Puppy Love Apple Cinnamon Dog Bones

Today is one of my dog’s 14^th birthday so I made these apple cinnamon dog bones. 

I made them because I just love him so SO much and although he is 14 I still think of him as my puppy love.

Then I realized how very cinnamony these dog biscuits smell and thought of Valentine’s Day because you know how I associate Valentine’s with cinnamon.

The dogs are important members of the family.  I bake for all my loved ones and so it only makes sense that I would bake for the pooches as well.

The recipe is pretty easy and the dogs seem to like them... at least they come and grab them and run away with them gobble them down and come back for more – mind you they do that with any treat I give them so perhaps this crowd is not the most discerning…

But they seemed to enjoy these fresh baked, low fat treats which makes me happy. And, here is how I made them.

Ingredients

4 cups whole wheat flour – plus more for flouring work service

1/2 cup cornmeal

1 egg

1 teaspoon cinnamon (heaping)

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 large apple -- grated

1 1/3 cup water – more if needed to moisten mixture

Directions

Preheat oven to 350^o.

In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except for the apple and water.

Mix grated apple into mixture and add water.

Mix until it starts sticking together.

Roll out on a floured surface to about ¼”thick and cut into whatever shapes you like.  I used a dog bone and heart but other cute/fun shapes could be a gingerbread postman or a cat.

Place cut cookies on a parchment paper lined sheet and bake for 60 minutes.

Cool and share with your best friend.  I'm sure they will LOVE you for it because that is just the way dogs are and we are lucky to have them in our lives.

Us in Cookie

Last week (or maybe a bit longer than that) was our 7^th wedding anniversary.  I could not think of what to make for my husband that expressed how much I love him, how cute I think he is and how happy I am to have him in my life.  Then I remembered our Stationary Studio stick figure stickers – which pretty much sums it up…

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

So I made these cookies of us – I heart the heart mouth and my hair which is either blond with brown lowlights or brown with blond highlights – I don’t really remember anymore. 

What I like about these CopperGift.com cookie cutters is that each can be personalized with different hair, eyes, glasses and accessories -- they are great cookies for your loves on Valentines Day, birthday favours or for a family reunion.

What I really like about my husband is his sense of humor and his ability to see through my kookiness!

XOXO Honey -- I LOVE you!

Healthier Granola

So in an effort to start the year on a healthy note, I made granola.  This granola is a pretty healthy version – it is full of whole grain oats, no salt nuts, a little healthy olive oil and does not have a ton of sugar.  What is great about this recipe is you can add whatever you want.  If you need a no-nut version – add more seeds, coconut and dried fruit.  If you love nuts chock it full o’ nuts.

This granola is super fantastic for breakfast with milk or yogurt (Greek yogurt is my favorite) or on it’s own for a little afternoon pick-me-up.

I’ve made it so many times since the new year began and here is how I made it.

Ingredients

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats – I used large flakes

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup light tasting olive oil

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. cinnamon

Add In Ideas – use as many as you wish or others that you can think of

1/4 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

1/4 cup sliced almonds, coarsely chopped

1/4 cup cashews

1/4 cup pistachio nuts

1/4 cup shelled sunflower seeds

1/4 cup shelled pumpkin seeds

1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes – I like the big flakes (in fact I put some in that toasted and then added more raw at the end – but I really love coconut)

1/4 cup dried apricots, cut into pieces

1/4 cup dried cranberries

Directions

Mix first five ingredients in a bowl with whatever add ins you choose.

Place on foil lined baking sheet.

Bake 350⁰ for 15 to 20 minutes.  Half way thought, stir up and turn the baking sheet to ensure even baking.

Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack.  Don’t forget if you want to add more raw coconut now is the time to do so.

I think this recipe is a healthy alternative BUT I provide this cautionary note -- it is quite addictive so if you are someone who can’t control themselves and is trying to start the year on a weight loss foot – don’t make it!

But if you do make it, let me know what you added.

2013 - Healthy Start

Trying to start the new year off on a healthy foot?

Don’t forget to strap on your running shoes and eat your veggies.

Happy New Year's - 2013!

Wishing you a year of health and peace, kindness and cookies.

I hope 2013 is overflowing with all your dreams come true.

Keep Busy During The Hockey Strike Jerseys!

Are you depressed about the hockey strike?  Feeling bored watching curling – and please don’t get me wrong I really love watching curling but understand that not everyone shares this pastime.  There is a small ray of sunshine because the world juniors are on and according to news headlines there are some sparks of hope in the NHL talks this weekend.  But if you need something to occupy your time...

No worries.  I have a great project to keep you occupied until the strike is over.

I have made these sport jerseys for baseball, soccer and hockey.  I have made these with different names and numbers for a team party, the ones above were individually wrapped for table place cards at a Bar Mitzvah.  It is time consuming cookie but with no hockey to watch, you most probably have plenty of time on your hands I’m sure.  These are such a great cookie idea for the sports fans in your life.  They will love all the time you took to make them something unique and fun. Maybe they will forget about the whole NHL strike.

They are really fun to make and here is how I did it.

Materials Needed for Decorating:

- jersey or tshirt cookie cutter (I used the large Tshirt from Copper Gifts – one of my favorite and versatile cookie cutters)

- small number cookie cutters

- fondant

- gel past to colour some of the royal icing (I used royal blue)

- royal icing – as always, I really like the Ateco meringue powder

- piping bags

Instructions and Tips:

Use your favorite sugar cookie recipe and cut out the t-shirts.

Outline each cookie -- I used #2 tip and royal blue icing.

 

While the outline is drying, get your numbers cut and organized.  Colour the fondant if you need to, roll out and cut the numbers.  Set aside for use after the cookie is flooded.

NOTE:  I like the Satin Ice fondant and because I don't use often I usually use white and colour as I require but if you have coloured fondant so you can skip this step.  You might also have a shirt that is coloured so white numbers would look great.  One thing I should mention is that if you are want black or red numbers, buy the coloured fondant because it is not so easy to get a good red or black unless it is pre-made.

Fill or flood the cookies.  I like using the squeeze bottles because it is so much cleaner then a piping bag when flooding cookies.

Use a toothpick or bamboo skewer to pull the icing to fill the cookie.  If you just use the squeeze bottle there is a chance that you will overflood the cookie – it is always a fine line between the perfectly flooded cookie and a cookie that is over flowing with icing.  The toothpick “pull” really helps ensure an evenly flooded cookie.

Want another trick?  I use a Silpat when decorating cookies so they don’t slip around.

Using a slightly thiner royal icing than the outline, add details on the sleeve and bottom of the Tshirt.

Carefully place the fondant numbers on the Tshirt.  I sometimes use tweezers to put these kind of things on my cookies -- and, yes, they are tweezers I use only for cookies;)

Let the cookies dry overnight.

Using a writing tip -- I like LOVE PME 1.5, write the name on the shirt.  I don't know why but when I use PME 1.5 my letters are so much better.  

Hockey strike or just for fun, if you make these cookies for the sport lover in your life, please let me know how they turn out.

“Nice” Reindeer or “Naughty” Coal Chocolate Brownie Cookies

I’m not sure if I really like the whole “nice” and “naughty” list thing.  It’s a little creepy thinking anyone is being spied on and I don’t particularly like idle threats.  REALLY you are going to leave anyone a lump of coal?!?!  I think that is not very nice.

That is why these super yummy, KID FRIENDLY quick & easy cookies work well.  You can make cute reindeer or lumps of coal and either way they are a delish.

And here is how I made them.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tablespoon milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

2/3 cup all-purpose flour

Materials Needed for Decorating:

- candy eyes – you could use M&Ms or other candy

- pretzel twists for antlers

- brown M&M’s for the noses Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner & Blitzen (that is EIGHT reindeer so you don't have to count;)

- red candies for Rudolph’s nose – I used Maynard Swedish Berries, but red Smarties, M&M’s or Jelly Tots will look super cute too

Instructions and Tips:

Preheat oven to 375.

Beat together butter, brown sugar, cocoa powder, milk and vanilla until well combined.

Beat in baking soda and flour.

Divide dough into 9 pieces.

To make the coal just crumple up the dough in whatever coal shape you would like.

To make the reindeer, shape into a triangular reindeer head and push pretzel "antlers" firmly into dough.  

Bake for 6 minutes.

Add eyes and nose as soon as cookies come out of the oven.  If the cookies are still hot the eyes and nose will stick to the cookie without using royal icing.

This recipe is perfect for one set of the eight reindeer plus one Rudolph but because I love the Swedish Berries I only made red nosed reindeer.

The cookies really do taste like brownies -- so naughty or nice -- everyone should have a happy holiday.

Merry Christmas!