Today on Slashfood there was a post about and Italian Michelin starred chef who just came out with a cookbook for dogs. This brought to mind Amazing Gracie, one of my favorite books from last year. It's the story of how the adoption of a deaf, albino Great Dane puppy led to the establishment of Three Dog Bakery in Kansas. I've never made it to one of their outposts but the bakery is now a national chain, feeding happy dogs around the country. It's quite a story. Reading it will make you laugh and cry and want to run out and adopt an unwanted puppy of your very own.
When I finished readiing Amazing Gracie, I sent it out to friends and picked up their two cookbooks Short Tales and Treats from the Three Dog Bakery and The Three Dog Bakery Cookbook . I decided that cooking for my dogs was a great way to show them how much I loved them. Frankly, Patty tends to turn her nose at a lot of things, but homemade dog treats were an instant hit. So of course we evolved a few recipes of our own. We use organic ingredients whenever possible when cooking for the beasties. As Inky gets older (he's been twelve for several years now), I'm more careful with what he eats than with what I feed myself. Dog biscuits are incredibly easy, especially if you use a food processor, so you really have no excuse not to indulge your canine companions.
As for you cat lovers out there, don't worry, Lucky is by no means neglected. But, cat treats are a recipe for another day.
Peanut Butter and Bacon Dog Biscuits
2 cups wheat flour
1/2 cup peanut butter
3/4 cups pumpkin puree
4 cooked pieces of bacon, coarsely chopped
1 large egg
Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to form a crumbly dough. Turn the dough out onto the counter and knead a few times to form a cohesive mass. Roll the dough out into a rectangle approximately 1/2" thick. Cut into strips 1"X3" or into whatever shapes you choose. Bake on a sheet pan at 350-degree F for 30-35 minutes until golden brown. Let cool completely before serving.