Welcome to my world...

Let me begin by telling you I’m not a nutritionist, dietician, or Cordon Bleu Chef. I’ve never even worked in a restaurant. What I am is a wife of over 30 years, a mother, and a grandmother who loves to cook. I have, at times, needed to use all “101 Ways to Cook Hamburger”, made tuna casserole and split pea soup until my husband begged for mercy…and had fun doing it.

As times and finances improved, so did my repertoire. I had the freedom to try more exotic fare, like pork chops. By the time the kids were in high school, I had progressed as far as shrimp and crab. Now the kids are all grown up, it’s just the two of us, and I’ve had to re-learn to cook yet again. Of course, trying new foods and new recipes is part of the fun. My motto is “I’ve never met a recipe I didn’t change.”

That’s what this blog is about, sharing recipes, stories and memories. So, enjoy your food, enjoy your life. And most importantly, don’t forget to have fun, playing with your food.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Homemade Dog Treats (Back to My Roots)

It's been almost a year since I started my job as a bather at Cooper Mountain Kennel, and I still love it. I actually get paid to do something I used to do for free. Not always for free. I worked for a summer in Bend, at Lucille Cosby's, until the work dried up during the last recession. So, here I am, over 30 years later, gone to the dogs.

A lot has changed since then. Not only is the equipment far more efficient and ergonomic, but toy poodles, which were the backbone of the business back then, are much less common today. At CMK we groom all variety of dogs, from Chihuahuas to Tibetan Mastiffs and everything in between. By my non-scientific observation, Labs and Labradoodles seem to be the most popular large breeds, Shih Tzus and Lhasa Apsos the small. We also board and groom cats.

I'm not naturally a morning person, but I've found that the 7:30 start time has not been a problem for me. My husband says it's because I'm happy. I think that's true. Standing on a lush green lawn as the sun warms the air, watching a dog or two exercise before their bath is not a bad way to begin a day. In what other line of work can you snuggle your clients without getting into trouble?

The kennel is located on Farmington Road, just west of Beaverton. Hours are 7:30am - 6pm, Monday thru Saturday, and 10am - 6pm on Sunday. For an excellent boarding or groom experience for your pet, please come see us.

It's been nearly a decade since our German Shepherds crossed the Rainbow Bridge, so I haven't had a chance to make these treats myself, but I intend to make some for my new friends.

Everyday Biscuits*
2 teaspoons dry yeast
1/2 cup lukewarm water
2 tablespoons dry parsley
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
3 tablespoons honey
1 egg
5-6 cups whole wheat flour

Preheat oven to 350 ° F (180 ° C).

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in the parsley, garlic, broth, honey, and egg. Gradually blend in flour, adding enough to form a stiff dough.

Transfer to a floured surface and knead until smooth (about 3-5 minutes). Shape the dough into a ball, and roll to 1/4-inch (6 mm) thick. Using small bone-shaped cookie cutters, make biscuits! Transfer to ungreased baking sheets, spacing them about 1/4 inch (6 mm) apart. Gather up the scraps, roll out again, and cut additional biscuits.

Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and turn over. Bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until lightly browned on both sides. Let cool overnight.

(After all batches of biscuitsare finished, turn off the oven, and spread all the biscuits out on one baking sheet. Set them in the oven to cool overnight. The extra time in the cooling oven helps make the treats crispier and crunchier.)

Makes several dozen small bones that keep and freeze well.

Birthday Cake for Pups*

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup soft butter
1/2 cup corn oil
1 jar meat baby food
4 eggs
2 strips beef jerky
 
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour an 8x5x3 inch loaf pan. Cream butter until smooth. Add corn oil, baby food, and eggs. Mix until smooth.
Mix dry ingredients into beef mixture until batter is smooth. Crumble beef jerky and fold into batter. Pour batter into loaf pan. Bake 1 hour and 10 minutes. cool on wire rack 15 minutes. Ice with plain yogurt or cottage cheese.
Store uneaten cake in refrigerator

*For more homemade treat recipes, visit www.bullwrinkle.com