Including your dog in your seasonal festivities? These healthy and delicious recipes will fill him with comfort and joy any time of the year!
Looking for a fun way to thank your dog for the unconditional love she gives you year round? Since most dogs would probably place food at the top of their wish lists, here are three fabulous recipes to try over the holidays or really any time of year. One thing’s for sure — he’ll be licking his lips and asking for more!
Instructions
Choose organic ingredients wherever possible. Brush olive oil on a loaf pan, and place a piece of parchment paper on the bottom. Cover the bottom of the pan with the sweet potato and/or yam mash. Add half the raw ground turkey in another layer. Sprinkle with fresh or dried herbs; leave a bit aside for the top. Add a layer of vegetable mash, then the other half of the turkey. Top off with cranberry mash. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt.
Instructions
This recipe makes a great addition to Turkey Pup Pottage.
Cover the bottom of a medium-sized pot with olive oil and turn the stove burner on high. As soon as small bubbles begin to appear, add the sliced Brussels sprouts and turn the heat down to medium. Sprinkle with sea salt, then add honey, a splash of Balsamic vinegar, and the water. Stir with a wooden spoon, then turn the heat down to simmer. Keep an eye on the pot until most of the liquid has disappeared. Remove from the stove, cool, and store in the fridge.
Instructions
Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. A wooden spoon works perfectly for this recipe. Transfer the dough to the middle of the parchment paper, pat it down, and draw it out to the edges with your fingers. Place the cookie sheet in a cold oven and turn the heat to 350°F on the convection setting. When the oven reaches heat, turn it down to 200°F and bake for one hour. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven, turn the Dogged Duck Delight over, and return it to the oven for one more hour. Turn off the heat and allow the “leather” to cool completely before taking it from the oven and storing it in an open container in the fridge. This treat can also be frozen.
Ingredients and their health benefits
Brussels sprouts
These cruciferous veggies contain a variety of antioxidants, including beta-carotene, glucosinolates, lutein, and zeaxanthin.
Cranberries
These rich red berries offer many bioactive components, including antioxidant proanthocyanins, anthocyanins, and ellagic acid.
Duck
Often considered a novel protein, duck is nutrient-dense and easy to digest. It is a good source of both Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids.
Honey
The colors and flavors of honey differ, depending on the bees’ nectar sources. Some strains of honey, like Manuka honey, have been found to contain special antibacterial properties.
Olive oil
Called “the ancient giver of life,” olive oil is a very rich source of vitamins A and E, helping to neutralize cancer-causing free radicals.
Sweet potatoes
These are rich in antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties. They contain vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene, along with vitamins B-6, C, and E, copper, dietary fiber, iron, manganese, and potassium.
Yams
Yams are a heart-smart, power-packed food. They are rich in vitamins B-6 and C, dietary fiber, manganese, and potassium.
For more information and the full article, visit Pet Lovers Diary.
Suzi Beber has been successfully creating special needs diets for companion animals for two decades. She founded the University of Guelph’s Smiling Blue Skies® Cancer Fund and Smiling Blue Skies® Fund for Innovative Research. She is the proud recipient of a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and was honored with the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, for her work in cancer, from the University of Guelph/Ontario Veterinary College. The Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund is also the recipient of the “Pets + Us” Community Outreach Champion Award.