This morning brought an insane thunderstorm that was probably a build up of the 95 to 100 degree weather this past week. Usually I wake up at around 10 am, but this thunderstorm could and would not be ignored! It was so loud; our seemingly sturdy house shook... and then it started to rain... my poor chicken was running around helplessly in the backyard looking for shelter underneath my lettuce box. Fortunately, my sister let the poor soul chill out with our pups. (Did you know that chihuahuas and chickens get along very well?...I didn't know that. I still don't know if they do...but mine hang out like best friends).

Anyway, I thought of my pups and saw that we were running low on dog treats. They are not happy...no sir...not happy. And so I decided to share a nutritiously delicious dog treat recipe that is very inexpensive and easy to make. They also have a long shelf life, which is awesome.


Tobit's Healthy Dog Treats:
Yield: about 48 cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup butter or margarine
1 cup boiling water
3/4 cup ground flax seed
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1/2 cup low-fat milk
1 cup shredded low-fat Cheddar cheese
1 egg, beaten
3 cups whole wheat flour

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). In a large bowl, mix rolled oats, butter, and boiling water. Let sit until it reaches room temperature. Line baking pan with parchment paper.

2. Mix in flax seed, sugar, bouillon cubes, milk, Cheddar cheese, and egg. Mix in flour, 1 cup at a time.

3. If dough is sticky, add in 1 tablespoon of flour at a time until the dough is stiff. Roll dough to 1/2" thickness. Cut out shapes with a cookie cutter and place on cookie sheets. (The cookies will not expand in the oven, so you can put them very closely together).

4. Bake 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. (If your pups prefer crispier and crunchier treats, bake for 5-10 minutes longer). Cool before serving. Store in an air tight container.

Note:
In my Southern California weather, the treats have a shelf life of 3-4 weeks. Usually, your furry friend will not eat all these cookies within 2-3 weeks. If so, make sure to place the rest of the treats in the freezer...or they will spoil...because there are no added preservatives, which is a plus! :)

Happy treating!