Another recipe - but this time for Dog Treats !

A couple of people have asked me for dog treat recipes so here are the ones that I have used - passed onto me by other kind folks and seen on some great Facebook pages ( eg Lurcher Appreciation Page) :

TUNA BAKE - the one I use the most
1 Tin tuna in sunflower oil, 100 g Self raising flour, 1 egg plus some grated cheese if you like.

Mix, press flat in an oiled microwave dish ( I use a pyrex bowl glass lid) , cook on full full power for 6 to 7 minutes.

Corned Beef bake -
I tin of corned beef , 1 egg, 60 ml water, 300 g plain flour, 100 g cheese
Mix, press into a grease and lined baking tray, cook for about 25 mins at 180 ( 160 fan ) - although I admit I am a bit casual/check it and see about cooking times LOL .

Liver Bake- current fav this makes LOADS
400g liver, 1/2 pint cold water, 400g plain flour ( although last batch I did was 50: 50 SR and plain and was good also, 1 egg, 2.5 fl oz of olive oil

Blend liver and water, mix in other ingredients, bake in shallow greaseproof paper lined tin 30 - 35 mins at 180 degrees. Might have to prick with fork halfway through.

FOR ALL THE ABOVE RECIPES
Allow to cool
Cut into small dice shapes
Freeze and then defrost small amount  

Variations ?
You could try rice flour instead of wheatflour
You could try other tinned fish in oil
I only had 250g of liver last time did liver bake so I substituted apple and sweet potato - worked just fine and might be useful if you need a lower fat treat for your dog.

 I have tasted the Tuna and Corned beef ones and the am VERY nice .... but I haven't tried the liver one!

 Here is Tom waiting for a treat - By the way the photo was taken by Steve Shepard - Candid Canines

.. and when I'm not sewing.... gardening and cooking !

So when I'm not sewing I'm gardening and cooking.

These are my outdoor Cucumbers

 ... and my courgettes ( zuchinni ...)

It looks like there will be a be a bumper crop of cucumbers and courgettes this year so I guess a few people might like this recipe. I use it every year and my Mum in particular is addicted to it .

1.5 KG of diced cucumber and/or marrow and/or courgettes
1.5 KG of diced cooking apples
225g of finely chopped onion
100g of Sultana, 100g raisins, 100g dried apricots, 100g finely chopped ginger, 50g almond flakes
1.5 kg of sugar
900 ml malt vinegar
60 ml Whsiky - optional 

Spices  4 teaspns Mustard seeds, 1 teaspn chilli powder ,  1 teaspn salt , 1/3 teaspn ground cloves, 1/3 teaspn nutmeg

Bung it all in a BIG pan and cook for 2 hours . Bottle / Jar up into CLEAN STERILISED jars. As with all pickles whilst you may use straight away it is MUCH better if left for a couple of months.Great Christmas pressie too ....

ENJOY!

Some rather fabulous Vegan cookies

I'm always on the lookout for interesting Vegan, vegetarian or dairy/gluten free recipes as a few of my kids friends have this dietary requirement. This is the latest one I've tried :) 

 Vegan Cookies

Great for vegans, vegatarians, people who need dairy free,  and anyone who likes cake! I guess it could work with gluten free flour/rice flour but I haven't tried it myself.

NOT suitable for people with Nut or seseme seed allergies though ! 

Sorry US measures which I haven't converted but there's loads of converters online if you need them!

Make 20 cookies ( which will disappear very quickly...) 

1 cup flour
1 1/2 cup oats
1/2 teaspn baking soda
1/2 teaspn baking powder
1/4 teaspn salt
1 teaspn ground ginger
1 teaspn ground cinnamon
1/2 cup dried fruit raisins or dates even apple
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup ground almonds
3/4 tahini paste
1/2 cup almond milk

1. Preheat oven 375 F and 190 C . Oil or line a large baking dish.
2. Blend well tahini paste, almond milk, and sugar in a bowl
3. In another large bowl mix together the rest of the dry ingredients  EXCEPT the dried fruit
4. Add the wet to the dry ingredients and last of all add the dried fruit
5. Drop mounds of the mix onto baking tray - they WILL spread during cooking so give each one some space !
6 Bake for 13/15 mins, cool on pan for 5 mins before transfering to a wire rack to finish cooling

'Blood and Bones' Muffins!

Blood = Beetroot, and Bones = white choc chunks!

500g Beetroot (cook,drain,blend,cool), 250g self raising flour, 225g sugar, 1 teaspn baking powder, 2 eggs, 75 ml veg oil ( I use Olive oil), 75 ml milk and a handful of white Choc chunks.

Mix oil, eggs and sugar, add flour/baking powder, add cooled/blended beetroot, add milk.

Bake for about 20 to 30min on about 180. Check after 20min as ovens do vary. You'll get about 12 to 16 larger ones but this year I'm going to make mini muffin sized ones so I should get loads!

Autumn Harvest - Apple Curd

If you've loads of apples like us you might like this? It make a good Xmas pressie as well though you'd have to make it later on in Dec.

APPLE CURD

1/2 lbs Marg or butter
2 lb Apples
2 eggs
1/2 lbs Sugar
Juice of 1 lemon

Boil and pulp apples on pan, add sugar and margarine/butter. Reduce heat to gentle simmer slowly beat in the eggs. Cook gently for 1/2 hour add lemon juice. Cook and fill clean ( ideally sterililzed) jars. This will keep for 2 months - a bit longer if kept in fridge. You could spice it up a bit with cinnamen.

Chocolate Courgette Loaf / Pumpkin Loaf

Hi all, a few people have been asking me for these recipes. The Pumpkin Loaf recipe was orginally given to my by a fellow Allotment holder on my old plot in Enfield. I've adapted it for courgette as well.

This is a DAIRY FREE recipe, keeps well and freezes beautifully - I usually make 2 at a time, one for now and one to freeze. I've also used the same recipes for muffins just reduce baking time to say 20 mins.

Need: Loaf Tin 9" by 5" , ideally loaf tin liner/greaseproof paper, Oven pre-heated to 175 C

Ingredients:
FOR PUMPKIN LOAF
8 oz Plain Flour
1 teaspn baking powder and 1 teaspn bicarb of soda (Baking soda)
1 teaspn of cinnamen
1/2 teaspn of salt
8 oz Sugar
6 fl. oz of Olive Oil
2 eggs
8oz of mashed/cooked Pumpkin (which equals 12oz when uncooked)
6 oz raisins ( or chopped apricots or apple whatever)

FOR CHOCOLATE COURGETTE LOAF all the same BUT:
1. Replace pumpkin with uncooked grated courgette (zucchini) 250 grams
2. Add 2 or 3 heaped table spoons of Cocoa
3. Raisins are fine in this but chopped apple or raspberries are even better

TO make:
Combine sugar and oil then add beaten eggs
Add dry ingredients
Add your choice of pumpkin/courgettes/fruit/cocoa
Bake for approx 1 hour - CHECK - may need another 15 to 20 min depending on your oven

ENJOY!