Bark For Bacon-n-Bison Biscotti !! (Gluten Free, Organic,Wheat Free!)

As posted earlier, Cello is on a month-long wheat and chicken free diet to see if we can get her recurring ear infections under control.  I recently found out that buckwheat flour is NOT considered a grain and is wheat and gluten free! It was quite interesting to find out that buckwheat is actually closely related to rhubarb! Cello enjoyed the pumpkin biscotti I had made her, so I decided to try another variety biscotti…

 

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INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 pound ground bison (buffalo) (I used Whole Foods Market ground buffalo – their bison meet comes from buffalo who are free range, have no added antibiotics or growth hormones given to them, and have no animal byproducts in their feed)
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I used 365 Brand – found at Whole Foods Market – produced with no added hormones and made with milk from cows not treated with rBGH)
  • 1 cup organic milk (I used Organic Valley-from cows not treated with rBGH)
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 cups organic buckwheat flour 
  • 3 slices of bacon

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Cook ground buffalo completely, set side.
  3. Cook bacon until very well done, crush to bacon-bit size, set aside.
  4. Combine baking powder and buckwheat flour, and stir until thoroughly mixed.
  5. Add buffalo, cheese, and milk to the dry mixture, and knead with hands until all well combined.
  6. Split dough in half, place onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet, and form 2 meat-loaf shaped loaves, about 1 inch high.
  7. Press bacon pieces into the tops of the two loaves (be sure to firmly press them in or they will fall off while you are slicing the loaves).
  8. Bake for 20  minutes…remove loaves from oven and allow to cool for about 10-15 minutes
  9. Cut both loaves into slices.
  10. Place slices cut-side up onto parchment paper lined baking sheet, and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the slices are dry and crunchy. Flip slices over, and bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until the slices feel dry and crunchy (SEE NOTE BELOW).
  11. Remove from oven and let slices cool on wire rack.

**NOTE:  If your dog prefers softer treats, keep the second baking time around 10 minutes per side.  If your dog prefers crunchier biscuits, increase the second baking time to 20-25 minutes per side, depending on how hard you would like the biscotti.  You can also let the boscotti cool in the oven once you turn it off for an even harder treat.

YIELD: about 1-2 dozen, depending on how thick you cut your slices.

Store in refrigerator or freezer.

Dough formed into loaves with bacon pressed into top ready for first round of baking:DSC08646

Loves cut into slices and ready for second bake time

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Grain Free, Sugar Free Canine Candy Canes!

Cello’s Canine Candy Canes

DSC09205INGREDIENTS:

  • 3 cups organic garbanzo bean flour (plus more – see note)
  • 1/2 cup nonfat powdered milk
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup organic beef stock/broth, chicken stock, or vegetable stock (see note)
  • 2 large organic, free range eggs
  • 2 tsp red, all natural food coloring (see tips)
  • 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
  • 1 large organic, free range egg, whites only (for an egg wash)

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INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Whisk together the flour, powdered milk and baking powder.
  2. Pour beef stock in small bowl, and whisk the eggs into stock.
  3. Form a well in the dry ingredients, pour in the wet ingredients.
  4. Stir until thoroughly combined.
  5. Knead the dough for about two minutes.
  6. Add more flour until the dough is no longer sticky (dough will be VERY sticky and hard to work with.  Keep adding flour until dough is reasonable to work with.
  7. Divide the dough in half.
  8. Form a well in one of the halves of dough.
  9. Add the food coloring and peppermint flavoring to the one half of dough.
  10. Wearing food safe gloves, knead the coloring and flavoring throughout the dough.
  11. Cool the dough in the freezer for 30 minutes.
  12. Preheat the oven to 350° F
  13. Scoop a tablespoon of each half of dough  into tablespoon-sized balls.
  14. Gently roll each ball into a “worm” shape, letting the dough rest when needed. Each strip should be about 5 inches long.
  15. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
  16. Twist one plain strip with a red strip, and curl the end to shape a candy cane.
  17. Place on the baking sheet.
  18. Whisk the extra egg (whites only) in a small bowl.
  19. Using a pastry brush, thoroughly coat each candy cane with the egg wash.
  20. Bake for 10-15 minutes. (let cool in oven for crunchier treat)
  21. Cool completely on a wire rack.

NOTES:

Garbanzo bean flour:  Although a great alternative to grain-based flour, this flour is SUPER sticky and can be difficult to work with. Keep adding flour until dough is at a consistency you are comfortable working with.  Allowing the dough to cool in freezer will help with handling this sticky dough.

Broth/Stock:  No matter which stock you choose (Chicken, Beef, or Vegetable), be sure to check that it does NOT contain any form of onion, or onion powder

Food Coloring: rather than use artificial coloring, I chose an all-natural vegetable base coloring made from beet juice (India Tree brand vegetable colorants).  Beet powder is also another great alternative to artificial coloring.

Yield:  will depend on how long/thick you make each “worm” when you are twisting the candy canes.  My batch made 15 candy canes.

Storing: Remember, these treats do not have any preservatives, so they will need to be refrigerated, or frozen for use at a later time. These canine candy canes will keep fresh for approximately two weeks in the refrigerator, or for about 6 months in the freezer.

PUPkin Biscotti

Made with healthy real pumpkin, these biscotti are yummy!

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INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 c. organic pure pumpkin (not pie filling)
  • 1/4 c. organic honey
  • 1/4 c. water
  • 1/8 c. organic canola oil
  • 1 organic egg, beaten
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 4 c. organic whole wheat flour (substitute buckwheat flour for grain-free option)
  • 2 tsp organic ground cinnamon

**egg whites (SEE NOTE BELOW)

DIRECTIONS:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

2.  In  a large bowl, stir the pumpkin, honey, water, oil, egg, and vanilla

3.  In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and cinnamon

4.  Using a mixer, slowly combine the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients, a little at a time

5.  Knead the dough with your hand in the bowl until the dough forms a ball, and divide in to two equal parts

6.  On a cookie tray sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, form each ball of dough in to a slightly rounded rectangle, about one

      inch thick

7.  Place loaves about 2 inches apart, and back for 35 minutes

10.  Leave loaves on cookie tray, and place tray on a wire rack to let cool for 30 minutes. At the same time, LOWER the oven

        temperature to 300 degrees F

11.  Place the loaves on a cutting board, and slice into 1/2 inch slices

12.  Place the slices, cut side down, back onto the cookie sheet

13.  bake for 20 minutes.  Turn slices over, and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until hard and crunchy

14.  Let the biscotti cool on a wire rack until cooled completely.

Yield: Depending on how thick you cut the slices, you should yield about a dozen biscotti from each loaf.

Note: (OPTIONAL): using a pastry brush, apply an egg white-wash to  loaves before baking the first time.  This step will not change the taste of the biscotti, but it will take away any trace of flour, and give the biscotti a slight “shine.”

Grain Free Ginger Bread Man Cookies

Gingerbread Man Cookies

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INGREDIENTS:

  • 3 cups organic buckwheat flour
  • 2 tbsp organic ground ginger
  • 1 tsp organic ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp organic ground cloves
  • 1/2 cup organic blackstrap molasses
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup organic canola oil

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 325° F
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon and cloves until combined well.
  3. In a small bowl, stir together the molasses, water and canola oil.
  4. Pour the wet mixture into the flour.
  5. Stir ingredients until thoroughly combined.
  6. Roll out the dough to about 1/2 inch thickness.
  7. Use a gingerbread cookie cutter to cut cookies.
  8. Lightly spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
  9. Place your gingerbread man cookies on the baking sheet.
  10. Continue to roll and cut out shapes with the remaining dough.
  11. Bake for 20 minutes.
  12. Cool completely on a wire rack, or allow to cool in the oven (after you turn it off) for a crunchier treat.

 

Yield – Will depend on size of your gingerbread man cookie cutter.  My batch made 30 gingerbread man cookies.

Storing – These treats should keep fresh for several weeks in the refrigerator, or in the freezer for approximately 6 months.