It's that time of year! The time of year that Bob loved so much. The time of year that I wait for patiently - okay, not so patiently. It's CHRISTMAS GOODIES TIME!! Every year Mom spends a day or two (sometimes even three!) making holiday good stuff for everyone. There's chocolate covered pretzels for Dad, an assortment of cookies for grandkids and friends, things in jars (she calls them mixes) for friends farther away. And yes - there are homemade treats for us! Mom says that most of her recipes are family secrets and she doesn't share them with too many people. But the homemade Austin and Bob treats are different. She said they were shared with her and so I can share them with others. So here are some recipes for our favorite Christmas goodies. Why not make a batch for your favorite furry family member?
Bob's Favorite Christmas Cake
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup wheat germ
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup molasses
1/2 cup canola oil
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup water
1 cup chopped apple
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 12-cup bundt pan or spray with cooking spray. Beat together molasses, oil, and eggs until well blended. Add vanilla and water and mix well. Add dry ingredients and beat until smooth. Fold in chopped apple. Pour into pan. Bake approx. 35 minutes or until done. Cool completely before serving.
Austin's Favorite Homemade Dog Biscuits
Mom said she got this recipe from someone named Martha Stewart. Martha, I love you!!
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup brewer's yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 cup low-sodium canned chicken stock, plus more for brushing
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, wheat germ, yeast, and salt; set aside
2. Place oil in a large bowl. Add stock and flour mixture in three alternating batches, beginning and ending with stock. Mix well.
3. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to about 3/8-inch thick. Shape biscuits using a dog-bone-shaped cookie cutter or by cutting around a store-bought dog bone with a butter knife.(Make biscuits that are appropriate for your dog's size.)
4. If desired, you can spell out your dog's name or a holiday message in the dough with a toothpick (wet the toothpick first so it won't stick).
5. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough.
6. Bake biscuits 10 minutes. Brush with stock; rotate baking sheets, and bake 10 minutes more. Turn off oven, leaving door closed. Let dog biscuits stand in oven to dry completely, about 1 1/2 hours. Wrap as a gift, or store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Tuna Balls
Yes, even the cats get a treat
1 can chunk light tuna, drained
1/2 cup chopped turkey or chicken
2/3 cup dry cat food
Mix all ingredients until well-blended. Roll into small balls. Chill in refrigerator for approx. 1 hour. Roll in bread crumbs. Serve.
Mom serves our treats with a special Christmas drink. She gets eggnog. We get a Bow-Wow Martini. It was created just for us by Bob's friend The Martini Diva. It's yummy! It's called a BOW-WOW Martini which means it's just for us dogs. But I have caught a cat stealing a sip! Maybe she needs to make a special Kitty Christmas drink.
