Did you know dog’s love mint? Well they do. And it does freshen the breath.
This week’s dog treats are Choco Mint – I love playing with flavours!!!
I am not proud – I can hold my hands up and admit to my baking fails!!!!
I have a big, paw shape cutter – and I had the idea of the ‘Paw-fect Beefie Biccie. Made from fresh steak mince from Lee and with doggie choc buttons for the pads. So far – good idea.
It’s not going to plan!!!
– I put the buttons on after the biscuits were almost cooked – thinking that they would melt and stick on – wrong – they (mostly) fell off!
– I put them in for a bit longer – thinking that all they needed was a bit more time – wrong – they (mostly) fell off!
– I put them back into a very hot oven – thinking that a blast of heat would quickly melt them – wrong – they (mostly) fell off!!
– then I tried putting them onto the raw dough and cooking them into place – thinking that a long time of heat would melt them – wrong – they (mostly) fell off!!
– Next time I am going to cook them on a much higher heat than I do normally – and I am thinking I may grate the buttons as well!
Mind you – there is nothing wrong with the taste – Alfie is tucking into them quite happily, odd buttons and all
It’s a bit dull for you in the kitchen this week. All I am doing is batch baking for the Christmas Treat Boxes – I am actually getting a little callus on the side of my thumb where I hold the cookie cutter!
I have manages to keep the spinach one a bit more green though.
Suddenly had a brain wave – couple of minutes in the microwave. Don’t know why I didn’t think of it before – works great for the apples too.
SHOP NOW if you fancy a Christmas treat box for your furbie
Starting to practice the Christmas treats recipes this week. The Spinach and Philadelphia cheese treats went into the oven – lovely and green
Not quite as green when they came out
I may have to experiment a bit to keep the green colour.
The testers enjoyed them though – that’s what really counts.
Pre order your Christmas Dinner Treat box HERE
I am a bit worried about me!
So – I am standing in the shop looking for some tins of fish to bake with – and I am thinking – ‘oooh – that will smell yummy’.
The ‘that’ of the idea was smoked mackerel. I like to buy known brands for my dog baking – so it has a traceable provenance – and so you know it’s reliable – and for my fish I have chosen John West for their company policies and track-ability. I know some people won’t agree – but I am not an expert and I have to take what they say on trust. It’s not as if they are some poky little back street company that you can’t rely on – their standards have got to be high.
honestly – I think I should sack my ‘tester’ dogs – they just love everything!!!
This week I have come up with a new invention – Caribbean Crush. It’s pineapple – mango and banana – and the dogs can’t get enough of it!!
This is the weighing station – the final part of the process. I think I am finally there with all the labeling – I have just started to add colour coding so you can see at a distance the different types. This one is not Gluten free – but it is vegetarian – and as there are no egg in it – it’s vegan too.
Gosh we have come along way!
I am way behind this week – I haven’t finished yesterdays chores – never mind starting to days!
This week I have done my first fully gluten free bake for public sale. I have used Buckwheat flour (it’s not a wheat – it’s a flower) – and a coarse ground polenta (maise). It makes a beautiful silky dough – I would still like a bit more of a rough texture – and gives a really crisp biscuit. My 2 main testers can’t get enough of them – they are hopeless as testers really – they love everything!
A comment was made about the work that goes on behind the scenes re the paperwork for DEFRA – so I thought I would show you my stack of books
I have a ‘goods in’ book to write what ingredients come in
a rough notes recipe book of mixes I am working on
a diary log to write down what I have done in the kitchen that day
a technical file with all my procedures and risk analysis for each recipe
and – a final recipe book for when I am finally happy with the mix and the control procedures
It did take me hours of practice to get the system organised – but I have got the evening’s paper work after a bake down to about 2 hours now
The treat boxes have launched on-line HERE
More products will be added as I bake more stock