Cooking for your pup
For me, the joy of cooking isn’t eating a completed meal. It’s sharing it with others. After receiving a newsletter from Lizzi and Rocco’s Natural Pet Market, containing a holiday recipe for man’s best friend, I’ve decided to try cooking for my four-legged, furry roommate, Pepper.
Who could be a better taste-tester for a new recipe? You know a dog will not only be as appreciative as a human, but they’ll gobble it up like it’s the best thing they’ve ever tasted. This particular recipe from Lizzi and Rocco’s is a Pumpkin Treat Recipe from Nummy Tum Tum.
You want to mix together two eggs and half a cup of Nummy Tum Tum pumpkin puree, half a teaspoon of salt, one tablespoon of cinnamon, two tablespoons of dry milk, a teaspoon of vanilla and two and a half cups of flour. Add water until the dough become dry, but crumbly and workable.
Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface. Make it about half and inch thick and cut it into the desired treat shapes. I used regular cookie cutters in holiday shapes. Sure, it’s not Christmas yet, but Pepper doesn’t know the difference. And neither will your pooch.
Put the treats on an ungreased cookie sheet and book for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Turn and cook for another 20 minutes.
If you’re interested in more recipes, The Poop (www.thepoop.com) and Dog Treat Kitchen (www.dogtreatkitchen.com) are completely dedicated to canine recipes. The Poop even has a spaghetti recipe that’s used for both humans and dogs.
To make spaghetti for four (the recipe writer eats it along with her three dogs, I’d imagine you can share with your human roommates or save leftovers), use one and a half pounds of beef or venison, one package of spaghetti noodles, one can of unsalted tomato sauce, half a can of olives, one small can of mushrooms, spices (such as basil), oregano, garlic and pepper and two to three cups of frozen veggies.
Cook as you would normal spaghetti: noodles in one bowl with sauce, meat browning in one pan and adding spices and sauce to the meat after it’s been cooked. Remember onions are bad for dogs and it would be best to add extra spices to your own mixture rather than give too much extra spice to your dog, which could be unhealthy for their digestive systems since they’re probably not used to it.
If you want recipes that aren’t from scratch, the Nummy Tum Tum website has a variety of recipes and tips on how to use its organic pet products.
If you want to cook for your dog (or cat) there are a lot of benefits. Your friend not only loves you that much more, but again, you’ll never have such a pleased taste-tester for your cooking. In addition, it’s good practice and a way to make sure your pet feels included in family festivities such as Thanksgiving, holiday parties and birthdays.
Remember to calculate the treats into your pet’s regular diet and to use serving suggestions. Also be careful when using human foods that could hurt your pets. Chocolate isn’t the only thing that can harm your pup.
These ingredients should be used sparingly or not at all in any dog treats: Baby food, dairy products (some dogs are lactose intolerant), chocolate, onions, liver (only in large amounts), Macadamia nuts, walnuts, potato, grapes/raisins, salt and sugar/sweetener
