Pet-Friendly Recipes: Bake Some Birthday Treats

From birthday celebrations to just-because parties, your pet deserves to be spoiled once in a while.

The best part about cooking for your pet is that even if your skills leave much to be desired, your furry family member won't even notice, much less compare you to the incomparable Martha Stewart. (Honestly, we're talking about pet that will drink from the toilet, given the opportunity.) So all you have to do is follow these recipes as best you can and have fun!

DOGS

Dog Cookie

2 cups rye flour
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup warm water
1/2 cup white flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 teaspoon vanilla (or mint flavor)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix all ingredients together.
3. Roll out to 1/4 inch thick
4. Cut into shapes (get creative!)
5. Bake on a lightly greased cookie sheet for 30 minutes.

Simple Birthday Bones

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup natural peanut butter
1 cup lactose-free skim milk

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. Combine flour and baking powder in a bowl.
3. Combine peanut butter and milk in a separate bowl.
4. Add this wet peanut butter mixture to the dry and mix well.
5. Flatten dough on lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick.
6. Cut out shapes and place on a greased baking sheet.
7. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Cool and serve.

Peanut Butter Carrot Cake

1 cup white or whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup cooking oil
1 cup shredded carrots
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1/3 cup honey (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix the dry ingredients.
3. Add the remaining ingredients, and mix quickly.
4. Pour into a greased ring mold.
5. Bake for 40 minutes.
6. Optional frosting: cottage cheese, sprinkled with carrot pieces.

Jerky Cake

1.5 cups all-purpose flour
1.5 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup soft butter
1/2 cup corn oil
1 jar strained beef baby food
4 eggs
2-3 strips of beef jerky

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Cream butter until smooth
3. Add corn oil, baby food and eggs; mix until smooth.
4. Mix dry ingredients into beef mixture until smooth.
5. Crumble beef jerky and fold into batter.
6. Pour batter into greased and floured 8x5x3-inch loaf pan.
7. Bake for one hour and 10 minutes.
8. Cool on wire rack for 15 minutes.
9. Frost with cottage cheese if desired and sprinkle more crumbled beef jerky on top of icing.

CATS

Cat Mini Cakes

2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup soybean flour
1 cup water
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon canola or sunflower oil
1 teaspoon sea salt

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl.
3. Add water and honey to the dry ingredients, mix well.
4. Let this dough rest in a warm place for 15 minutes.
5. Add oil and let dough sit for another 30 minutes.
6. Roll dough into 1/4 thick spread.
7. Score out small sections, 1/4 inch square or smaller. Put onto baking sheet.
8. Bake for 30 minutes.




Kitty Kisses

1 can favorite canned cat food
Piping bag with small plain tip OR a Ziploc baggie with a hole cut in a corner

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Blend the cat food in a blender until it has the consistency of frosting.
3. Set out a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
4. Pour mixture into piping bag or Ziploc baggie.
5. Make small "kisses" on parchment paper.
6. Bake for about 15 minutes, until relatively dry.




Kitty Cookies

1 cup whole wheat flour
6 oz. can tuna (undrained)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 egg


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine all ingredients and mix well (add small amounts of water if mixture is too thick).
3. Roll dough out 1/4 inch thick onto lightly floured surface.
4. Cut shapes out of the dough and place one inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
5. Bake for 20 minutes or until firm.
6. (The smaller you cut the shapes, the less cooking time you will need.)