Stocking Stuffers for our 4 Legged Friends

Do you have some special 4 legged family members or friends on your Christmas list this year?  Making healthy, homemade treats are easy and fun and less expensive than all natural treats from the pet store.  Today we made Peanut Butter Bones for the special doggies on our Christmas list.  Tomorrow we'll make some treats for our feline friends and share more recipes for making tasty treats for you to bake and share.  

Peanut Butter Bones

2 cups whole-wheat flour

 1 Tbsp. baking powder 

1 cup peanut butter (smooth)
1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 375'F.  Combine flour and baking powder in a mixing bowl.  Heat peanut butter and milk in a microwave safe bowl or measuring cup and heat for about 25-30 seconds.  Whisk until blended, then add to dry ingredients and mix well. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness and use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Bake for 20 minutes on a greased baking sheet until lightly brown. Cool on a rack, package 2-3 per treat bags, tie with a ribbon and their ready to share with man's best friend.   Store any leftovers in an airtight container.

Pumpkin Dog Treats

Ingredients:

1/2 c. canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling!)
4 tbsp molasses
4 tbsp water
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 c. whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

2. Blend all of the wet ingredients (pumpkin, molasses, vegetable oil, water) together.

3. Add the dry ingredients (wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon) and stir until a soft dough forms.

4. Scoop the dough by teaspoonfuls and roll it into balls with your hands (hint: wet hands work best). Drop the balls onto a cookie sheet and flatten them with a fork.

5. Bake until hard (approximately 25 min.). For crisper biscuits, turn off the oven and let them cool in the oven over night.