Healthy Pumpkin Bites for Dogs

A Healthy Snack for Your Dog

Have you ever noticed come the New Year that Fido looks a bit fuller? Maybe it's due to the winter months where many of us have twelve feet of snow around the house so our dogs can't go out and run. Or, maybe you have a dog like my Lab, who just last week ate a full box of donuts that had been left out. Oh my goodness, I was so worried, but thank the powers that be Senny was just fine and ready to eat his regular dinner. God bless Labradors; I think they have a stomach that goes on for ever.

This brings me to this week's tip. One of my visiting friends, Kelly Ann McNabb is a French-trained culinary chef who lived for almost twenty years in Europe. She now lives in Aspen Colorado, and is the head chef and Director of food and beverage catering for Altitude Aviation Catering and Cecily's Restaurant. She's also the owner/operator of a new catering company called "Green Cooking with Kelly". I was very interested in the concept of "green cooking", and today I received a nice note from Kelly with one of her green recipes. She made it especially for us at LTK!

The nice thing about Kelly's recipe is that she used one of my favorite ingredients, pureed plain pumpkin. This offers natural beta carotene, fiber and just tastes great! This is a wonderful treat to help your doggie get back on track after all the holiday snacking because remember, it's not just we humans that tend to gain a few pounds over the holidays. Our beloved dogs can gain a bit too.

Pumpkin Bites for Dogs

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F.

• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon ground flax
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 3-4 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup pumpkin pie puree, unsweetened
• 1 egg
• 1/4-1/2 cup buttermilk

Mix all ingredients except buttermilk in a food processor until it forms a ball. If mixture is too wet, add a bit more flour, or if dough is too dry, add more buttermilk.

Roll dough into a small log shape, wrap in plastic wrap and chill in fridge for 10 minutes. Cut 1/2 inch slices, and then cut slices into four pieces. Bake for 10-13 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool and serve.

Eat Right and Exercise!

Those are words to live by, and they're good for our dogs too. Start taking Fido out for those much needed walks, cook light and healthy, and let's all try to live a bit "greener" ourselves in the coming year.