Apple Cheddar Cookies

This is a recipe that is not only easy, but my dog loves it. While it's baking, he lays drooling in front of the oven.

APPLE CHEDDAR COOKIES

• 2 cups whole wheat flour


• 1/2 c old-fashioned oats


• 1 cup applesauce (unsweetened)


• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese


• 2 Tbsp honey


• 1 egg


• 1/3 cup water

Combine all ingredients together and mix until a dough forms. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4" thickness. Use cookie cutter to cut into shapes. Place on Pam-sprayed cookie sheet (they tend to stick to the pan). They can be placed rather close together as they don't grow much during cooking.

Bake 20-25 minutes. Transfer and let cool. Refrigerate.

Molasses Carrot Cookies

First, let me say that the picture was taken on our trip to South Carolina. Montana and I climbed up to the observation tower at a Wildlife Preserve, and we were very proud of ourselves. When climbing stairs I have to go up (and down) one step at a time, getting both feet on the same step before I can go up another one. Montana goes at the same pace, staying right beside me in case I stumble or lose my balance. He is one amazing dog, and I thank my lucky stars that he is mine.

I bought a box of fancy dog biscuits during our trip and got to reading the ingredients. Then, I made a batch of my own today using those ingredients plus my usual dog cookie ingredients. They got raves from Montana, and they sure smelled good to me!

Molasses Carrot Cookies

(Preheat oven to 350 degrees)

• 2 cups whole wheat flour


• 1 cup chicken broth


• 1/2 cup cornmeal


• 2 grated carrots


• 6 Tbsp vegetable oil


• 1 cup Old Fashioned oatmeal


• 1/3 cup molasses


• 1/3 cup grated cheddar cheese

Mix all ingredients together. Shape into balls and squash as for cookies. Bake 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool and serve. I break these into pieces and serve as I would regular dog food, along with things like sardines, boneless canned salmon, broccoli, chopped canned spinach, etc.

Re-certification and Blueberry Cookies

The picture is Kim, Monty's foster mother, Montana and Zipper, Kim's dog who was in training to be a service dog but had a problem with his leg, so Kim became his owner.

Tuesday, Montana and I took our re-certification test at the mall. The head trainer met us and watched as I took Montana out of the car, checking that I did it safely for him. We then went into the mall, and she had me do things like stop walking to make sure he stopped at the same time without being told. I put him in a sit position, told him to wait, and walked about 30 feet away. I then told him to come, which he did, straight to me. We then went into a small store (Hallmark) that had narrow isles so that Elizabeth could see that Montana stayed right by my side and didn't try to sniff anything on the shelves. There were more things involved, which I won't bore you with, but we passed (didn't have any doubts that we would).

Tuesday evening, we went to Partner's class. That was so much fun. They had set up a small agility course, and the partners and their dogs took turns trying it out. The dogs also had to pick up toys and put them in a basket. They also had a wicker basket full of toys that the dogs had to pick up and carry. It was a great class.

BLUEBERRY COOKIES

• 2 cups whole wheat flour


• 1 cup chicken broth


• 6 Tbsp vegetable oil


• 1/2 cup Cream of Wheat (uncooked)


• 1 cup oatmeal (uncooked)


• 1 cup blueberries

Mix ingredients. Shape into balls and squash flat as for cookies. Bake 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool.

I use these cookies as part of his meal, breaking them up into small pieces. I also add 1/2 cup of cooked veggies and sometimes a little applesauce or cottage cheese.

Cooking for Montana

I have a very simple recipe that makes cookies to use as treats or as part of a meal.

Chicken Applesauce Veggie Cookies

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2/3 cup chicken broth
• 6 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup millet
• 1/2 cup uncooked cream of wheat
• 1/3 cup applesauce

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix incredients, shape into balls, squash as for cookies. Bake 35 to 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

For breakfast today, Montana had: 1/2 cup Purina One, one crumbled up cookie, 1/2 cup cooked broccoli, and 1 Tbsp vanilla yogurt. He then had one parsley dog cookie and his PetTab vitamin.

Cooking Up A Storm

I fixed these two recipes yesterday and today. My energy level is low, so I can't do too much at once but Montana needed more cookies for dessert, and I needed to make him more grains. I found buckwheat at the food co-op, plus bought two pounds of millett because that's the only place I can find it.

Buckwheat (or kasha to us Jews) is cooked like millett except for one added ingredient--egg white.

How to Cook Buckwheat

Add 1 cup of buckwheat groats to a heated skillet, and add to it a beaten egg white. The egg separates the kernels as they cook, which prevents the groats from sticking together. Stir the buckwheat/kasha and egg mixture until each grain is separate and dry. Then, add 2 cups of boiling liquid, either stock or water (I added water), and a dash of salt. Simmer the mixture for 30 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. I let this cool, then divided it into separate portions in zip-lock bags.

Crunchy Oatmeal Dog Treats

• 3 cups oatmeal, uncooked
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup cold water
• 3 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (natural breath freshener)
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 tsp baking soda

Mix all ingredients together. This mixture is a little sticky, so I floured my hands to work with it. You can make these big or small. Roll into balls and place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake 14-15 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Cool on paper towels. Can be stored in fridge for up to 2 months.

I get a lot of my recipes from the website below, but I usually change one or two things. This recipe called for 1 Tbsp parsley, but I always triple the amount called for.

http://www.all-natural-dog-treat.com/Baggins_Bites-bagginsbitesApril07.html

Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

We ate all the soup I had made and put in the freezer, so I've got to make a big pot this week. This week's soup is going to be split pea. It's hard to make, but well worth the effort. We have a big bowl of soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. It's turned into one of our favorite meals. Last week, we ate the sweet and sour cabbage soup. That was really good, with a little bite from the red pepper flakes.

Today, I'm making compote. We had some this past weekend, and it put me in the mood to make some. Couldn't find dried pears so I bought dried apples instead, plus prunes, apricots, and golden raisins.

Montana had to eat just regular Purina the four days we were out of town. He didn't really mind, but he didn't go back twice to lick his bowl like he does with the home-cooked food. I've added lentils and sardines to his diet. This week I'm going to try to find buckwheat at the Co-Op, and pick up some more millett.

And I Thought Millet Was Just for the Birds

I have taught Montana how to crawl across the floor. It's wonderful to teach these extra-special dogs new things because they are very smart and learn fast, and because they already know so much that it's fun to come up with something new. I call it the Commando Crawl, although he could never be a Commando and sneak up on anyone because he makes a whole lot of noise getting his big body across the floor while on his belly! We have a lot of fun with it.

I have a recipe for Millet Muffins that my dear sister-in-law gave me, plus millet is on the "good things to feed your dog list" that I use in determining what to feed Montana. We live in a real small town with not a lot of grocery stores. I looked at all of them, and there was no millet on the shelves. Then, I got the bright idea of going to the next town over to the Natural Foods Co-Op, which happens to be a block away from our favorite Mediterranean restaurant. Sure enough there was millet in the area where they have the food in bins where you scoop it out and put it in a bag.

Well, I got it home and discovered that neither one of my two cookbooks told me how to cook the damn stuff. So, I went on-line. It's easy. First you saute it in oil, then cook it for half an hour in water. Has a nutty flavor, and it's crunchy.

Montana inhaled it, as he does all things, and the muffins came out really great so I made a second batch.

Millet Muffins

• 2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour


• 1/3 cup millet


• 1 tsp baking powder


• 1 tsp baking soda


• 1 tsp salt


• 1 cup buttermilk


• 1 egg, lightly beaten


• 1/2 cup vegetable oil


• 1/2 cup honey (I didn't have any honey, so I substituted 1/2 cup brown sugar)


• 1/2 cup maple syrup (that was too expensive, so I used a maple flavored syrup)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line mini-muffin tins with papers


2. In a large bowl, mix the whole wheat flour, millet, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, mix the buttermilk, egg, vegetable oil, and honey (or brown sugar). Stir buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture just until evenly moist. Transfer batter to prepared muffin tins.


3. Bake 15 minutes in preheated oven, or until toothpick inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean.


4. Enjoy!

We had about five inches of snow yesterday, which for Salem is a pretty heavy snowfall. Montana's favorite thing, other than food, is snow. He goes out and runs around in it like a maniac. It is so much fun to see him enjoying life like that!

I baked something two days ago that was very easy, in fact I baked another batch today.

Whole Wheat Parsley Cookies

• 2 Tbsp vegetable oil


• 1 1/2 to 1 2/3 cups water


• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour


• 1/2 cup oatmeal (uncooked)


• 1 tsp cinnamon


• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

Mix oil and water, slowly add flour and other ingredients. Work in a little more flour, flour hands and knead dough. Pull off small pieces, roll into shapes or press flat in palms. Bake 35 minutes at 350 degrees. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

The fresh flavor of parsley helps to freshen your dog's breath.

You can also add 2 Tbsp dried mint to the mix.

Saint Francis Demo

Montana and I did our first demo for Saint Francis Service Dogs. I talked to a Brownie troup, so it was a nice beginning to the demos I'll be doing in the future. The strange thing was, I didn't get nervous. There were about 25 Brownies, four leaders, and a few interested parents. I had asked Connie, Montana's trainer, to come with me as back-up. It was good that I did, because she was able to point me toward a few things I forgot to talk about, and she was also able to answer some questions that I stumbled over.

I had made notes on index cards but didn't use them. Instead, I just talked. Sometimes my talking was a little disjointed and not as smooth as I would have liked, but I figure as I continue to give demos it will get easier and I'll get my talk down to a more natural flow of information.

They gave me a box of Thin Mint GS cookies as a thank-you gift. That was sweet!

Montana and I are going to be on TV! St. Francis filmed four partners and their dogs for Public Service Announcements to be shown in Virginia. It was scary and it was exciting. Montana did good, helping me on and off the recumbent bike and the rowing machine at the YMCA, helping me keep my balance while I walked, and picking up and handing me his leash and my forearm crutch. We went to the library for the interview on how Montana has made my life different and how he is such an awesome dog. Then, we all went to lunch and had a wonderful time talking and laughing. They are all such wonderful people! I want to give back as much as I can to St. Francis, since they've given me so very much. So when I'm asked to volunteer some time, I always try to say yes.

I made a new recipe yesterday that was very easy to put together, and Montana went crazy over it when I gave him a few pieces this morning.

Oatmeal Crunchy Trail Mix

• 3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour


• 2 cups (uncooked) oatmeal


• 1/2 cup milk


• 1 cup chicken stock


• 2 Tbsp cinnamon


• 1/4 cup peanut butter

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine stock and milk in a bowl, and beat with a fork. In a separate bowl, mix the flour and the oatmeal. Pour liquid ingredients into dry and mix well. Add peanut butter. Press the batter onto a greased baking sheet. Cut into shapes with a knife. Bake one hour. Turn off oven, but leave biscuits in the oven to harden overnight. Refrigerate afterwards.

Can add one well-shredded carrot to mix just before folding it out onto baking sheet.

Sunbathing -- 15 Degrees

Montana always likes to lay outside on a sunny day. One day last week, it was 15 degrees and sunny. He loved it!

Apple Cinnamon and Oat Cookies

• 4 cups whole wheat flour


• 2/3 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt


• 1/2 cup vegetable oil


• 3/4 cup water


• 2 eggs


• 1/4 cup oats


• 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon


• 1 tsp baking soda

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Flour your hands, and knead the dough in the bowl. Pinch off small amounts and roll into balls. Put cookies on baking sheet with a little space separating them. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes; cookies should be firm to touch. Turn off oven, and leave cookies in oven for 2 hours to harden. Makes about 80 cookies.

Salmon/Black Bean Doggy Dinner

This is a picture of Montana resting after he had fun shredding a map. He won't tear up paper or cardboard unless you hand it to him and tell him it's okay. Then, he knows it's his.

Yesterday, I drained firm Tofu and then cut it into cubes. I mixed together a can of garbanzo beans, a can of sliced carrots and a can of peas, and put this mixture into small zip-lock bags. I kept the Tofu separate from the veggies, plus held out a bowl of it for myself.

Today I made a salmon dinner for Montana, which was super easy.

Salmon/Black Bean Doggy Dinner

• 2 cans boneless/skinless salmon


• 2 eggs-beaten


• 6 Tbsp Cream of Wheat


• 1 1/2 cup drained and rinsed black beans

Mix all ingredients together. Cook in skillet in a small amount of oil until slightly browned. Cool and put into small zip-lock bags.

Applesauce Mini-Muffins For Dogs

Yesterday, I made muffins for Montana. They stuck to the papers, but other than that they came out fine. I just took a recipe that I make for us and added applesauce and oats in place of the sugar.

Applesauce Mini-Muffins for Dogs

• 1/2 cup oil
• 1-1/2 cups applesauce
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp cinnamon

Mix together oil, applesauce and baking soda. Add flour, oats and cinnamon, blending thoroughly. Line mini-muffin tin and spoon in batter. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

Funny story: I bought a bathmat. My bathroom is tiny, so when Montana and I are in there together, there's not a lot of room left over. He loves the bathmat. I have to fight him for it. When I get into the shower, he lays on it and covers it completely. When I'm done showering I have to get him to stand up and move so I can step out onto my new bathmat, which he does very grudgingly. It's a riot!