If you want affection from a canine... more specifically, if you want affection from my canine, you better have some treats in your hand. Buster has a serious case of stranger danger (don't worry, once he gets to know you he is a snugglebug!). These cookies have been tested and approved to win his kisses. Or at least he might let you pet him. Well, he will stay in the same room. Let's not push it.
I got the cutest dog treat cookbook at the store, and it came with cookie cutters that are shaped like a squirrel, a bone, and a fire hydrant. Of course, the cute shapes are more for the humans than the pets (as long as there is bacon and cheddar, you could shape these treats like nail clippers and Buster would still eat them). But why not entertain ourselves?
Here is how to make the Buster in your life happy (adapted from The Organic Dog Biscuit Cookbook Kit):
1.5 cups wheat flour (or oat flour, or brown rice flour) 1/2 cup shredded 2% cheddar cheese 1/2 cup natural applesauce (the kind with no sugar added) 1 cup old fashioned oats 6 slices of cooked (turkey) bacon 1 egg 1/3 cup water, more if necessary
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Tear up the bacon into tiny pieces, or put it into a food processor to break it up. Then combine all of the ingredients and mix them thoroughly until it forms a thick dough. If it is too thick to work with or if not all of the flour gets absorbed, add additional water a little bit at a time.
Roll the dough out until it is about 1/4 inch thick and use cookie cutters or pizza cutters to create shapes. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and place the cut out cookies onto the sheet. They don't spread at all, so you can put them pretty close together. Bake for about 20 minutes for chewy cookies or 25 for crunchy cookies. When they are done, cool them on a wire rack and store in an airtight container for up to a week (they will last a bit longer if you store them in the fridge or freezer.
Buster gave these cookies two paws up! *groan*
