BONE Appétit!

Photo and recipe credit: http://thecottagemarket.com

It’s National Dog Biscuit Day! Fire up that oven…get out those cookie cutters...rolling pin…flour...and whip up a batch of Apple Cheddar and Bits Homemade Dog Treats! Your furry friend or friends are going to be wagging their tails when they get a whiff of these scrumptious little treats!

Ingredients:

- 1½ cups of white flour  (you could use all whole wheat flour if you'd like)

- 1½ cups of whole wheat flour

- 1 large egg

- 2 tablespoons of softened butter

- 2 tablespoons of olive oil

- 8 ounces of grate sharp cheddar (you can use whatever cheese you prefer EXCEPT for BLUE CHEESE as MOLD cheeses are harmful to your dog!)

- 1 large apple, peeled and grated (make sure there are no pits)

- 2 tablespoons of dried parsley (if using fresh, 3 tablespoons of finely sliced parsley)

- 3 tablespoons of bacon bits (I used pre-made bacon bits, but you can fry some up and break them up if you're not strapped for time)

- 1 cup of milk

(save some cheese, bits and parsley to sprinkle on top)

Directions:
Place the egg, butter and olive oil into your mixer bowl and whip together. Add the milk and mix a bit more. Now, add the flour…slowly. Then, add the grated apple, cheese, parsley and bacon bits.  Your dough should be nice and smooth, pliable and ready to roll!  If it is too dry, add a little touch of water or milk. And if it is too sticky, add a little more flour! Now, sprinkle some flour on your board or counter (so the dough does not stick) and roll out half of the dough (approximately ¼ inch thick). Sprinkle a little more cheese, bits and parsley on top, and give it a few more rolls so everything sticks.  Now, it is time to cut out your shapes — large…small…medium…whatever you want for your pup or pups!  (I will tell you that I got over 75 one-inch stars and one dozen bones from the recipe — that’s a nice amount of treats!) Place them on your lightly coated baking sheet (or you can use parchment paper) to line it and pop them into a pre-heated 375ºF oven for 20-30 minutes, depending on your oven. When they are finished baking, they should be golden and nicely browned on the bottom. Take them out, allow them to cool and they are ready to be served to your best friend! Oh, and don't be afraid to taste them yourself as they are quite tasty! Store the leftovers in an air tight container. Since they are homemade, they will keep in the fridge for two weeks.  Alternatively, you can bag them up and store them in the freezer for up to six months.

BONE appétit! ;)