Learn to Stamp and Scrap with Lynn Larson

Don't forget about the Homemade Cat Treats!

So far this week, I have shared with you treat ideas for the wild birds, dogs and horses.  Today I have to do a quick post for our cat lovers.

I have pretty finicky cats when it comes to eating.  One particularly enjoys when he hears the can opener.  He runs thinking that it is a can of tuna and that he will be getting the water from the can and the little lickings left inside the can all to himself!

As with our horses and dogs in the past, we have stocking for our cats for Christmas as well.  My hubby thinks I am crazy, but they are a part of our family too and I love stuffing stockings:))  In our cat stockings, I like to add little handmade cat toys filled with catnip and some homemade treats.  Here is a recipe for treats that even my finicky cat will eat:

1-1/2 cups cooked chicken or turkey
1 large egg
2 Tbl. chicken broth
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup whole wheat flour

In a blender or processor whirl chicken, egg and broth until smooth.  Scrape into bowl.  Add cornmeal and 1/2 cup flour, stir until moistened.  Cover dough and refrigerate at least 2 hrs. Then roll out 1/4 in thick on lightly floured board.  Cut into 1/2 in squares or triangles.  Scatter on 3 greased 12 x 15 baking sheets. Bake at 350 until golden (about 15 min.)  Remove from oven, stir in pans and let cool.  Refrigerate airtight up to 2 weeks, freeze for longer storage.  Makes about 3 cups.

We have four cats and they just gobble these up.

See you right back here tomorrow!

Lynn

Holiday Homemeade Horse Treat Recipes

For those of you that have read my posts about "My Little Piece of Vermont" that I did back in August telling you a little bit about where I live and what my life consists of, you saw photos of my two beautiful horses Mach's Hobo Boy (Mach) and Night Rain of Bud (Rain). 

This is the first Christmas that we only have two horses in our barn.  We had a full barn of six horses for a few years that consisted of another quarter horse, Prince, who was my daughter's barrel-racing and team penning horse.  Our pony, Reno, who was the cutest little stinker you could ever imagine owning - FULL of personality and love...and two miniature horses - Jackpot and Tango.  The little minis were adorable.  Jackpot was the nut of the group.  He always ran around like wildfire in the fields.  He was also the escape artist that liked to sneak out between the electrical fence wires to get to the grass on the other side.  It didn't matter how green or lush the grass was that he was in, he decided to make an escape for the other side all the time.  Then poor Tango would go nuts wanting to be out with Jackpot.  Let me tell you that catching that little stinking was quite the joke.  He waited until you got right next to him and then he would take off running like a bolt of lightning.  He loved to run!

Anyway, back on topic here...  Each year our barn is decorated with stockings for each horse outside their stall door.  My daughter and some of her horse friends (or one year even our whole 4H group) would make treats for our horses to put in the stockings and to give the horses on Christmas Day.  I collected a TON of recipes for horse treats and we tried a bunch of them.  Some of the best treats are still plain old apples and carrots, but when you want to give your buddies something special, here are some of the recipes that you could use:

On cold days, it is an extra special treat to give your horses a hot mash for breakfast.  It is something that you would whip up in your kitchen and bring down warm to the barn.  

Mix together the following ingredients:  some horse grain or oats (approx. 1/2 c), applesauce OR some chopped carrots and apples, 1 c. molasses.  Add enough boiling water to be soaked up by the oats.  Cover and let stand until cool enough to feed to your horse (I usually give it about 20 minutes in the house and then by the time we get it down to the barn it has been 30 minutes and we searve it).

Other treat recipes are:

Sweet Horse Treats

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 cup water
• A pinch of honey
• A pinch of smooth peanut butter
• 1/4 cup of your horse's favorite grain
• 1 small carrot

Add the rolled oats in the bowl and add the water.   Add a pinch of honey and smooth peanut butter.  Add your horse's favorite grain and stir. If it is not sticking add more honey.  Cut up 1 small baby carrot. Roll the carrot pieces in the mixture to make little balls (not too small though).  Put the carrot balls in the refrigerator to harden then serve.

Apple Treats

• 2 sliced apples
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup oats
• 2 tablespoons margarine

Melt the 2 tablespoons of margarine at a medium temperature in a sauce pan.  Add brown sugar and stir until it starts to boil then bring to a simmer.  Dip apple slices in the sugar mixture, then roll them in the oats.  Let cool.

I hope some of you can use these treat recipes of know someone that you can share them with.  They are a lot of fun to make and the critters sure to enjoy getting something special once in awhile!

Lynn

Homemade Dog Biscuits and Treats for the Holidays!

Yesterday I wrote about the treats that I make for the wild birds in our area during the holidays.  Today, I thought I would give you a few ideas for homemade dog treats. 

I have made dog treats every year for Christmas for about 20 years.  A couple months ago, we had to put our beloved Sheltie, Banjo, down because he had lymphoma.  So no dog treat making this year for me, but I thought I would share what I usually make with all of you. 

Homemade Dog Treats

•    2 cups whole-wheat flour
•    1 tbsp. baking powder
•    1 cup peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
•    1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix flour and baking powder in a bowl and the peanut butter and milk in a separate bowl.  Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well until the mixture forms a dough.  Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface and roll it out to about ¼ inch thick.  Use a cookie cutter to cut out the desired shapes and place cookies on a lightly greased baking sheet. 

Bake in the oven for approx. 20 minutes.  When they just start to brown, they are done and ready to come out of the oven.  Cool completely before storing in an airtight container or ziploc baggie.   

Just be sure that if you leave these treats in your dog's stocking under the tree, you put them up where he can't reach them or he will open his stocking all on his own and it will be empty come Christmas morning!

These are some recipes I got off the internet here.

Peanut Butter Pooch Cookies

21/2 cups whole wheat flour

¼ cup white flour

¼ cup oatmeal

11/4 Tbsp baking powder

1 Tbsp honey

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup milk

Combine flour, oatmeal, and baking powder. Combine milk, peanut butter, and honey in a separate bowl and mix well. Stir peanut butter mixture into flour/oatmeal mixture. Knead dough and roll-out on floured surface to a quarter inch thickness. Cut out treats using a cookie cutter. Place aluminum foil on cookie sheet and bake in a 400 degree oven for approximately 15 minutes.

Tail Waggers

3 Jars Baby Food – (1 carrot, 2 meat)

1/3 cup Wheat Germ

1/4 cup powdered milk

1/4 tsp garlic powder

Mix ingredients well and then press into small “patties”. Bake in 350 oven for about 15 minutes.

When you make it yourself, you know what goes into it. When cooking for your dog, always remember that chocolate and onions are dangerous for dogs to eat. Happy National Dog Biscuit Day!

If you can imagine, allrecipes.com also has a recipe for dog treats here.

Enjoy!  Please feel free to share your favorite dog treats by leaving a comment.

Lynn