When winter clamps an icy hand down on my home in rural Pennsylvania, I live in pajamas as much as possible, hanging out by the fire with my equally cold-averse canine, Big Pup. And what goes with pjs and roaring fires? Snacks, of course!
And that means… cheese. Both Big Pup and I are addicted. In fact, our refrigerator has a dedicated cheese drawer that squeaks in a special way when opened. Big Pup can detect the noise from the far end of the yard and will magically appear at my side in two-point-seven seconds, flat.
You don’t have to be a serious cheese collector to make these easy pet treats, though. Most folks will have everything needed on hand in the pantry – which means no getting dressed in actual clothes and going to the store. Stay cozy in your jammies and still treat your pup to these simple, but tasty, snacks!
Snow Day Cheesy Treats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup shredded cheese (I use white cheddar)
1/3 cup shredded carrots
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup water
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place more parchment on counter, to roll out dough. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. You may need to add a few teaspoons more water to make a dough. The mixture should be slightly sticky, but firm enough to roll out. Place dough onto parchment on counter. Roll or press dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into rectangles – or use fun cookie cutters to make shapes. (I use dogs, cats and bones.) Bake for approximately 15 minutes, checking often. Treats should be just browning and crispy on the bottom when done. They will harden while cooling. Allow to cool thoroughly before serving.
Hint: If using cookie cutters, you can roll the spare dough into little balls that make perfect training treats. Sit. Stay. Eat!
Big Pup shows admirable restraint – only to be caught stealing treats off the kitchen counter about ten minutes after this photo was taken. Curious about Big Pup’s unusual name? Visit bethanyblakeauthor.com to read the sweet story of her adoption, christening – and the birth of the Big Pup song!
“Doggone charming from start to finish!” —Cleo Coyle, New York Times bestselling author
Pet sitter Daphne Templeton has a soft spot for every stray and misfit who wanders into the quaint, lakeside village of Sylvan Creek. But even Daphne doesn’t like arrogant, womanizing Steve Beamus, the controversial owner of Blue Ribbon K-9 Academy. When Steve turns up dead during a dog agility trial, Daphne can think of a long list of people with motives for homicide, and so can the police. Unfortunately, at the top of the list is Daphne’s sister, Piper—Steve’s latest wronged girlfriend.
Certain that Piper is innocent, in spite of mounting evidence to the contrary, Daphne sets out to clear her sister’s name—and find Axis, Steve’s prize-winning chocolate Labrador, who went missing the night of Steve’s death. Aided by Socrates, her taciturn basset hound, and a hyperactive one-eared Chihuahua named Artie, Daphne quickly runs afoul of Detective Jonathan Black, a handsome and enigmatic newcomer to town, who has no appreciation for Daphne’s unorthodox sleuthing.
Can a free-spirited pet sitter, armed only with a Ph.D. in Philosophy and her two incompatible dogs, find the real killer before she becomes the next victim?
Includes recipes for homemade dog treats!
“When murder is unleashed in the idyllic town of Sylvan Creek, it’s up to spunky pet sitter Daphne and her darling duo of misfit mutts to catch the killer. A doggone charming read from start to finish!”—Cleo Coyle, New York Times bestselling author
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