dog snacks

these guys

enjoy staying with their 'grandparents,' who, luckily, live very nearby. likely the best part about staying with the grands is the spoiling they get in the form of milkbones. a glut of milkbones. at the drop of the hat. and this novelty is probably contrasted all the more because no such nonsense exists in our house. not because we do not love to dote on them (they get spoiled in mileage over here) but because there is something decidedly unromantic (the mass production of dog treats), exorbitant (paying upwards of ten dollars for animal by products and the flattering of the Corn Industry), and downright confusing (what, exactly, goes into these things?) and so, because there is ample time and the ingredients are simple and because those guys are so deserving a little guidance from this lovely blog the long talked about task of "making dog biscuits at home!" has finally come to fruition...

      

           

         

       

they do not, of course, look particularly appetizing to a person, but the dogs seem more than pleased to come sliding and clattering over the slate floor to receive them. the novelty! cookies at home! they say.

homemade dog biscuits

(adapted from 17 apart's master recipe)

preheat the oven to 350 and paper a baking sheet

in the bowl of a food processor grate:

1 apple

2 medium beets

3 carrots

and set aside.

wipe out the processor and process until smooth

1 banana

1/4 cup of peanut or almond butter

add the grated mixture as well as

3 cups of flour (i used half buckwheat half wheat)

1 cup of cornmeal

1/4 cup neutral oil (i used coconut)

and pulse until the dough forms a ball and begins to roll around the inside of the food processor.

if the dough is too sticky sprinkle in more flour or cornmeal by the tablespoonful, if it is too dense and floury add warm water.

roll the dough out (i did this between two sheets of parchment as the beets made the dough fairly sticky) and cut into desired shapes.

bake 30 minutes and turn the oven off. turn the biscuits over and let sit in the cooling oven another 30-45 minutes. biscuits are done when they are dry to the touch. don't rush this part as the dryness of the biscuits allows them to keep without furring over with mold.

et voila!