Goulash

Goulash is a soup or stew of meat and vegetables seasoned with paprika and other spices. This is my healthy dog-friendly version. The best part about this dish is that you really don’t have to follow the recipe closely…you can add as much or as little of any of the ingredients, and substitute the meat and veggies for whatever suits your pup! I used ground bison and ground chicken as my protein source, but you can use ground beef, ground lamb, ground venison, and even add in some chicken gizzards and/or chicken live or mackerel – the choices are endless!

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of organic ground bison (we choose a brand with no antibiotics and no added hormones)
• 1 pound of ground organic chicken (we choose a brand with no antibiotics and no added hormones)
• 3 organic eggs
• (1) 10 oz bag fresh organic broccoli florets (I used about 1/2 the bag) chopped in food processor
• (1) 5 oz bag fresh organic spinach (I used about 1/2 the bag) chopped in food processor
• 1 bunch fresh organic kale (I used about 6 large leaves) – chopped in food processor
• 1 bunch or bag of fresh organic carrots (I used 4 carrots) chopped in food processor
• (1) 12 oz bag of fresh organic green beans, trimmed and cut into small pieces (I used the whole bag and snipped off 1/4 inch pieces with kitchen shears)
• 1-2 organic sweet potatoes (I used one very large potato) – grated
• 2 bags of cooked organic brown rice

Instructions:

• boil the meat until fully cooked – stirring and “chopping up” meat to separate it (do not drain water from pot – and you can add more water as you add ingredients. I kept the consistency less “soupy”)
• add in eggs, stirring to break up eggs and mix
• add in your veggies and mix
• add in brown rice and stir
• simmer on low heat until veggies are cooked

Cheesy-Root-Veggie Pancakes

Ingredients:

• (1) 12 oz bag Cascadian Farm Organic Root Vegetable Hash Browns (you can buy potatoes, sweet potatoes, and carrots separately and use a grater to shred them, but I love the Cascadian Farms root veggies – – saves time!)
• organic sharp shredded cheddar – put as little – or as much as you please
• 2 organic eggs, whisked
• organic plain bread crumbs
• organic olive oil cooking spray

Instructions:

• coat pan with cooking spray
• mix the root veggies, cheese & eggs together until well combined
• add bread crumbs until you achieve a consistency you like
• form pancakes in the size of your choice and add to pan
• cook over medium heat, flipping pancake until cheese is melted and both sides are browned to your liking

Macarons are a meringue-based sandwich cookie usually made with almond flour, egg whites, powdered sugar, and food coloring. They are commonly filled with buttercream, ganache, or jam. Here is a dog-friendly version I think your pup will enjoy! If you wish, you can omit the peanut butter from the sandwich ingredients to create a “plain” cookie base, and change the filling ingredient to any dog-friendly spreadable food.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cup organic whole wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup organic creamy peanut butter, plus additional peanut butter for “sandwich” filling
  • all-natural, no salt or sugar added, xylitol/birch sugar free
• 1 large organic egg
• 2 tablespoons organic honey
• 1/2 cup organic whole milk

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking pans with parchment paper
2. In a large bowl add flour, baking powder, peanut butter, egg, honey, and milk. Beat until ingredients are well combined – until a soft dough forms
3. Flour your work area and roll the dough out about a 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, depending on how thick you want the “sandwich”
4. Use a small round cookie cutter or something similar (I used the mouth of a champagne flute) to cut out circles of dough
5. Place the cut-outs on the parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes depending on your oven (I left mine in for 15 minutes)
6. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and allow to cool
7. You can wait to do this next step until ready to give the macarons to your dog, or you can do this step and freeze the treats for later
   1. smear peanut butter on one of the cookies and top with another cookie to make a “sandwich”

Cookies for breakfast? You betcha – especially when they are packed with whole grains & fruit! 

Ingredients

• 2 cups organic whole wheat flour
• 1 cup organic old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp organic cinnamon
• 1 large organic egg
• 1/3 cup organic virgin coconut oil, melted
• 1/4 cup organic honey
• 1 tsp organic vanilla extract
• 1 cup organic apple, grated (I used organic gala apples)
• 1 medium banana, very ripe and mashed
• 1/3 cup unsweetened mini carob chips

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
• Line cookie sheets with parchment paper
• In a large bowl mix together the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon
• In a separate small bowl beat the egg. Add the melted coconut oil, honey and vanilla extract and stir well. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until well combined
• Add grated apple and mashed banana and stir until all ingredients are well mixed
• Stir in carob chips
• Roll the cookie dough into 1 inch sized balls (you can make smaller or larger to suit your dog’s size)
• Place each dough ball on the cookie sheet and press down lightly with the bottom of a jar, glass, or a fork to flatten a bit
• Bake for 15 minutes, checking after about 12-13 mins to be sure the cookies are not getting too brown in your oven
• Allow to cool completely on a wire rack before giving to your dog