winner? Gingerbread Dog Biscuits!! We have all the ingredients in our kitchen. Check!! I happen to be a sucker for gingerbread men this time of year. Check!! And perhaps the best reason of all? They taste like Christmas!! Why, yes. I did taste-test one!! To give credit to whom credit is due? I found this recipe on http://dukesandduchesses.com .

Rosey would rate this recipe four 'paws' way, way up!! {Yes, she got a pre-Christmas Day sample!!}

Gingerbread Dog Biscuits

3 cups whole wheat flour {I am a rebel.... So I used 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour and 2 1/2 cups white flour!! This way--in my experience--the dough is not crumbly!! But I did need to add a little more water off and on!!} 

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1/2 cup molasses

1/2 cup water {She put this little much needed ingredient down below, so I neglected to even see it.... At first. So I am putting it up here!!}

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, ginger and cinnamon. {I repeat.... I am a rebel!! So I just poured those ingredients into my bowl!! Who needs a sifter?!} Mix in the oil, molasses, and let rest for 15 minutes. {If memory serves me right--and it seldom ever does!!--I hip swayed to Elvis Presley's version of "Here Comes Santa Claus" as it played on our radio while waiting!! My body will most likely hate me tomorrow!!}

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough 1/4-inch thick. {You know what? I do not care about measuring dough thickness!! I just roll it out and hope for the best!! Anyhoo....} Cut out the cookies with bone-shaped cookie cutters [I also used a dog house cookie cutter]. {Wait. What?! These are gingerbread dog cookies!! Oh for Heaven's sake!! I used my gingerbread man and woman cutter!!} Transfer to the prepared sheet. Bake until firm, about 20 minutes. {Um.... I baked them for 25 minutes!! I made 15 gingerbread men and women treats!!

Did you know that I introduced my nearly three-year old niece, "Amethyst" to Bruce Springsteen's rockin' live performance of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"? {Which, by the way, occurred in 1975!! That was before I was ever even born!! Cool!!} She--who calls Bruce Springsteen "Buce"--will stop playing and dance to "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" alongside me!! {Yes, as though nobody is watching!!} I love how Bruce Springsteen feels like a longtime family friend somehow--his singing, performances and music--expanding generations.... My parents.... Me.... "Amethyst".... And did you know that Bruce Springsteen makes an awesome dog treat baking partner? {Or more like a blessed distraction!!} Because after several failed vibes sent toward our local "Christmas" radio station to play Bruce Springsteen, they finally did!! Honestly? As I sang and danced around the house, I haven't a clue how much work I got done!! Aw, Bruce....      

Chicken/Chicken Garlic Treats

Blogging Friends.... Boy, have I become the world's worst Blogger lately!! And truth be told? I miss Blogging twice a week!! Here's the thing. I planned to post on Saturday, September 13th {I really did!!} but then my plans were thwarted by a minor mood swing-infused pity party the day before!! Ugh. More shall be revealed. For I am still processing everything nine days later!! {Do not worry!! I am completely recovered!!} Love you later.

Today is September 21st!! And that can only mean one thing. It is Rose's fourth Gotcha Day!! Wow. Just. Wow!! Four years?! Where does time escape to.... Outer space?! I think it does!! I decided years ago with Shadow that I would not count the passing of time with how old my dog is. But rather. I would count the passing of time with how many Gotcha Day anniversaries we have been blessed with!! It feels far less depressing, as I cannot evade Rose's inevitable death. That being mentioned. I've completely lost track of how old Rose is!! Whenever people ask, I literally count on my fingers to determine it!! Is that bad?! And honestly? Rose's age--like her mix--is anybody's guess, anyway!! Why? Because the shelter where I adopted her guessed that she was four years old. Then we drove Rose to our veterinarian. He guessed two and a half or three years old!! So!! We rounded Rose's age down to three years old!! Which means. Rose turns seven years old today!! There, I wrote it!! Rose turns seven years old today!! I think!! Four Gotcha Days. Seven years old. Either way, in honor of Rose's big day, I, of course, baked a batch of dog cookies!! Although, I must mention. This recipe was originally planned for Independence Day!! But what with switching up bedrooms and writing a fictional children's book? I did not have the time!! Better late than never?! As per usual, I gave Rose tastes of the ingredients as I mixed everything together. Most of which she loved!! Except for garlic powder. Because like with honey and maple syrup, Rose could not even get past its strong smell!! Go figure!!

Rose would rate this recipe four 'paws' way, way up!! {Yes, she got a pre-Gotcha Day sample!! Two, actually!!}

Chicken Performance Cookies

This protein- and fat-rich biscuit {They are more like cookies!!} would be a good one to bring along on an excursion with your dog (like a hike). If you'd like, you can substitute 3/4 cup of Simple Liver Puree for the baby food.

2 cups whole wheat flour, plus extra for rolling

1/2 cup rye flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 egg

1/2 cup safflower oil {We do not have that ingredient. So I, being a rebel, used vegetable oil!! It worked!!}

2 tablespoons chicken broth {Rose loves this ingredient!!}

2 (2.5-ounce) jars of chicken baby food {What did I use? Gerber chicken and chicken gravy!! Rose love, love, loved her taste of that ingredient!!}

For the egg wash:

1 egg

Pinch of salt

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Combine the flours, baking powder, and garlic powder in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, beat one egg. {I just whisked it!!} Add, oil, broth, and baby food to the egg and blend together. {I just stirred it!!} Add this mixture to the dry ingredients and mix with a spoon, then knead to incorporate all the dry ingredients. The dough will be soft a somewhat oily. {It was crumbly!! The dough kept peeling like a terrible sunburn!! And it seemingly dried very fast!! I added a little water to my dough!!} Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and roll to 1/4-inch thickness. {I always just eyeball it!!} Cut into shapes with cookie cutters {I used twain bones. One heart. Twain dogs. And one paw print!!} and place on a baking sheet covered with greased or non-stick foil. {I sprayed my pan!! But some of the cookies still stuck to it!!} Beat the other egg {Again, I just whisked it!!} and add a pinch of salt. Brush a little of the egg-and-salt mixture on top of each cookie, to make an attractive glaze. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes {All ovens are different. But I baked two separate batches for 20 minutes!!} or until the tops {are} brown. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. {I baked 21 cookies!! Therefore, I needed twain airtight containers!! But I will freeze some in a plastic bag to prevent them from developing mold!!}

Happy, happy, happy fourth Gotcha Day, Rose!! Here's to many, many, many more!!          

  

Blueberry Butterfly Treats

Blogging Friends.... Two years. It has been two freakin' years this Sunday since my life was profoundly impacted by Tony Stark/Iron Man. And--for the most part--I have not looked back or "relapsed" behavior-wise. Yes, I've continued to move forward in my ongoing self-acceptance journey. That is huge for me!! You know what? For reasons beyond my comprehension, this anniversary seems much more significant to me than last year's. Huh. Is it perhaps because this has been one wild two years? Filled with far more minor mood swing-infused pity parties than I care to count? {Cosmic defeats.} Yet also filled with bouncing back and realizing just how resilient an individual I truly am? {Cosmic victories.} Is it perhaps because these two years have been filled with reaching out to Mamas--plus one Daddy!!--who've brought into this world children either born with craniosynostosis or congenital diaphragmatic hernia.... Twain of my birth defects? And lastly. Is it perhaps because these two years have been filled with writing ten books? Love you later.

Look for my May fictional children's story on Minuscule is good! I just posted it today!! Better late than never?

Entirely on impulse--and despite the mere fact that I'd just purchased Rose some crunchy turkey treats!!--I decided to bake her a batch of blueberry dog biscuits that I've never tried in celebration of my special two-year anniversary!! And, coincidentally enough, my Grandma will be visiting from California tomorrow night. For twain weeks. Or longer. So new special treats for Rose during a time when we will indulge ourselves? Perfect!! So, after searching Online, I found this recipe!! To give credit to whom credit is due. It was posted on http://cookiemonstercooking.com/ . As per usual, I allowed Rose to sample some of the ingredients. She love, love, loves peanut butter!! Whenever I have some on Ritz crackers, Rose comes running into the kitchen expecting a liberal bite!! She also apparently likes blueberries!! I tossed her two!! However. Maple syrup? Like with honey, she could not even get past the potent smell!! Go figure!!

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

    

Homemade Peanut Butter Blueberry Dog Treats

Yield: about 14 dog treats (using a 3 ½ inch cookie cutter) {I doubled the recipe, but, disappointingly, we only baked 16!!}

INGREDIENTS:

1 large egg

⅓ cup creamy peanut butter {Word of the experienced. Do not bake with crunchy peanut butter!! Why? Because all of the loose peanuts will fall out of your dough!! Trust me on that one.}

1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

1 tablespoon olive oil {Well. We used extra virgin olive oil!! Rachel Ray will be so very proud of me!!}

1 cup brown rice flour {We do not have any!! So I substituted it with wheat flour!!} 

½ cup oat flour*

about 2 or more tablespoons water

⅓ cup frozen blueberries

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper {I just sprayed the pan!!} and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, peanut butter, maple syrup and olive oil until smooth. Add in both flours and mix until combined. The dough will be slightly dry, so add water a small amount at a time (mixing after each addition) to get it to a consistency that you can roll out easily. I added just over 2 tablespoons. Gently fold in the blueberries. {Yeah, about that. First my dough was so very crumbly that I did add water. Literally half a glass!! Then, I added the blueberries. I tried to roll them in. However. They kept rolling out!! So then I decided to be rebel, and squeeze the dough in my hands. Bad idea!! All of the blueberry juice squirt out into my dough making it moist!! Ugh. I must have added a half a cup of white flour to my dough just so it will be dry again!! The lesson learned here? Do not add any water to your dry dough.... The blueberries should serve that purpose just as well!!} On a floured work surface, roll out the dough to about ¼ inch in thickness. Cut the dough with your desired cookie cutter. {Remember last year when I made arc reactor biscuits?! Now that was insane!! I just used my butterfly cookie cutter this time!! Because. I am a butterfly who has emerged from her cocoon!!} Place on the prepared baking sheet. The dough will not spread while baking so you can place them fairly close together. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the treats are crunchy and golden brown. Once completely cooled, store in an airtight container.

NOTES:

*Instead of buying oat flour, just place rolled oats in a food processor and process until finely ground.

  

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....    

  

Marble Christmas Treats

Blogging Friends.... Well, Santa "Claws" finished ordering around his elves {I am one of them!!} to bake Rose her treats today!! For Christmas is nearly here!! Treats needed baked!! Now. Santa "Claws" understands that I lack impulse control during Christmastime, and struggle with keeping holiday secrets. He also knows all about my dear Blogging Friends. How they love, love, love dog treat recipes. So!! Santa "Claws" has given me permission to reveal one of his elves' recipes!! Thanks, Big Dude!!

First things first. I have lost count of how many times I've heard Bruce Springsteen's rockin' version of "Santa Claus {Insert his attractive New Jersey accent!!} is Coming to Town" this Christmas!! Quite happily!! When Christmas is over, I'm afraid that I will suffer from some serious Boss withdrawals!! And chocolate....

You know how, as a rebel, I always break at least one rule while baking dog treat recipes? Well.... With this recipe? I broke every freakin' rule!! Oh well!! They turned out, anyway....?

 Rose would rate this recipe: Four 'paws' way, way up!! {Yes, she got a sample!! Two, actually!!}

Red {Pink, really!!} and Green Christmas Cookies

These biscuits are slightly more complicated {I kept quoting The Mandarin's line from "Iron Man 3". "It's complicated. It's complicated. Hey. It's complicated.". Because I am an oddball!!} to make than most other recipes in this book, but they're very pretty and make a great gift at holiday time! Hint: To save time, buy pre-washed spinach.

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup tomato juice {I gave Rose a taste. And she snubbed it!!}

2 tablespoons safflower oil {I used what we had. Which was vegetable oil!!}

1 1/2 cup loosely packed spinach leaves {I already know from previous experience that Rose will snub that vegetable!! Nothing pleases me more than to hide ingredients which she refuses in treats!!}

1/4 cup water

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Blend the flour and cheese in a large bowl. {I just stirred it!!} Put 2 1/2 cups of the flour-cheese mixture into {a} food processor. Add tomato juice and 1 tablespoon of the oil. Mix together until a ball of red {Pink!!} dough forms. {It was quite crumbly, so I added several small spoonfuls of tomato juice!!} Remove the dough from the food processor and set aside. {Okay. We have a cheap, crappy food processor, so I just stirred everything in!! Note to self. Buy a good food processor!!} Rinse out the food processor bowl. Return it to the base and add spinach. Process to chop the spinach. {Uh.... Sans a well-working food processor, I chopped it by hand!!} Add water while the blade is going and continue to process until the spinach is finely chopped. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and remaining 2 cups of the flour mixture. Process to form green dough. {I just stirred and mashed it together!!} On a lightly floured surface, roll red {Pink!!} and green dough out, separately, into 1/4-inch-thick ovals. Try to make the ovals the same size and shape. {Okay. I did not fret over such a petty detail of rolling out ovals. I just tried my very best at making twain doughs with differing consistencies equal sizes!! Warning. It was much easier said than done!!} Stack the green oval atop the red oval and roll again. {I ran into a little issue regarding leftover dough. Ready? Once I was finished pressing my cookie cutters into the dough, its colors were completely inseparable. Completely inseparable. How on earth was I supposed to use the rest of my dough for treats? Answer? Mix the colors together like some small child with Play-Doh!! My result? Pink and green marble Christmas treats!! Cool!! Use cookie cutters to roll into Christmas shapes. {I have a stocking. One gingerbread man. A candy cane. One gingerbread woman. A Christmas tree. One snowman. A bell. And one holly leaf.} Place on a baking sheet covered with greased or non-stick foil. {Whoops, I forgot that little rule!! Oh well!!} Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until just starting to brown on top. {Ovens vary. But I did 30. However. If you are actually following the recipe's rules {Unlike me!!} I recommend the treats be flipped mid-baking for equal browning!!} Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

I baked 20 treats!!          

 

 

 

             

 

 

 

             

"Thanksgiving Veggie Platter" Treats

Blogging Friends.... Well I have been awake since 1AM. {Do not ask why!!} So, after spending quality time with Rose on my bedroom floor during ungodly hours, I stood up at 4:00, smiled, made me some chocolate/chocolate/chocolate milk {With a TON of Hershey's syrup mixed in!! It is a chocolate addict's secret "recipe"!!} and I turned on this desktop computer. I am now sleep-deprived. Yet I'm high on chocolate. Caffeine. Caffeine makes me happy....

  

I finally did it!! I have wanted to bake this dog biscuit recipe for Thanksgiving throughout the course of probably two years. But I never did it. Why? Because my family hosts Thanksgiving at our house. And we have all of this "deep cleaning", baking, plus cooking which is required before Turkey Day. So. I always thought that baking Rose treats would seem an unnecessary hindrance. And she gets to enjoy a little turkey.... But then, with this ongoing difficult place which I currently find myself in, I needed something to do. And then I was recovering from a minor mood swing-infused pity party yesterday. I rebound!! I am resilient!! So, I needed something fun to do that would distract my crazy mixed-up thoughts/feelings/emotions. It worked!! So I finally baked this recipe!! Hey!! This is my second posted recipe in one month!! Cool!! I was a bit nervous as to whether or not Rose would even like this recipe. How so? While baking Rose treats, I always give her samples of the ingredients. One was celery, which she appeared to be interested in. So I tossed my little girl a chopped piece. She played with the vegetable, pouncing on it like some feline with his mouse. But it was never eaten!! No. I throw it away!! The recipe also calls for unsalted sunflower seeds. So, I sprinkled a pinch into Rose's bowl. And she snubbed them!! Little does Rose know. That these treats will contain both celery and sunflower seeds!! Little does Rose know!! I needn't have worried, though. I thought they were tasteless and bland. But Rose?

 

Rose would rate this recipe: Four 'paws' way, way up!!

 

Veggiebite

THE HEALTHIEST CHOICE FOR YOUR "FOUR-LEGGED" MATE.
3  1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup diced celery {You know how with nearly every recipe I bake, rules are broken? Well.... Does it count when rules are broken by accident? I did not know how to "dice" the celery. So I chopped it, instead!!}
1/8 cup diced red bell peppers (optional) {I baked this recipe without the red bell peppers!!}
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup unsalted sunflower kernels
1  1/4 cup water {Because these treats were so bland in taste, I highly recommend substituting water for beef or chicken broth!!}
3 tablespoons olive oil {Rachel Ray would give me a high-five!! We have extra virgin olive oil, which, I used!! E.V.O.O., baby!!}

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix water and oil. Add flour, oatmeal, vegetables, and sunflower kernels. Knead dough for 2-3 minutes {I just mashed it in the bowl!! My dough was crumbly. So I added water. As per usual, I poured too much into my dough. So I added white flour.} and roll to 1/4-inch thick. {I never follow that rule!!} Cut dough into bone shapes {Or, in my case, carrot!! Get the correlation? "Thanksgiving veggie platter" treats? A carrot-shaped cookie cutter? Cute, right?} and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Makes 2  1/2 dozen. {We baked 26!!}

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!

   

 

  

 

 

Peanut Butter Pumpkins

Blogging Friends.... Thank-you for all of your sweet comments the other day!! I am in better spirits, and my mood swing-infused pity parties have since diminished!!

 

Now. Look for a Thanksgiving-themed story to be posted on my other Blog, "Minuscule is good!"--Lord willing!!--tomorrow!!

 

Yesterday was Halloween. I received an entire glass jar-full of chocolate candy from my Mom, and, thus far, this recovering addict is eating it "in moderation", as that phrase goes!! What is happening to me....? And we have some extra candy because not one single Trick or Treater came knocking!! Uh.... Their loss? I baked Rose a batch of treats yesterday. By the way? I have decided that professional bakers would absolutely hate me. Why? Because, nothing pleases me more as a rebel than to alter people's recipes!! Nothing. Pleases. Me. More!! This recipe is not exempt!! I changed an ingredient. Plus I broke more than a couple rules....

 

Rose would rate this recipe: Four 'paws' way, way up!!

Peanut Butter Oat Biscuits

Most dogs love the flavor of peanut butter. If you use health-food-store peanut butter, that's basically nothing but ground peanuts (you can grind it fresh yourself at some stores), it makes a healthy flavoring for treats.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup oat bran {Yeah. We do not have any oat bran. So!! I used quick oats, instead!!}
1 cup milk
1/2 cup natural peanut butter {I just used what was already in our pantry!! Which is definitely not natural!!}
1 egg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. In a food processor, combine the milk and peanut butter and process to liquefy. Add the egg and process until egg is mixed in. {Yeah. I just threw every ingredient into my bowl and beat them!! Because we own a cheap food processor, anyway!!} Pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture and stir into dough. {Whoops!! I did not see this rule!! Oh well!!} Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface {A "lightly floured" surface? Hmmm. My dough was so gooey, that I kept adding more and more flour to it. And our rolling pin. Plus the kitchen counter!!} and roll to 1/4-inch thickness. {I cannot do such measurements when baking. I simply roll my dough flat!!} Use cookie cutters to cut into shapes. {Okay. I own twain pumpkin-shaped cookie cutters!! Of course, I used them!!} Place biscuits on a baking sheet with greased or non-stick foil. {I just sprayed our pan!!} Bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned on top. {Close enough. It required 31 minutes!!} Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

I baked 16 treats!!