The holiday season is a special time of year where family and friends gather to enjoy each other’s company as well good food. Your pets are sometimes the family members that get left out when it comes time to partake in the feast. This does not have to be the case. The three recipes below are for Thanksgiving inspired dog treats that your furry friend can enjoy without having to steal food off of the table.
For Starters – Cranberry Cheese Cookies
As your family and friends gather for a Thanksgiving Day meal, they will be enjoying a variety of snacks and starters before you serve the main meal. With a little preparation the night before, you can make sure that your furry family members will also be able to start off the feast right.
Ingredients
• 14-18 oz. of brown rice flour
• 6 oz. of fresh cranberries
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2-4 tablespoons of water
• 4 ounces of grated Asiago or another hard cheese
Begin by placing 14 ounces of the flour into a food processor along with the cranberries, eggs, olive oil, and cheese. Pulse this mixture until it is combined and the cranberries appear as little specks. The dough will be pink in color and crumbly in texture. While the processor is still running, add the water two tablespoons at a time and continue to mix until a rough ball forms on the side of the bowl (add a little more water if needed). Lay your dough out onto plastic wrap and smooth this sticky mixture. Refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.
When you are ready to bake, divide the dough in half. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line two baking sheets with the parchment paper. Use the remaining flour to liberally dust the halves while you roll each between layers of parchment or plastic wrap until they are about 1/4 inch thick. Cut out the shapes that you desire and place them close together on the baking sheets.
Bake at 350 for 10 minutes and then rotate the pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until the shapes are completely baked and slightly hard (they do not have to be too brown in color.) Turn off the oven and open the oven door to let the cookies cool. Leave the treats in the oven until they are completely hard. Then, your doggie cookies are ready to be devoured.
The Main Course – Thanksgiving Meatballs
Turkey and cranberries are two traditional items that are found on almost all Thanksgiving Day tables. Why should the two-legged family members be the only ones to enjoy these delicious holiday staples? This quick and simple recipe will allow your four-legged family members the chance to partake in the Thanksgiving Day feast without having to sit at the table and beg.
Ingredients
• 1 lb of ground turkey
• ½ cup of chopped cranberries
• 1 cup of green beans (drain beforehand)
• 1 cup of breadcrumbs
Take a large bowl and mix the ground turkey, cranberries, green beans, and half of the bread crumbs together. Slowly add the rest of the bread crumbs to the bowl, mixing everything together until it is sticking completely. Next, take this mixture and roll it into balls of the desired size. Place the meatballs on a cooking sheet.
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Place the cooking sheet into the oven and bake the meatballs for 20-30 minutes. Remove the cooking sheet and let the meatballs cool. Your dogs now have their own turkey to gobble up.
For Dessert – Canine Pumpkin Pie
What would Thanksgiving Day be without pumpkin pie? This delicious recipe gives your pup the opportunity to indulge in this special holiday dessert.
Ingredients
• ¾ whole wheat flour (or a mixture of all-purpose and whole wheat flour)
• ½ cup of oatmeal
• ¼ cup of unsweetened applesauce
• 16 oz. can of pureed pumpkin
• 8 oz. of plain low fat yogurt
• 3-4 tablespoons of water
Start by placing the oatmeal and flour into a food processor and begin mixing. Slowly add the applesauce to the mix while the processor is still running. After the applesauce has been mixed in you will want to add the water one tablespoon at a time (make sure to use only enough to help make a ball as too much water will make the dough sticky.) Spray some olive or vegetable cooking oil on some wax paper as well as a muffin tin. Roll out the ball of dough onto the wax paper and cut out eight circles. You could also divide the dough into eight smaller balls before rolling them out. Press each of the circles into the bottom and the sides of the muffin tin.
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Place your muffin tin into the oven and bake for eight minutes. Remove from the oven and let the crusts cool before removing them from the muffin tin. Fill each of the crusts with approximately 1/4 cup (around two ounces) of canned pumpkin. Top each pie with a dollop of yogurt, and they are ready to serve.
These DIY holiday treats allow your dogs to be included in the family celebration without getting into trouble for begging and sneaking food. Make this holiday special for everyone by making one, or even all three, of these wonderful holiday themed recipes.
