“Dog Treats”

“Dog Treats”
Recently I made dog treats for Louie. It was a miserable, rainy day and I felt badly not bringing him out for a walk. So I decided to make homemade dog treats.
Now a little background story here will give you some insight into my baking ability. My grandmother and grandfather owned a bakery in western Massachusetts. My mother never baked because we got all of our cakes, cookies, donuts and whatnot from the bakery. Naturally I never learned how to bake, since it was already available to me. The first year I was married I wanted to bake the cake that my mother-in-law always baked her son for his birthday. She gave me the recipe for yellow cake and chocolate frosting. I followed it meticulously. Friends were coming over to celebrate with us, and I was so impressed with myself that I was making a homemade cake. The cake did not rise. It was a half-inch thick and hard as a rock. My husband laughed and said it was delicious. He was such a liar. I couldn’t help but wonder, “Was my mother in law leaving an ingredient out so that she would be the only one to make the perfect cake for her son?” You know, much like Marie Baron did to Debra on Everybody Loves Raymond. Of course my mother-in-law is nothing like Marie Baron, but we laugh at my cake making abilities because they have not gotten any better. In fact, I am never asked to bring dessert to any family function. As long as it is not a cake, they should trust me that I can make other baked goods well. I think they are afraid. I learned I could make a great flourless chocolate cake, banana bread, magic bars, cookies, and pies. Of course, now that I am gluten-free, I have had to learn how to bake all over again.

So on this particular rainy day I am making gluten-free peanut butter drop dog treats. They were cooling on the counter as my husband walks in the door. I am busy in the laundry room when I walk out and see him pop “a cookie” in his mouth. He is mumbling that I have not made cookies in a long time.
“What’s the occasion?” he says.
Suppressing a laugh I ask, “How are they?”
“A little dry,” is his response.
Now, as I try not to burst into a fit of laughing hysterics, I announce I made them for Louie and they are dog treats. On cue my husband starts gagging and spitting into the garbage. He reminds me of Tom Hanks in BIG as he grabs a napkin and wipes his tongue. I just fall to the floor laughing.

Louie loves the dog treats. There is nothing in them that is not edible to humans. I bet I could change a few things and they would make a healthy, delicious human cookie. I must admit I tried one and they are a bit dry, but they are for Louie and he is not complaining.

If you would like to try these for your dog, here is the recipe:

Louie’s Peanut Butter Drop Dog Treats

• 1 banana, peeled
• 1 cup gluten-free flour (Pamela’s Baking and Pancake Mix)
• 2/3 cup rolled oats
• 2 tablespoons dried parsley (for doggie fresh breath)
• 3 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1 egg, beaten
Preheat oven to 300°F. Put banana in a large bowl and mash it thoroughly. Add gluten-free flour, oats, parsley, peanut butter and egg and stir well to combine. Set aside for 5 minutes.
Roll mixture into 24 balls, using about 1 tablespoon dough for each; transfer to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Use the back of a spoon to press each ball into a (1 1/2- to 2-inch) coin. Bake until firm and deep golden brown on the bottom, 40 to 45 minutes. Set aside to let cool completely.
Store these in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

I have adapted it from www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/homemade-peanutbutterandbananadogtreats.