Pawprints & Predicaments

by Bethany Blake

  1 large egg

  ¼ cup canola oil

  2 tbsp. honey

  1 tsp. cinnamon

  ½ cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans

  Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

  In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.

  Get a small bowl and stir together the milk (or water), egg, and oil. Add this to the dry ingredients and mix gently, just until it forms a soft dough.

  On a lightly floured surface, pat the dough into a rectangle measuring about 9 by 12 inches.

  Drizzle the dough with honey and sprinkle on the cinnamon and nuts, then roll up the dough, starting at the long edge, and pinch the edge to seal it.

  Using a sharp knife, cut the log into half-inch-thick slices and place them, cut side down, on the cookie sheet. If the knife gets sticky, dip it in water.

  Bake the Roll-Overs for fifteen minutes. (I check at twelve to make sure they’re not burning.)

  Note: You can make an easy cream cheese “frosting” for these by mixing about four ounces of cream cheese and milk or water. Add just enough liquid to thin out the cheese. You can also make a bunch of these at one time and freeze them. Socrates thinks they taste just as good thawed!

  Mutt Loaf

  There’s something comforting about an old-fashioned meatloaf on a cold winter day. I even make a vegetarian version for myself. But Socrates insists upon the real thing. This is his favorite comfort food recipe.

  1 large egg

  ¼ cup milk or water

  1 pound lean ground beef

  ¾ cup finely grated carrot

  ½ cup breadcrumbs

  Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

  Find a big bowl, and first add the egg and milk or water. Whisk these together. Add the ground beef, carrot, and breadcrumbs. Get in there with your hands and combine. (I’m not a fan of that part, but it’s the best way to combine things well.)

  Form into mini footballs. (You pick the size, based upon your dog. Bernie could probably do with just . . . one.) Arrange in rows in a baking dish.

  Bake for about a half hour, until nice and brown.

  Make sure to let them cool before serving!

  Reel-y Good Tuna Tidbits

  I’m not sure why cats love fish so much. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a cat sitting next to a stream, waiting to catch a trout or salmon. But if you open a can of tuna, they will always come running. This treat can even tame a temperamental Tinks—for a few minutes. And your feline friend will love the secret ingredient: catnip!

  1 (5 oz.) can of tuna in oil, drained of most of the oil

  1 cup whole wheat flour

  1 large egg

  1 tbsp. catnip

  Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. (These cook quickly even at a low temperature!) Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

  Mix all the ingredients together in a food processor until well combined.

  Using a ¼ tsp. measuring spoon, scoop up the mixture and form it into small balls.

  Place the balls on the cookie sheet and flatten them, slightly, with your fingertip. You should end up with about three dozen treats.

  Bake for about 12 minutes, watching them closely. When they’re lightly browned, they’re ready.

  Cool thoroughly and serve. Extra treats can be stored in the refrigerator.

  Woofles

  Nothing is cuter than the sight of Artie eating a Woofle while wearing one of his adorable sweaters. He always gets the yogurt “whipped cream” on his nose. Jonathan and Socrates would disagree about the sweater being cute.

  2 cups whole wheat flour

  ¼ cup brewer’s yeast

  ½ tsp. baking powder

  1 large egg

  ⅔ cup beef broth

  ½ cup peanut butter

  1 (6 oz.) container plain yogurt

  1 tbsp. honey

  Get your waffle iron ready, if you have one. If not, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

  In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brewer’s yeast, and baking powder. Add the egg and beef broth, and stir to combine thoroughly, making a batter.

  Scoop out about 1 tablespoon’s worth of batter per waffle and cook for about 12 minutes in either your waffle iron or the oven. (The oven won’t leave cute marks, but they will still taste good.) The Woofles should be dense and fairly dry when they’re done.

  While still warm, spread a small amount of peanut butter on each Woofle. Allow treats to cool.

  Mix together yogurt and honey and place a dollop of “whipped cream” on the Woofles, too.

  Hint: You can find brewer’s yeast wherever protein powders are sold.