Dog Biscuits- Part 2—this one's really quick!

My four dogs were very happy with their liver biscotti treats for Valentine's Day, but they were a little labor-intensive for the chef.

I decided I would try a quick drop biscuit in order to experiment with what was left of the Bisquick Gluten Free Baking Mix I bought the other day. I can tell you that this recipe also is "4 tails up"--meaning my two Yorkies and two Shepherds approve.

This is another recipe for a dog treat that is geared toward the allergy-prone dog. I mentioned that my dogs seemed to react to wheat flour and gluten with terrible skin itching. The baking mix I used contains rice flour and potato starch, baking soda and salt—so do not add any extra salt or seasoning. Now, I admit, I chose this product for convenience and because the rural store I stopped at that day didn't have any other options for gluten free flours. I plan to re-do this recipe with my own non-wheat and gluten-free flours and aluminum-free baking soda (and anyone who is reading this can easily adapt this recipe, too!)

NOTE: I used salmon in this recipe because I had a can of salmon available in my pantry, but you can easily substitute tuna or any leftover cooked fish you might have had for dinner. Or-- you can use canned pumpkin or cooked, mashed sweet potatoes—though you will need to add some milk or water to have the correct consistency.

QUICK Dog Biscuits with Salmon

1 can (7 oz) Salmon, with the juice

2 beaten eggs

2 tbsp. Olive (vegetable) oil

1 cup Bisquick Gluten Free Baking Mix (note- this has leavening and salt in it so don't add any more)

Mix above ingredients together.

Drop by tablespoon-full onto parchment paper lined baking pans.

This should yield 2 dozen biscuits.

Bake 20 minutes in 400 degree oven.

Posted by Karen at 10:35 CST

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Happy Valentine's Day

How about baking some treats for your “best” friends, your everyday Valentines?

I mean your really “best” friends...the ones who are there through thick and thin, good times and bad, happy to greet you when you are filled with joy, yet still there to lick the wounds of emotional trauma.

….the friends who will get you out of the house for a daily walk twice a day in rain, snow, and sleet!

You've already guessed that I am talking about our dog “best friends”.

So why not make their Valentine's Day special by baking a batch of “Doggie Biscotti”?

I think my dogs are allergic to wheat gluten. At least when I stopped using products with wheat flour and gluten, they stopped having itchy skin. So I made this recipe with wheat- and gluten- free baking mix.

I plan to try out oat flour (which you can make by processing quick cook organic oats in your food processor). But I was curious about this Bisquick Gluten free product which has rice flour and potato starch, both of which I know are in other dog biscuits I have purchased and my dogs didn't react to them.

So, long story, now here's the recipe.

Doggie Biscotti

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Cook about 1 lb. chicken or beef liver in 2 tbsp butter until no pink is present.

Allow to cool and then puree in a small food processor to yield 1 cup of pureed cooked liver.*

Place in a bowl and mix in the following:

2 beaten eggs

1/3 cup olive (vegetable) oil

1/3 cup water

2 &1/2 cups of Gluten free Bisquick Baking Mix (this has leavening and salt in it so don't add any more)

Additional mix or water may be added, if needed for consistency.

Divide dough into halves and form each half into a log about 1” high and 3-4 inches wide.

Place on parchment lined pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Remove from oven and allow to cool about 15-20 minutes. Reduce oven heat to 300 degrees.

Slice each log into ¾ inch thick biscotti slices.

Place biscotti slices on parchment lined baking pans and return to the 300 degree oven.

Bake 30 minutes, then turn and bake an additional 15 minutes until the cookies are crispy.

Cool and serve! Store extras in a covered container.

Now, remember, if you don't have time for Biscotti, you can always cook them a nice soup bone. Or—wait until the weekend to bake their cookies and tell them “Happy Valentine's Day” then. They won't know the day until you tell them anyway!

*INGREDIENT NOTE:

You may want to try 1 cup of canned pumpkin or pureed cooked sweet potatoes. You can also use other cooked, ground meats that you puree to 1 cup volume –or—you can even use jarred, pureed baby food meat.

Posted by Karen at 17:26 CST

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My sister Kathy, has been a Kindle owner since it came out. When I received a Kindle this year for Christmas, she was quick to offer her advice. First, she told me to load up on my favorite reading material--then to make sure I took my Kindle with me everywhere I went. I'd never waste time waiting anywhere again.

And, although the Kindle is very durable, it needs to be protected in while hanging out in your purse, backpack, briefcase, man-bag or whatever. Kathy didn't like the thicker covers she'd noted for sale, so she came up with the idea of simply folding over a piece of felt and sewing up the sides, leaving the top open--kind of a sleeve to glide the Kindle in-and-out. 

Here's my version, based upon what I had to adapt at the Farm. First, I had to buy a package of craft felt (sadly no solo pieces in the sewing department) but it was made in the USA so that made me happy. Because it was glued on one side, I cut a second piece, slightly narrower than the first piece and put glued sides together, matching the edges at the top, but leaving a rim on the bottom and  open side. When these exposed glued edges were matched up, the  edges "self-sealed" the side and bottom of my pouch. This gave me a "lined" sleeve. I then took some leftover yarn on a large needle and simply sewed an extra border for strength and contrast. Mainly, this was because I was too lazy to get out my sewing machine which is not as strategically located as Kathy's. 

This Kindle cover is very light and durable. It works and took about 2 minutes to make, but--when I get the sewing machine set up one day, perhaps I'll put a little more creativity into it. 

Posted by Karen at 08:35 CST

Updated: Thursday, 10 March 2011 09:15 CST

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