Dog treats !? - UPDATE

We have a new puppy and she's a gem, except she poops on the floor - which is not my favorite thing.  I decided to take treats outside and give her a treat every time she did her business where she's supposed to - that dog loves food more than any creature I've ever met, so it's going well.  Except for the fact that the dog treats are FILLED with corn.  I have hives all over my eyelids and jaw from getting that mess on my hands and not washing off right away (I'm outside, remember). 

So, I'm going to make my own dog treats!  F.U.N.

Here's the recipe adapted from this site:

1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour

1/2 c. all-purpose flour

1/2 c. wheat germ
1/2 c. rolled oats

1/2 c water,

1/2 c. sunflower oil

2 eggs

3 tbsp peanut butter

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 and lightly grease your baking sheets.

Using a 1/2 teaspoon, scoop out a small amount of the dough into your hand. Press it down to flatten. Place the flattened dough on the greased baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes then turn off the oven. Let the cooked treats hang out in the oven for at least 20 minutes, so that they will harden.

Makes about 75 small biscuits (36 large)

I'll let you know how they turn out - a little effort, but she's worth it!

-----UPDATE -----

I made them, forgot the eggs and used bacon grease instead of sunflower oil.  Moe and Diekon LOVE them.  The kids and I like them pretty well too.  My husband found the idea of ingesting a bacon/peanut butter treat repulsive so refused to try them.  Chicken!

True to it's word, the recipe made about 75 biscuits.  It took us three cookie sheets to get them all ready - but now I have a gallon sized ziploc bag about half full of dog treats.  I don't know what the total cost was, but in eyeballing the ingredients, it sure wasn't much.

Dutch Pumpernickel Bread - YEAST FREE!

My daughter has a yeast allergy - so I have to learn to modify recipes for both our allergies now.  Can make bread a little tricky!  This one was a win.  Served with cream cheese (Organic Valley) and baked salmon.

Modified from the Rodale Whole Foods Cookbook, which is (by the way) worth every penny:

Total prep time: approx. 10 mins

1 cup King Arthur All Purpose Flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup wheat germ
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp caraway seeds, crushed
1 tsp sea salt
3/4 cup Horizon whole milk
2 large eggs
1/4 cup molasses (I used Brer Rabbit, and didn't notice a reaction, will update if one arrives later)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 small onion chopped

mix all together and bake at 350 for 50/60 minutes.

The cookbook recommends lining the loaf pan with wax paper.  It worked well, but use caution when removing, it will rip the crust off!  I used a butter knife to hold the crust down while I slowly pulled the wax paper off.

Cool on a rack before trying to slice or it will fall to bits.  It may be that cooling before removing the wax paper would have been a good idea.  I'm a little slow sometimes so didn't think to wait.

Everyone loved it, the flavor is mildly sweet.  I'm not convinced it would work as a sandwich bread as it's not incredibly 'sturdy' but would go very well with my mom's potato soup!

I will try to update with a picture when we make it again.  Unfortunately, yesterday's loaf is already gone.

Environmentally Friendly - Corn Allergic UNFriendly

I have a great job, a fantastic boss, security, decent pay, wonderful co-workers and a brand new building to work in!  YAY!  Right?

The building is the newest of the new and so environmentally friendly you could probably eat the carpet.  It's true and it's made mostly of corn.  Fifteen minutes into my first day and my blood pressure started to drop.  I bolted for the door and haven't been back since.

My employer and I have worked up a telecommuting agreement and I now work from home.  It's going REALLY well and I feel better now than I have in years.  My random mysterious hives are gone.  My energy levels are higher.  My concentration is improved.  It's unbelievable.

Corn really can be an environmental allergy.  My allergist did me a huge favor at my last appointment (see previous post) by writing up a letter to my employer about the potential dangers of the workplace.  I'm so grateful for her.

On a side note, I've just discovered that my daughter has a yeast allergy.  A new adventure begins!