Dogs need treats too!

I think most people would agree that sleeping is more fun than baking. I would agree if I were a sleeper. I just don't sleep much, even when I'm tired. My brain flicks on and wakes me up long before it should. And when my asthma flairs up like it has recently, I don't sleep at all. The massive doses of steroids that I have to take just to help me breathe keep me awake for days. It stinks but breathing is more important than sleeping!

So with all of these steroids and breathing treatments, I'm awake but haven't gone back to work. I am getting better but I can't be away from my nebulizer for more than an hour or two and I can't concentrate on anything for more than a minute. The prednisone and albuterol make me flighty and loopy and CRAZY!

I also get anxious and just need to DO something. So while everyone else was sleeping this morning, I was letting the dogs in and out...and in and out...and....yeah, you get the idea. We have 3 dogs. While I love my pups, I'm not always happy about their early morning activity levels! Of course, they all want to go out and in at different times. One of them doesn't like to come in at all. He just likes to sit outside and bark at the rabbits or the neighbors or the wind.

Here are my fur babies...

So I use treats. Lots of them. Our youngest pup, Apollo, was trained to come in from outside with treats at the door so he thinks there should ALWAYS be a treat. But since I haven't been feeling well, we haven't really kept up with shopping and everything so we are out of treats!  AHHHH!!! That just can't happen!

As the meds kicked in, I decided to make some treats. I mean, I bake for my people all the time, why not my pups?!?

The ingredients for these treats are easy to have on hand and even modify. If you don't have bacon bits, no big deal...the dogs will still love them. Out of apples? Leave them out. Don't have mint? Substitute parsley. Either one will help with bad breath!

Seriously, go throw these together. Your dogs will thank you!

Cheddar, Apple and Bacon Dog Treats

Makes about 12 medium bones and 110-120 1 inch circle treats

Ingredients

• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 8 to10 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded and chopped
• 1 tablespoon mint
• 1 large apple, peeled, cored and finely diced
• 2 to 3 tablespoons bacon bits
• 1 cup milk

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. In a large bowl, mix together all of the ingredients except the milk. Stir it up to make sure it is all mixed in!
3. Add about half of the milk and stir until incorporated. Add the rest of the milk and stir. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour. If it is too dry to hold together, add a little more milk or water.
4. Roll out half of the dough on a floured board or countertop. Roll to about ¼ inch thick and then cut using desired cookie cutters or whatever you have on hand. If you don’t have cookie cutters, you can just cut squares with a knife. I cut 13 medium sized dog bones with a cutter and then 117 small 1 ¼ inch circles with another cutter. We’ll use the smaller treats more often!
5. Place the treats on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake treats that are the same size on each sheet. The large ones should be on one sheet and the small ones on another sheet.
6. Bakes for 20-30 minutes, depending on size and desired crispness. My bones baked for 30 minutes and the small circles baked for about 20 minutes.
7. Remove from the oven, cool and store in an airtight container. I keep them in the fridge or make a double of triple batch and freeze some!