Baking For your Pet by Deborah Ann Klenzman
Does your pet enjoy fresh-baked treats like the way you enjoy fresh-baked cookies? Oh, I bet they do. It is both rewarding and healthy to feed your pet specially baked preservative-free treats from the human-grade ingredients in your own kitchen. A variety in the ingredients ensures a well-rounded diet for your pet and increases interest for those finicky eaters. Do your research to determine which types of foods are safe for your cat or dog. Healthy foods for your dog include salmon, sardines, pumpkin, carrots, peas, bananas, sweet potatoes, peanut butter, rice, chicken and turkey. Healthy treats for your cat are boneless beef, brown rice, tuna, salmon, and boneless turkey or chicken. Never feed a cat or dog chocolate. A good substitute for chocolate on your dog treats is carob. Onions will cause upset tummies in both dogs and cats. Grapes and raisins have caused kidney failure in some dogs and cats.
Knowing what you are putting into your pet's treats can actually help in treating certain health conditions. Brewer’s yeast and garlic are a natural flea deterrent for dogs. Parsley has long been thought to improve doggie breath. Pumpkin, a great source of fiber for dogs and cats, keeps the GI tract moving.
To get you started, here are a couple easy recipes to create for your dog and cat.
Pup-Cakes For Dogs
Cakes
2 Ripe Bananas
1 egg
2 C water
1 Tbs Blackstrap molasses
2 Tbs garlic powder
2 Tbs Brewers Yeast (do not substitute regular yeast)
3 C whole wheat flour
2 Tsp Baking powder
½ C carob chips (do not substitute chocolate chips)
Pre-heat oven to 350º
Combine first 4 ingredients. In a separate bowl combine whole wheat flour and baking powder. Add slowly to wet ingredients in a mixing bowl until mixed through. Add carob chips and mix until evenly distributed.
Use melon baller to fill muffin cups half full. Do not over fill. Bake for 45 min., cool in oven to harden some.
Frosting
1 mashed sweet potato (peel, slice into ½ inch pieces and boil 20 min until soft, drain and mash)
2 oz cream cheese
3 Tbs peanut butter
3 Tbs powdered milk
After sweet potato has cooled completely, whip all ingredients together. If you want to add a fun color, use a regular potato. Pipe or spread onto cupcakes after they are cooled and serve within a few hours. Do not frost until ready to serve. Frosting can be chilled in refrigerator until needed. Top with a fun treat!
Knowing what you are putting into your pet's treats can actually help in treating certain health conditions. Brewer’s yeast and garlic are a natural flea deterrent for dogs. Parsley has long been thought to improve doggie breath. Pumpkin, a great source of fiber for dogs and cats, keeps the GI tract moving.
To get you started, here are a couple easy recipes to create for your dog and cat.
Pup-Cakes For Dogs
Cakes
2 Ripe Bananas
1 egg
2 C water
1 Tbs Blackstrap molasses
2 Tbs garlic powder
2 Tbs Brewers Yeast (do not substitute regular yeast)
3 C whole wheat flour
2 Tsp Baking powder
½ C carob chips (do not substitute chocolate chips)
Pre-heat oven to 350º
Combine first 4 ingredients. In a separate bowl combine whole wheat flour and baking powder. Add slowly to wet ingredients in a mixing bowl until mixed through. Add carob chips and mix until evenly distributed.
Use melon baller to fill muffin cups half full. Do not over fill. Bake for 45 min., cool in oven to harden some.
Frosting
1 mashed sweet potato (peel, slice into ½ inch pieces and boil 20 min until soft, drain and mash)
2 oz cream cheese
3 Tbs peanut butter
3 Tbs powdered milk
After sweet potato has cooled completely, whip all ingredients together. If you want to add a fun color, use a regular potato. Pipe or spread onto cupcakes after they are cooled and serve within a few hours. Do not frost until ready to serve. Frosting can be chilled in refrigerator until needed. Top with a fun treat!
Quick Tuna Treats for Cats
6 oz can Tuna fish in water (do not drain)
¼ C cornmeal
½ C whole wheat flour
Pre-heat oven to 350º
Combine tuna (with water) with cornmeal and flour in a food processor. Blend until smooth texture. Spread onto a baking sheet evenly. Using a pizza cutter make squares the size you think your cat would like before baking.
Place in the oven for 20 min. or until crisp and cool. Treats break apart easily into the squares you cut.
Deborah Ann Klenzman is owner and artist of Progressive Portraits. You can see her artwork and photography on www.progressiveportraits.com. Recipes provided by Sherrie Brodie of Pups and Cups, gourmet dog treats and cakes available on www.pupsncups.net.
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