Home-Cooked Christmas Goodies for Pets

Make a Treat for Fido:

You can make treats in the microwave or a regular stove and gift them to your favorite loyal companion or the companion of a friend.

To make the microwave doggie treat begin by putting 4 cups of whole-wheat flour and 1/3 level cup, less a Tbsp, of dry oatmeal. Beat 2 eggs and add it to 1 1/3 C of chicken broth or beef broth. Mix it thoroughly and combine with the dry ingredients. Shape into a ball and divide it in half. Roll each half until it is 1/2 inch thin. Cut into shapes or small squares. Microwave it on wax paper at high temperature for 8-10 minutes or until dry to the touch. Check it midpoint and flip over. Cool and store in an airtight container.

Make an oven doggie treat. This treat is a wonderfully healthy one, but the garlic may give a whole new meaning to "doggy breath".

Boil 4 cups of carrots and puree them in a blender. Add 4 well-beaten eggs and 4 Tbsp of minced garlic. In a plastic bag, combine 4 cups of rice flour (you can use regular unbleached flour), 1/2 cup of wheat germ, and 2 cups of dry oatmeal. Shake the bag well and add it to the carrot/garlic mixture. Form two balls of dough. Place one at a time on a floured surface and roll to 1/2 inch. Cut into shapes adjusting for the size of the dog. Brush the tops with egg white to give a glossy finish. Bake at 300 degrees for 45 minutes, checking periodically. If you want a softer treat, adjust the time. Smaller treats will take less cooking time. The centers may be somewhat soft, but will harden as the shapes cool.

Birdie Gift