Pumpkin dog treats

[barleychown]

2  eggs 
1/2  cup pumpkin 
1  cup sourdough starter 
1/4  cup peanut butter 
2  tablespoons bacon drippings (or cooking oil) 
1  cup oats (quick or old fashioned) 
2 1/2  cups whole wheat flour 

Combine the first 5 ingredients with an electric mixer.
Add the oats and as much of the flour as you can until the dough is too hard to mix.
Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead in the remaining flour.
Dough should be stiff, but not crumbly.
Roll out dough about 1/2-inch thick and cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters, or for a quicker version just cut 1/2-inch wide strips with a pizza cutter or knife, and then cut strips to 2-inch lengths.
Place on ungreased cookie sheets and bake at 325°F for 20 minutes.
Turn biscuits over and bake another 20 minutes.
Turn off oven and open door so it's ajar to let out excess heat for a few minutes and then close door and leave biscuits in oven until all the heat is gone.
If there is still moisture in the biscuits, let them air-dry until they are completely hard and crisp before storing.
 

[Dianna]

  Where do I buy sourdough starter?

Don't tell me it is homemade, or I will cry. Need the recipe, too....

The ones you sent Angel smelled like Cheddar Cheese. Do I just add Cheddar to this recipe?

Thank you for posting this!

[Triss]

That just looks so simple and I would have never thought to put those things together and make them for dogs.  I think the dogs in the family are going to get a Christmas gift from us as well.

Oh yes and what parts of this can you tweak and with what to make them good for dogs and still cook up well?

[barleychown]

There was no cheese in them, I think the smell is from the starter.

Sourdough starter is something you make at home, but it's super easy! In fact, I bet you could just get by with upping the flour by 1/2 cup and adding 1/2 cup of water, but then some of the flavor would be missing, maybe.

Triss, so far I've tweaked it just about every way imaginable, and as long as the bacon drippings and peanut butter are still there, the dogs LOVE them. I've done a few batches with soybean pulp in place of the pumpkin...the dogs are eating them, too.

[Dianna]

That does sound easy then, Sarah! I might get energetic and try to do some then....

I would love that starter, I think. I was tempted to eat one, myself! Angel doesn't share well, though....

[barleychown]

Dianna, here's a link to the recipe I used for my starter:  http://www.recipezaar.com/13750

Once you get it going, you can store it in the fridge and feed it once a week, if you find you like making the dog treats. My girls get treats a lot. I spoil them rotten, but with these treats being healthy, I don't feel bad.

Also, I figured out today that you can mix up a batch that uses up the whole can of pumpkin, and them bake a cookie sheet full, and put the rest of the dough into the freezer for baking at another time. I try to do my baking in big batches, so if I already have the oven on, I'll put in a sheet of treats at the same time, then when the times up, just turn the oven off and leave the treats in there until the oven is cold. That usually dries them most of the way out, and they don't last long enough to need to be fully dry.

[Triss]

I think it would be great also if you had leftover gravy to dip them at the end of the cooking and the pop them back in the oven while it is still warm to finish drying out.  The dogs would just love that as well.

I cannot wait to try these.  I need to get that starter going tomorrow.  A couple of batches of it.

[barleychown]

And that is why my starter lives in such a big bowl. A cup of starter is easy to have on hand...in fact, I usually have too much!

That is why I tried this recipe in the first place.

[Dianna]

Hmmmm. That recipe sounds simple enough, Sarah. I may give it a try...

Would it be safe for me to eat one of the treats you sent Angel now, Sarah? My curiosity is getting the better of me....

[barleychown]

Of course! Both kids here have tried them, and they are still alive.

[Jim]

Now I'm gonna have to hide the treats from Dianna. 

[barleychown]

Or just learn how to make more! Might save you a headache. I've seen what she can do with a stick.

 

[Dianna]

Well, Jim officially thinks I am nuts now. I just tried the treats....

My honest opinion is that I might would like them if they were hot and weren't so dried out. Maybe I will let the dog treats be for Angel. Wonder if I nuked them, if I would like them better?

I think I would like sourdough bread. I don't think I have ever tried it...

[Dianna]

Ruff! Ruff! Arf! Arf! Woof! Woof! Did I say that?

Thank you for posting this recipe, once again, Sarah. I am sure that I will try it at some time. It looks simple enough for me...

[Triss]

I dunno that I would be brave enough to try them Dianna, kuddos to you!  Guess you have to cook them now and try them hot and since you will be making the starter anyhow, might as well try sourdough bread, it is THE BEST!

[barleychown]

I agree! Sourdough is the best bread. Oh, man...toasted sourdough with fresh tomatoes...Mmmmmm, MMMmmmmm!

[Triss]

I prefer mine with homemade jam... YUM.  I cannot wait to try it.

[patches]

Hmmm, I think this site is going to the dogs if Dianna is eating the doggie treats.    Geesh, I wish my little buddies still lived across the street because I bet they would love these!!! 

[Dianna]

Hmmm, I think this site is going to the dogs if Dianna is eating the doggie treats.    

Oh my goodness, Patti! I about fell out my chair when I read that!

Triss, I know I have some homemade jam to try with mine...

Sarah, I have canned tomatoes, but I bet they would be good, too!

[Triss]

So have you started your mix yet?  I will be doing mine in the morning!

[Dianna]

Who? Me? I ain't a'startin' nothing I can't finish tonight. I have to work tomorrow...

I will be trying the sourdough bread soon, though...

[Triss]

But it has to sit for 3-4 days so now is the bext time to get it going, then you can play with it next week.

[patches]

Oh my goodness, Patti! I about fell out my chair when I read that! 

I'm sorry, Dianna, I just couldn't pass that one up!   

[barleychown]

If you start your sourdough starter tonight, it will be ready to use Monday....hint hint!

Oh, wait...forgot who I was talking to...do you have yeast in the house?

[Dianna]

No yeast in this house, Sarah. You know me well, don't you?

Angel will have to wait for me to make her treats, but she has the ones you sent to tide her over. I will definitely have to wait on my bread....