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

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!

Apple Cinnamon Cookies

I picked this recipe to try because although it has more ingredients than I care to use, I had everything on hand.

Apple Cinnamon Cookies

4 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup natural applesauce, no sugar added
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
3/4 cup water
2 eggs
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead the dough. Pinch off pieces to form 1 inch balls, flatten and place on cookie sheet one inch apart. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. When done, the cookies should be firm to the touch. Turn off the oven, and leave the cookies in for 2 hours to harden. Makes about 80 two inch cookies.

I froze half, and put half in the fridge. They smell great while baking and hardening with the whole wheat flour and cinnamon. Taste-tested and loved by Montana.

Chicken Applesauce Cookies

Here is the simplest recipe I've made so far.

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2/3 cup chicken broth
• 6 Tbsp veg. oil
• 1/2 cup cornmeal or cream of wheat

Mix ingredients, shape into balls and flatten as for cookies. Bake 35-40 minutes at 350.

Doggy Salmon Patties

I made this yesterday, and it is delicious.

1. 2 cans boneless salmon
2. 2 eggs, beaten
3. 6 Tbsp cream of wheat
4. 1 small potato
5. 2 carrots
6. 1/4 cup low-fat cottage cheese

Scrub, chop up, and then cook potato and carrots. Mix together salmon, egg, and cream of wheat. Drain veggies and add to salmon mixture. Add 1/4 cup cottage cheese. Mix all together and shape into patties. Bake 25-30 min at 350 degrees. Cool, break apart before serving to your dog. Add a little salt and pepper, and enjoy one yourself. I did.

What a Mess

Yesterday, I made a great recipe called Beefy Grain-Free Treats. You use:

1. 1/2 pound ground beef--uncooked
2. 1/4 cup chicken broth
3. 1/3 cup black beans--drained and mashed
4. 1/3 cup cottage cheese

Preheat oven to 375. (I also added about 1/4 cup frozen peas.) Mix ground meat and chicken broth in a bowl. Add black beans, peas, and cottage cheese. Mix all of the ingredients together. I made them like hamburger patties. Bake 45 minutes. Let cool.

However, the instructions were to use a cookie sheet. Don't, because all the liquid stuff runs off the cookie sheet and onto the oven door, bottom of the oven, and even into the storage area underneath. When I discovered that was happening, I transferred the doggy burgers to a baking sheet.

I didn't taste them, but of course Montana loves them.