Friday, October 31, 2014
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Tasty Tuesday: Pumpkin Applesauce Dog Treats
Fall is a season for pumpkins and apples, so I made Chewy some treats combining the two. They are pretty easy to make: just mix everything together, form cookies, and pop into the oven. My recipe:
Preheat oven to 350°.
Mix together the following until combined into a dough:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 egg
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp flax seed
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar-free applesauce
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup oats
Form 1 tbsp balls of dough, and flatten onto a cookie sheet. Bake at 350° until the edges are lightly golden brown, about 12-15 min.
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| Watching over doggie cookies is a very important job. |
Remove from oven and let cookies cool on a wire rack. Can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for no more than a couple days. Store in the refrigerator or freezer to maintain freshness.
Makes 18 tbsp-sized chewy cookies, but you can adjust size + baking time to your liking.
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| Cookie? Don't mind if I do! |
I always find it difficult to tell if whole wheat cookies are "golden brown" because the dough is brown to begin with, so after they have cooled a little bit, I lift them up to see if the bottom is a bit more brown than the top, or if they are firm to the touch.
Also, this dough is rather sticky, so I wouldn't recommend using cookie cutters.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Fruitables Skinny Minis Watermelon Flavor Review
A while back, we won a bag of Fruitables skinny minis Watermelon treats from Lindsay at ThatMutt.com. Thanks, Lindsay!
These watermelon flavor treats are flower-shaped, mini-sized, soft, and chewy. They are free of gluten, wheat, corn, soy and artificial flavors/colors, and are made in the USA. At just 2 1/2 calories apiece, they are great for pups who need to watch their caloric intake.
They come in a convenient zipper pouch, and you get a big whiff of watermelon + pumpkin smell when you open the bag. Pumpkin is the first ingredient in this and many other Fruitables products because of its health benefits and palatability. The high fiber and low fat content of pumpkin makes it a great ingredient for weight management, and the presence of soluble and insoluble fibers can help soothe both diarrhea and constipation.
Despite the small size, Chewy still chews each individual piece before swallowing, without generating crumbs! They are rather fragrant, and would be great for playing Find the Treat. Their size and non-crumblyness are perfect for stuffing a treat-dispensing toy.
These treats were motivating enough to get Chewy to climb into a box and lie down in it. He simply followed a trail of treats while I blocked the side (so he'd actually have to step into the box to reach the treats, because Chewy is a pro cheater).
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| Happy Chewy with his Fruitables |
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| Big paw, tiny treat |
They come in a convenient zipper pouch, and you get a big whiff of watermelon + pumpkin smell when you open the bag. Pumpkin is the first ingredient in this and many other Fruitables products because of its health benefits and palatability. The high fiber and low fat content of pumpkin makes it a great ingredient for weight management, and the presence of soluble and insoluble fibers can help soothe both diarrhea and constipation.
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| Om nom nom... |
Despite the small size, Chewy still chews each individual piece before swallowing, without generating crumbs! They are rather fragrant, and would be great for playing Find the Treat. Their size and non-crumblyness are perfect for stuffing a treat-dispensing toy.
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| More, please? |
These treats were motivating enough to get Chewy to climb into a box and lie down in it. He simply followed a trail of treats while I blocked the side (so he'd actually have to step into the box to reach the treats, because Chewy is a pro cheater).
However, they weren't motivating enough to get him out of the box. He was a bit hesitant about how to step out, and he wasn't going to try just for some itty bitty treats.
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| Comfy cozy. I'll stay here, thanks. |
They were definitely drool-worthy, though.
Disclaimer: We won these treats in a giveaway and were not asked to write a review. We did not receive any compensation for this post, and all opinions expressed are our own.
Overall, we give Fruitables Skinny Minis Watermelon Flavor treats 3 1/2 paws up. Chewy thought they were yummy, and I liked that they were healthy, low-calorie, and not messy. However, they were not the most motivating treats, which can be a problem during training sessions with a stubborn pup.
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| 3 1/2 paws up for Fruitables Skinny Minis Watermelon Flavor |
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Tasty Tuesday: Applesauce for Doggies
A few weeks ago, we went apple picking and brought home a whole lotta apples. To use up some more of our supply, I decided to make some applesauce for Chewy. It was pretty simple- the most intensive part was peeling all the apples.
I used 6 large assorted apples (I have no idea what varieties they were) and ended up with 4 pint-sized jars of applesauce. You might want to work on a much smaller scale. Also, keep in mind that sweeter apples yield sweeter applesauce.
First, wash, peel, core and slice your apples. Apple seeds are toxic for dogs, so be sure to remove all of them. Some people simply cut their apples into quarters or eighths, but I figured it would be easier to stir smaller chunks. You can also use one of those apple corer/slicer gadgets to lesson the labor.
Throw your apple slices/chunks into a pot, and add about an inch of water and some lemon juice (optional- it keeps the apples from going brown). Stirring occasionally, bring to a boil, then simmer with the lid on until the apples get mushy, about 30 min. Add cinnamon to taste at any point during cooking. I chose to add it towards the end so I could see what it looked like mixed in.
Once the apples are soft and cooked through, remove from heat. Use a potato masher/fork to work it into a chunky applesauce, or use a blender/food processor to puree it.
You can then choose the canning route so your applesauce keeps longer, or simply store it in a jar in the fridge.
Once the applesauce has cooled, you can give your doggy a taste! It can be used as a topping for kibble, in treats, or eaten plain. Remember to serve in moderation.
I used 6 large assorted apples (I have no idea what varieties they were) and ended up with 4 pint-sized jars of applesauce. You might want to work on a much smaller scale. Also, keep in mind that sweeter apples yield sweeter applesauce.
First, wash, peel, core and slice your apples. Apple seeds are toxic for dogs, so be sure to remove all of them. Some people simply cut their apples into quarters or eighths, but I figured it would be easier to stir smaller chunks. You can also use one of those apple corer/slicer gadgets to lesson the labor.
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| My selection of apples- peeled, cored, and chunked |
Throw your apple slices/chunks into a pot, and add about an inch of water and some lemon juice (optional- it keeps the apples from going brown). Stirring occasionally, bring to a boil, then simmer with the lid on until the apples get mushy, about 30 min. Add cinnamon to taste at any point during cooking. I chose to add it towards the end so I could see what it looked like mixed in.
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| Add cinnamon as desired |
Once the apples are soft and cooked through, remove from heat. Use a potato masher/fork to work it into a chunky applesauce, or use a blender/food processor to puree it.
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| Applesauce post-blender |
Once the applesauce has cooled, you can give your doggy a taste! It can be used as a topping for kibble, in treats, or eaten plain. Remember to serve in moderation.
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| I'm here for a sample! |
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
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