"Bone Appetit!" Treats for all good dogs and cats

Finally, back again after a little hiatus, just in time to start gathering ideas for Charlie's second birthday!

Charlie and his two stuffed "friends"                                                              

This month, our little 'man' will have been with us for a whole year, which means he's turning 2, as difficult as that is to imagine. And how he's grown! Now he calmly greets new pets in the complex, letting them sniff him before running circles around him.  He's gotten to know all the kids, which means he is a popular little guy when they are playing outside. While he still "plays shy" with adults, especially those with something in their hands, he has his definite favorites. And he's still "daddy's boy" while watching TV or cuddling, and "mommy's boy" at meal time. Just like a kid :)

I wanted to get a couple of recipes out to you for your pet's special occasion. We're trying to keep him from eating fatty foods or stuff that isn't healthy for him, and of course, when  HE has a treat, MUNCHIE has to have a treat, so here are a few recipes from  our friends at Betty Crocker. "Bone Appetit" (yeah, I know that's bad, but someone had to say it :)

Homemade Dog Treats:

Cheesy Bacon Biscuits

These super-easy biscuits are like bacon cheeseburgers for dogs! I have to make these for Charlie's birthday - two of his favorite flavors in one.

• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 stick margarine, softened
• 1 egg
• 1 ½ cups regular oats, uncooked
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 2/3 cup wheat germ
• 1/2 pound crumbled bacon or bacon bits

Mix together butter and sugar, then beat in the egg and baking soda. Slowly add flour and then stir in remaining ingredients. Using a teaspoon, form dough into small balls on ungreased or lightly greased baking sheets. For thinner biscuits, spread flour on the bottom of a pan and flatten cookies. Bake at 350 degrees for 16 minutes. Cool before serving.

Apple Cinnamon Drops

Try topping these with a dab of peanut butter to make these sweet treats even more appealing to your pup.

• 1 large apple, minced
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 cup of water
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup oatmeal
• 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour

Preheat oven to 350 ° F (180 ° C). In a large bowl, combine the minced apple bits, honey, water, cinnamon, and oatmeal. Gradually blend in the wheat flour. Spoon the dough by rounded teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart. Adjust the size of the drops based on how big a treat you like to feed your dog. Bake for 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325 ° F, then return cookies to oven and bake for an additional 30 minutes. Let the drops cool before serving. Makes about 3 dozen crunchy cookies, depending on how big you make them. (I may even try one of these)

Homemade Cat Treats:

Tuna Pops

If your cats come running to the sound of a can opening in hopes of getting some tuna, they’ll love these easy frozen tuna popsicles. Tuna juice is great for your cat’s health.

• Canned tuna in water
•  Ice cube tray(s)

Open your cans of tuna, as many as you like, and drain the tuna juice into a small bowl. Add some water to the juice, depending on how many cubes you want to make. Pour your tuna-water mixture into the ice cube trays and freeze them overnight. Now you’ve got a great pre-made treat to give your cats anytime!

Tuna Cookies

What to do with all that leftover tuna from making Tuna Pops? Make some Tuna Cookies, of course! The catnip garnish is a nice touch for your kitty connoisseur. Break them into small bits since that's what cats prefer! Turn them into dog treats by substituting canned chicken for canned tuna (you may even want to add some shredded cheese for dogs).

• ¼ cup flour 
• 1 can tuna
• 1 egg 
• 1/4 cup water
• Catnip for garnish
• Baking sheet
• Rolling pin (optional)

Preheat oven to 350. Combine all ingredients and mix well. Shape dough into very small, bite-size balls and flatten on lightly greased baking sheets. For extra baking fun, roll dough onto a floured surface with a rolling pin and cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Bake for 20 minutes or until cookies are firm. Sprinkle catnip on top of each cookie. Be sure to let them cool completely before giving them to your cat. Store in an air-tight container in the fridge to keep them fresh.

Just chillin'...on the couch....