Fall is a great time to bake for pets
This time of the year, we're all thinking about giving thanks, family, tradition, and food.
While making dinner on Thanksgiving for family and friends may have been the focus for several days, cooking in the fall may also include making a special treat for our dogs.
We're all becoming more concerned with what our dogs are eating. Since a lot of people are cooking for their dogs, whether it be feeding them a complete homemade diet or occasionally baking a batch of treats, we want them to eat healthy. There are a lot of recipes available.
I enjoy baking, especially this time of the year. I found the following recipe for dog treats that includes pumpkin, which is good for your dog's digestion and appropriate for the season. As always, consult your veterinarian with any questions regarding diet and nutrition for your dog.
Fall Bites
½ cup pumpkin puree (made from 1 lb/450 g fresh pumpkin, cooked and mashed) or canned pumpkin - not pumpkin mix
4 Tbsp. blackstrap molasses
2 cups (9 oz/250 g) wheat flour
4 Tbsp. water
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil ¼ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. baking soda
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Blend together the pumpkin puree, molasses, water, and vegetable oil.
Stir in the flour, cinnamon, baking powder and baking soda to form a soft dough.
Roll the dough into balls, put on a baking sheet, flatten them, and prick with a fork.
Bake for 25 minutes or until hard and crisp.
Fall Bites will keep up to two weeks in an airtight container.
This recipe is from "The Healthy Dog Cookbook" by Jonna Anne, with Mary Straus, canine nutritionist, and Dr. Shawn Messonnier, veterinary consultant.
In addition to healthy foods for our dogs, there are foods that can be dangerous to our pets, including alcoholic beverages, chocolate, any candy containing the sweetener Xylitol, grapes and raisins.
Between Thanksgiving and the start of the Christmas holidays, take your dog for a nice, slow walk around the block. Dogs are great company when you want to reflect and give thanks.
• The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, is a nonprofit 501(c) 3 shelter. Call (847) 290-5806 or visit www.thebuddyfoundation.org.