Dog Treats: Sweet Potato & Applesauce Biscuits

A few weeks ago, I learned a new term - polar vortex.  With temperatures well below zero and wind chills in the -40 to -50 range, we spent a lot of time inside.  We didn't leave the house for two days!  I was a little bored (daytime TV is quite dull), so I decided to whip up a batch of homemade dog treats.  Lucky Vilas!

 Since it was too cold to go to the grocery store, I rummaged through the kitchen in search of ingredients.  I ended up using only 4 ingredients, which makes these treats simple to make.

Sweet Potato Applesauce Biscuits

• 6 ounces sweet potato baby food**
• 1/4 cup cinnamon applesauce (no sugar added)
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup rolled oats

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Mix all ingredients together.  Dough will be firm and sticky.  Generously flour the surface and rolling pin.  Roll about 1/4 inch thick.  Cut into dog biscuits.  I used a small bone-shaped cookie cutter, but you could use a pizza cutter to make small squares.  Place on parchment lined cookie sheet.  Bake for 25 minutes.  Shut off oven and let biscuits cool in the oven.  This will help dry them out to give them a good crunch factor for your pup.  This recipe made about 50 two inch biscuits.  I store them on the counter in a bowl (pushed way back so that they can't be stolen).  They have lasted three weeks.

**NOTE: I try to keep a jar or two of baby food on hand.  It's a healthy option for dog treat recipes.  It's also fun to freeze for pupsicles (maybe not this time of year!).  I've used sweet potato, squash, and chicken baby food.  Vilas loves them all!

I enjoy making dog treats. It is so much cheaper than many of the store treats.  Plus, I can control what goes in them so I know they are safe for my dog.  Most of all, I enjoy spoiling my pup.  I just can't make them too often or she will get chubby.  :)  If only I had that kind of willpower for myself ...

Happy New Year!

So far 2014 has been a rather frigid year.  Today's high is -11!  Just before 2014, we had a lovely, sunny 30 degree Saturday.  The hubby and I decided to spend some time outdoors. We bundled up, AND Vilas wore her red coat and yellow boots.  She looks so cute in them!

We took the long lead so that she could have a bit more freedom once we got on the trail.  She loved it!  She would leap over snow piles, bound through the deep snow, and stick her nose into the snow looking for who-knows-what!  We captured this cute picture of her.

I am looking forward to the weather warming up a bit so we can head outdoors again.  When we are stuck inside, Vilas drops tennis balls and toys in my lap all day long.  It's quite cute.