Pumpkin Doggy Biscotti

In the middle of one night, last summer…I heard a noise, like a scratch on the window downstairs.

Big Pete thinks I have bionic hearing like Jamie Sommers. (If you grew up in the 70’s you watched the Bionic Woman and The Six Million Dollar Man every week )

 Jamie would put her hair behind her ear and then she would listen…….De,de,de,de,de,de,de,de,de (it made that sound too!!)

So, ……I go downstairs thinking something is fishy. I notice the motion sensor light is on and my hanging plant is swaying in the window outside . I look to the tree outside and notice no breeze. Either someone is trying to break into my house or…..I open the back door and look out and see a BLACK BEAR standing up at my fence eating out of my bird feeder!! “What the……I start clapping my hands loudly and running outside, chasing the bear. I am yelling to Big Pete who manages to look out the window as the bear is hopping the fence. He sits on top of my fence and stares at me for a few seconds before deciding to leave.

I think I heard him say ” Hey Lady could you leave me a nice PIC-A-NIC basket next time!”

This is a sign we see when we drive to Whistler. When you live in BC you live in bear country. I learned last summer that you do not leave bird feeders up or else you are feeding the bears.

You can however, feed your favorite POOCH!!

What you will need:

• 1 cup canned pumpkim puree (not pie filling-plain puree)
• 1/4 cup honey
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp pure vanilla (never use the artificial -it’s made from wood!)
• 1/4 cup water
• 4 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup quick cook oats

Step 1: in a bowl whisk wet ingredients: pumpkin puree (any leftover can be frozen) honey, water, olive oil, egg, vanilla.

Step 2: add dry ingredients: flour, cinnamon, rolled oats. Stir with a wooden spoon until becomes too stiff. Dump mixture onto counter and knead until becomes a smooth dough and it no longer sticky. You may have a bit of flour leftover or you might need some more depending on the day/humidity.

Step 3: roll into log that is 2 inches wide. This recipe will make a 2 foot log so if you find it easier to work with a smaller piece cut in half. Press to flatten log.

Step 4: slice into thin biscotti

Step 5: bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Then remove from oven and flip over. Return for additional 15-20 minutes until brown. Let cool completely and store in an air tight container for a softer cookie or let dry exposed for a rock hard cookie.

 Your favorite pooch will love you!!

Peanut Butter Banana -Doggie Biscotti

The second love in my life is Lulu. She is my little shadow and we are rarely apart. I make these cookies for her because Lulu loves them. I started making dog cookies as Christmas presents and then I started making them whenever I would run out of store bought cookies. Now, I  make them all the time. I feel good because I know exactly whats in them and they are so easy to make. 

I originally had a recipe that I got from a book but I have modified it so many times that I now make it the way I know Lulu likes them. She likes them with peanut butter, banana & cinnamon. Lulu loves any cookie  with cinnamon in it. I have made lots of different combinations and they all go with cinnamon.

Make some for your favourite pooch!

          You will need:

• 1 squished ripe banana
• 2 tbsp peanut butter
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 quick cooking rolled oats
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla
• 1 tbsp Nutracleanse *optional- this is a ground flax and fibre mix

Step1: set oven to 350 degrees

Step 2: in a medium bowl add peanut butter and banana. I squish the banana into the peanut butter with a potato masher. I blend with a spatula until smooth.

Step 3: add honey, olive oil, cinnamon & vanilla to the peanut butter mixture. Mix until incorporated.

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Step 4: add egg and mix

Step 5: add optional Nutracleanse or ground flax.

Step 6: add rolled oats & flour. Mix with spatula until the dough becomes too stiff to continue in the bowl.

Step 7: dump onto counter and knead until dough is no longer sticky. You may need approx another 1/4 cup (or more) of flour to get the dough to a dry consistency that you are able to roll.

Step 8: I roll on counter and then flatten evenly to cut approx 2 inch biscotti. If you have a large dog & want these larger, then make them larger. If you want them smaller make a longer roll and slice them thinner.

Step 9: Slice into thin strips. If you want you can buy dog biscuit shaped cookie cutters. They make cute cookies however,  I find this method quicker and because it’s easier I  tend to make them  more often.

Step 10: Bake on sheet -they can be close together since there is no leavening agents added. I bake then for approx 30 minutes, then i flip them over & bake an additional 15 minutes. It makes a nicely browned cookie.

 If you leave them out they will dry quite hard. If you want them softer then put them into a sealed container and they will stay softer.

I also make Pumpkin  & cinnamon cookies or if I have some apples on hand I make apple cinnamon.

My dog just loves that cinnamon flavour and I just love that dog!