NewfandHound

Snackerday! Sweet Chips!

We always have an abundant amount of sweet potatoes around so when I saw this recipe for Healthy Sweet Potato Treats over on Ammo The Dachshund's blog we had to give it a try. Not once, not twice, but three times so that's why this post is so late. Foyle ate the first batch off of the stove, I burnt the second batch, and finally the third batch came out perfect. Trial and error, but at least you can learn from my mistakes.

All you need are two ingredients, sweet potatoes and chicken broth, and you are ready to go!

Ingredients:

1. 2 Sweet Potatoes
2. 1 qt of chicken broth, low sodium
3. Parchment paper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. (I used 375 because 400 burned them, but adjust as needed)
2. Cut sweet potatoes into 1/8" rounds. I used the thin slice on my mandolin to make them consistent.
3. Quickly put the potato chips into the chicken broth and soak for 30 minutes. Cover the chips with broth so they are not exposed to air, they'll turn brown when you cook them if they aren't.
4. Drop chips onto parchment paper on a baking sheet and bake for 18-25 minutes, checking frequently, until crisp on the edge and chewy in the middle. (Next time I'm going to lower the temperature after the initial 18 minutes as low as the oven can go and see if I can get them a little bit drier)
5. Refrigerate and use within a few days, or freeze for later.

This is an easy, healthy treat that you can make in large batches. Enjoy!

Remember! Talk to your veterinarian before you make this treat if your dog has allergies or health issues.

Snackerday! Liver Love 'Em

This recipe is paws down the favorite in the house right now, but I have to warn you that the preparation is not for the weak at heart because it's kind of.....disgusting. Completely worth it, but a bit disgusting non the less. These Liver Love 'Em's will be the treats to use as bait for any training session or for when you are in the ring! I had all four dogs at my feet while I was taking pictures just waiting for a piece to drop on the floor. Now for the ingredients which features, you guessed it, liver.

This recipe is adapted from The National Dog Biscuit Baking Company You Bake 'Em Dog Biscuits Cookbook. The book has over 50 recipes for training treats and special treats if your dog has food allergies so there is something in there for every dog. You can bake these so the treats are either soft or crunchy, but I would recommend the soft if you are going in the ring so you don't end up with crumbs all over your dog's face.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound (2 cups) raw beef liver
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups garbanzo bean flour (I used brown rice flour)
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F

Following the pictures above, combine the liver and the eggs in a food processor and blend until mixed. Add the puree into the bowl with the flour and the cheese and mix well.

Turn out onto a well-greased baking sheet. It's a bit sticky so stretch it out the best you can in an even layer. Bake for 25 minutes or until firm on top. Warning here though- you may want to ventilate your house while it is cooking if you don't like the smell of liver. It does seem to permeate through every nook and cranny.

Remove from the oven and let it sit until it is cool enough to handle. You can either break it into pieces or use a pizza cutter to cut into squares which I found is actually easier when it is still a bit warm. If you like softer treats then refrigerate or freeze any you won't be using within a week. For crunchier treats put them back in the oven and bake at 150 degrees for 2-3 hours, until they are crisp.

Ok, so they aren't the most attractive treats to make but they will keep your dog motivated or you can use them as a special reward for when your dog has been extra good. Which is always, right? Ya, right.

On a side note I found this cute dog dish the other day at Marshalls! I went in there to find gifts for the raffle at the NCNC picnic this weekend and just by chance came across this dish. Marshall's and Ross are great places to find inexpensive dog toys and gifts for club raffles or birthday presents.

Here is Hazel enjoying a bite straight from the bowl and to the right is her climbing on top of her crate trying to get more! These are so easy to make and won't take time away from grooming the night before a show! Makes enough to share with all your friends too.

As always, if your dog has special food needs or allergies please talk to your vet before giving your dog these treats.

Snackerday! Cheese Em Right!

Who could ask for anything better than a lazy holiday weekend to try out my new Cheese Em Right Snackerday treat recipe? I actually tried this one out twice today because a certain Newfoundland decided to break the dog gate down and eat half of the treats this morning! Good thing this recipe is easy to do and only has 5 ingredients so you can whip them out in less than 30 minutes with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.

The recipe is adapted from Bubba Rose Biscut Company (Cheese, Please!) and I keep modifying their recipes because I like the fact that they use alternative flours and they have such easy recipes to follow.

So, here are the instructions for Cheese Em Right!

• 2 cups oat flour
• 2 cups brown rice flour
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (low-fat if you like)
• 1 cup shredded carrots (optional, the second time I skipped the carrots and used 2 cups of cheese)
• 1 tablespoon of Italian spice mix (make sure there is no onion)
• 1 egg
• 1 cup water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together thoroughly until a dough forms. I've found that i typically need to use more flour to reduce the stickiness in the dough enough to roll it out, but if it is too stiff for you then add water by the tablespoon until you get the consistency that you like.

Roll out the dough between two sheets of parchment paper until you get 1/4" thickness. (see the Ginger Bunny post on how I like to roll out my dough with slats). Place cookies on an un-greased cookie sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until they reach a light golden color. Remove from oven and cool before giving them to your dog! Seal in an airtight container in the refrigerator or make a large batch and freeze.

Foyle couldn't resist trying to get a few while I was taking pictures! If you'd like to give them as a treat use a 1" round cookie cutter and drop them into a tall jar like the Quattro Stagioni jar above! (I found mine at the Crate and Barrel outlet) Tie with a cute dog-themed ribbon or gift card and you are set! Easy, sweet gift for your dog friends!

(as always talk to your veterinarian before you make these if your dog has allergies or specific diet needs!)

Snackerday! Pineapple Puppysicles

It's starting to get hot outside so today I thought I'd cool it down a bit by making some Pineapple Puppysicles for the dogs to chew on. We used to get Frosty Paws as a treat but this is even easier and if you use a fresh pineapple it can't get any healthier for your pup! Plus with only two ingredients it can't get any easier for you either.

It's so good that you will want to chew on a few of them yourself!

All you need to do is throw fresh pineapple in a blender with a cup or two of water depending on how thick you want your pops and blend. You can always add in more fruit, yogurt, or some oatmeal to make it more interesting but since Foyle only likes pineapple that's all I used. I once saw on It's Me Or The Dog that pineapple is also good for preventing dogs from coprophagia, which Ernie does frequently, so we're hoping that this will work as a preventative.

Foyle already ate half a tray today, so make a few trays at a time. It goes fast!

Snackerday! Sausage Dog Snacks

These treats are paws down the dachshunds favorite treats so far! In fact they were so good that I turned around to find that Hazel had jumped up on the kitchen counter searching for more after I took her picture. Seriously, that good...and the best part is that they are incredibly easy.

The recipe is adapted from Pretty Fluffy's No Bake Healthy Treats and you can whip these yummy snacks up in less than 10 minutes. So quick and easy that you can make a batch any time, no reason to run to the store for more. Here's the recipe:

1. 1/2 cup of milk
2. 1 cup of peanut butter (you may need a tablespoon or so extra)
3. 3 cups of rolled oats
4. 1/2 cup of dried cranberries

Mix the 1/2 cup of milk and peanut butter until a paste forms. Add 1/2 cup of rolled oats at a time until thoroughly mixed. If it still a bit dry add a tablespoon more of peanut butter. Then add in your cranberries.

You can either form them into nice little balls like Pretty Fluffy does or press them into one of those flexible molds like I did for nice compact squares. Finally, put them in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes or until they are a bit harder. Pack them up for training or keep them in the fridge for a special treat!

Here is Hazel enjoying every minute of her treat and even going back for seconds...thirds...crumbs! Even after jumping on the counter she tried to get back up by climbing on a step stool to jump back up onto the counter! They are that good! Try it! (as always, check with your veterinarian if your dog has allergies or special dietary needs before feeding these treats)

Snackerday! Ginger Bunny Cookies

A rainy day like today is perfect for staying home and making Saturday a Snackerday! These dog cookies will make your house smell cozy and warm and your dogs will be at your feet begging to steal them right out of the oven.

The original recipe is from Bubba Rose Biscut Company's Organic Dog Biscut Cookbook, but I had to modify it for Foyle and take out the peanut butter to reduce the protein level and replace it with apple butter. This is one of the best cookbooks for dog treats that I've bought so I highly recommend getting a copy!

Here's the modified recipe for their Gingerbread Mailmen:

• 1 1/2 c. oat flour
• 1 1/2 c. brown rice flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 egg
• 1/4 c. vegetable oil
• 1/2 c. molasses (blackstrap or molasses)
• 1/4 c. apple butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients together and mix until a dough forms. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to a 1/4" thickness. Now this is where my little trick comes in handy!

I bought two slats from Michaels that were 1/4" thick and long enough to cover my matt. Place your dough in the middle and a piece of parchment paper over it and start rolling! You won't get the nice circular piece of dough you usually get when you can keep turning as you roll, but the consistency of the thickness will give you nicer cookies. Place your cookies on an un-greased cookie sheet, or a baking mat, and cook for 18-20 minutes until the edges are slightly brown.

As you can see they are a big hit in our house! We went for an Easter theme with the cookie cutters because the bunny and carrot shape seemed holiday appropriate. The dogs are going crazy for these cookies, and they will make great gifts for all my dog-lovin friends!

NewfandHound Meets Mr. Chewy!

Mr. Chewy has arrived! A few weeks ago we were lucky enough to get an email from Mr. Chewy asking us if we would check out Mr. Chewy.com and let everyone in the blog world know how we liked them. Well, boy did we like them!

If you go on over and look at their website they have over 70 brands of treats and food, everything that we typically get at our local dog stores and then some! The website is easy to navigate and when I tried out their live chat I was able to get someone on-line in less than 10 seconds! I really liked the fact that you could see the ingredient list since we have to make sure Foyle's treats are low in protein.The bonus is that they are typically $2.00 less than the big box stores! Not only was ordering seamless but Mr. Chewy sent us a confirmation email and another email when the package was mailed!

Mr. Chewy isn't just a place to get treats and prescription food, they also have a generous referal program. If you refer your friends they will get 10% off their first order and Mr. Chewy will donate $10 for each friend that orders to animal charities. Now that is worth ordering from them right there! Also, if you order $49 or more then shipping is free! Can't beat that.

Although we truly appreciate Mr. Chewy sponsoring this post and we loooove the box of treats we ordered the dogs have decided, in unison, to donate their order to Newfoundland Health & Rescue. We've seen the condition that Newfoundlands are in (and dachshunds for that matter) when they first come into rescue and they need all the love, treats, and special care they can get! So, we're going to package them back up and make sure they are in good hands! Thank you Mr. Chewy, you have a paws up from NewfandHound!