If you couldn’t gather from the paw print-embedded cookies, this post is about pets. Some people aren’t animal people, and I totally get that. So if animals aren’t your thing, hold tight until the next post which I promise will be decidedly human-related. But for the rest of you, I have a special treat. Those of you who follow me on instagram know that I have a love that borders on obsessions for my pets, Gabel and Sequoia. Gabel, a giant orange male tabby with a tendency towards brooding and introspection, has been with me since my junior year of college and Seqouia, a Beagle-Chihuahua mix who is excited about pretty much everything all the time, was a recent addition who joined the family this past November. I love them more than is probably reasonable, and since the way I show love best is through food, I decided to make my little friends some savory treats.
For the dog biscuits I used pumpkin and flax to bring some nutritional value to the biscuits, and crispy little pieces of bacon to make the taste worthwhile, and for the cat crisps I used cheddar to draw them in and tuna and parsley to provide a bit of greenery and protein. The treats were quite the success, and it felt really good to know exactly what was in the niblets I was feeding them. Also, I’ll just say it, the dog biscuits are adorable and I could have stared at them for a good long while going awwwwwwwww. I mean, seriously, look at them. Also, the face below. Awwwwwwwwwww.
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| My first picture of Sequoia, when she was still at the shelter |
If you’re thinking about getting a dog or a cat, I cannot encourage you enough to visit your local animal shelter. There are a wide variety of amazing animals that just need to be given a chance, and can bring you just as much joy as a purebred could. And if you’re an existing pet owner, just a friendly reminder to get your pet spayed or neutered if you haven’t already (it’s spay/neuter awareness month, after all!) Overcrowding in shelters is a result of owners not spaying their pets, and if the cost of the operation is an issue, your local animal shelter will know of veterinary offices nearby that are flexible about payment.
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| My main man, Sir Gabelton McFluffernutter, in his usual dignified repose. |
Also! My dear friend and professional treat-maker Kimmy has kindly offered to do a giveaway of her delicious line of dog biscuits, Luna’s Canine Crunchies. The giveaway includes an assortment of her finest protein-filled Power Bars, Beggin’ For Bacon, and Sweet Like a Potatobiscuits. All of her savory biscuits are made from scratch and largely use locally-souced ingredients from here in Southern California. To enter the giveaway, use the rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on March 5th and is open to all residents of the globe. Best of luck, friends!
Pumpkin Bacon & Flax Dog Biscuits + Tuna & Cheddar Cat Crisps
Ingredients
Pumpkin Bacon & Flax Dog Biscuits
- 1 and 1/2 cups oat flour
- 2 tablespoons flax
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup pureed pumpkin
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 strips bacon fried and broken into roughly 1/4 inch square pieces
Tuna & Cheddar Cat Crisps
- 12 ounces tuna canned in water & drained
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- 1 and 3/4 cups oat flour
Instructions
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To make the dog biscuits, mix together the flour, flax, and baking powder in a medium-sized bowl until well blended. Set aside. In a large bowl, mix together the pumpkin, water, and olive oil until smooth. Add the flour mixture and bacon bits and stir until just blended.
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Take about 1 tablespoon of the dough and roll it into a ball in your hands. Press it flat on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper so that it is about 1/2 inch thick. Take your pinky finger and press into the center of the biscuit to create the base of the paw, then use a pen cap to gently indent three circles at the top of the biscuit to make the toes. Repeat this process until you have used all of the dough. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 25 minutes, then remove the pan from the oven and allow to cool completely before giving your pup a treat.
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These will keep in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.
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To make the cat crisps, puree the tuna, egg, and vegetable oil in a blender or food processor until a relatively smooth paste forms. Stir in the cheddar and parsley until they're evenly distributed throughout the mixture, then add the oat flour and mix until it is just blended.
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Roll out the dough onto a lightly floured surface until it is about 1/2 inch thick. Use a pizza cutter to cut the dough into 1-inch wide strips, and then cut the strips into 1-inch squares. Place each square on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Repeat this process until you have used up all of the dough.
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Place the pan in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Allow the treats to cool completely before removing them form the pan and giving them to your kitty.
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These will keep in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.
I love your video and your pets. They both look happy 🙂 I am longing to get a dog but alas I don't think it will happen soon…
The treats are great!
Thank you so much Magda! Dogs are wonderful, but they do demand a lot more attention than other pets. Transitioning from just having a cat to also having a dog was a bit tricky for me at first haha 🙂
When we first got my black labrador retriever puppy we were visiting the woman's house who had her and her siblings. My future dog proceeded to run smack into the glass door in an effort to get outside. We still got her. 🙂
Hahaha! Awwwww what a cutie. Our dog is constantly falling off the sofa, she jumps onto it about 50 times a day but for some reason she only makes it up there half the time, and it's not even particularly high up or anything. Their lack of coordination can be very entertaining though hehe 🙂
I was delighted when I saw the recipes! I will definitely try the dog biscuits. I have made dog treats before but yours are very special and of course they look adorable! (And I think I will nibble on them a bit myself to find out what they taste like!)
Awww thank you Ute! I liked nibbling on them myself, the pumpkin ones actually tasted kind of good! I might translate them into some sort of savory scone in the future…
Leslie:
My grown son move to another state. He missed his friends, family, and home state. Getting a dog helped. Although his dog could be a lot of work, his house became home.
leslieannstevenson@yahoo.com
That is so true, having an animal can really make any place feel like a home. They are a lot of work, but the reward is definitely worth it 🙂
My sister has several dogs and would love to have the treats. I have 3 cats. Thanks for the giveaway.
Happy to oblige!
This recipe looks great my dog and cat are sure to love it!
rosebud_96@msn.com
Thank you!
These looks fabulous. I can see my two furry monsters drooling already. And great to see the promotion of adopting from shelters. So many fantastic animals looking for homes.
Thanks Caroline 🙂 Getting an animal from a shelter is very rewarding, and the money you spend to purchase the animal helps sustain the care of the ones that are still left there. It's beneficial for everyone, hurray!
The treats look awesome!
Thank you Stephanie!!
my pups would love to have those treats!
They would certainly enjoy them! 🙂
You are a dedicated pet owner. I know my Daisy would appreciate those dog treats.
Thank you, Penny! 🙂
This is awesome, Eva! I have so many pet moments that's hard to pick a favorite. One of the top ones was last summer when my dog Max got a 2 foot long stick caught in the fur on both (yes both) of his ears. I found him running around the yard with ears straight out to the sides like Dumbo. Great stuff!
Hahaha!!! I have a lovely image in my mind's eye of what that must have looked like, and it is glorious! It can be so funny when pets get into stuff like that, they'll always surprise you 🙂
Love your post! I have a German Sheppard dog – she is so cute when she looks me with those eyes. I instantly forgive her all the mischiefs. Unfortunately for me I have big love for cats…and cat eczema, so I cannot touch, cuddle, or pet my favourite kind of pet. I will try your dog bisquits. Hope Ritta (my dog) like them.
Greetings,
Kerry Corr.
Chelsea Tenancy Cleaner
I am the same with Sequoia, even when I come home to a room full of the cat's food spread all over the living room, she just looks up at me with her cut little head tilt and I can't stay mad. 🙂
I love how my cat will just crawl on my lap whenever he pleases – working, sit-ups, sleeping…it doesn't matter, nothing is more important than him being comfortable!
Hahaha, velcro kitties are the best! Gabel is a pretty solitary kitty, but once a day he'll get real close to snuggle, usually when I go to bed or in the morning when I'm waking up. It's always a nice way to start or end the day 🙂
I can't wait to try out these treats! It's hard to pick just one favorite pet moment when I have so many! My cat Ginger sleeps in my room occasionally, and in the morning she sits by my head and just purrs. I don't always appreciate the early wake up time, but I love hearing her purr.
I totally feel ya, having my cat lay on top of me in bed while he's purring is one of the most relaxing experiences for me. That soft sound is just so soothing 🙂
I do in fact follow you on Instagram- your pets are adorable 🙂 I love these treats! We were caring for a little stray in Portland that I desperately miss, and I hope he is still around our neighborhood when we're back next winter! Then I can make these for him.
Awww I hope so, too! I'm sure he would appreciate them very much 🙂
Both of my dogs cuddling up with me when I am having a bad day and crying. they really make me feel better.
I am the same way with my pup, whenever I am feeling really anxious or upset if I just cuddle with her for a while I feel so, so much better. Their peacefulness and endless amount of love is so calming and comforting 🙂
My favorite pet moment is every day cuddling with my dog while she licks my foot.
Hahaha, that is so cute!! My pup always like to lick my legs/feet when I'm hopping out of the shower. Something about the texture of the water I think.
I've seen plenty of recipes for homemade dog treats, but never for cat treats!! This is awesome! I love when my kittys stand on their hind legs when they get all excited to receive a treat!
I'm so glad you like them!! You're kitties sound very inquisitive and adorable 🙂
the moment my son came home from the hospital my puppy instantly clicked with him, she slept near his crib when he was little and no that he has a big boy bed she sleeps in it with him!
snuggle time while watching tv.
My favorite pet moment was when my cat started eating again after stopping for a few days. I told him good-bye, thinking he was doing to die. That was many months ago and he's still alive.
You sure do have two beautiful furkids. The photos of them and the food are just brilliant. I don't have a cat as there are many birds here in the country, but my two boys (a young Chihuahua and an old Terrier) loved the little treats. Thank you.
Hi, Eva. Love that you include videos with your recipes. We have a Healthy Dog Blog on BestBullySticks.com, a national retailer of natural dog treats and chews, and would love to feature your recipe as a weekly Drool Dog Recipe. Please write us at social(at)bestbullysticks(dot)com for more info. Thanks!
Hi Eva! These look awesome. I love the little pawprint touch you added to these! Definitely going to try these :). Found you bia the Tails Inc. roundup we were both included in. Cheers!
We decided to sell pet treats at our Lego Club bake sale this holiday weekend~ I found these two recipes and thought they sounded amazing! We tested them and both kinds were a hit! They were easy to make and very cute and yummy looking. Our customers wanted to eat them after we would described them! Thanks for the wonderful pics too, loved the paw prints! The parsley made the crackers more attractive and we mentioned that it was great for their breath, lol! I look forward to checking out more on your blog! Happy Holidays!
Can these be frozen? I would like to give them as Christmas gifts along with the human treats.
Thank you for these recipes. I made the cat treats this morning. My cats loved them, so I shared with my friends! Their cats were quite happy!
I used 1 1/2 chips of oat flour, roles the dough to about 1/8″ thick.
Made some in tiny balls to fit inside one of their toys.
I will be making these again! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I’m so glad I found this post, I’ve been looking for some more kitty treat ideas. I have to say too, your presentation is awesome!
There is no denying that was one happy customer in the video, what more proof do we need.
Question re: Flax
Is this ground flax or flax seed?
Thank you! Im fixing to make both the cat and dog treats! I have everything but parsley for the cat treats but i do have some dried parsley. I will just use a pinch of it! Hopefully that will work? If i get too nervous about doing it i will just omit it! Gonna let you know how the cats do with it! Ive tried other treats for them and they never touch them! The dog will love both though 😂 so no worries!
I tried the dog cookies and the cat treats 😆 The cats loced the puree before baking but you know how they are…. after baking they wouldnt have anything to do with them! Its ok though because they are the PERFECT training treats for the dog who loved both recipes! Subscibing now to cook some of your recipes for the family!
Awww haha yes I know how cats can be lol! Very to to form for them haha. I’m so glad your sweet doggie loved both the recipes, though!! It’s so nice giving them treats that are good from them and made with real ingredients. And yay I can’t wait for you to dive into more of the recipes from the blog for the human members of your family, too, my friend!! Thanks so much for this kind comment, Kim! <3
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