Fresh Banana Pudding

The girls and I enjoyed a fresh, healthy dessert this evening. 

Only 2 ingredients bananas and coconut milk

It's so simple...Peel and mash about 3 bananas.  Add 1 can of chilled coconut milk.  Mix thoroughly.  The amount of banana may vary depending on the size.  Just add more or less banana until you have the consistency you like. Serve and enjoy.  Refrigerate unused portion.  Next time I will try the food processor I think I would like to try a smoother texture.  Mashing leaves a few lumps. 

fresh, light and so yummy!

The girls had theirs plain.  I added some crushed pecans to mine.  It was so yummy.  What a nice start to our journey to better health and food choices.

The best part is our one girl will not eat fresh banana or freeze dried banana but last night she did eat a preservative free banana chip and tonight she had this banana pudding.

Maybe in our next post we will discuss the health benefits of coconut.   We will all be adding it to our meals in different form coconut oil, unsweetened coconut flakes, coconut milk, coconut cream. 

Time to Get Heatlhy Count Down....2 days to go.

I have been inspired by One Body For Living blog by Jenny.  Her crafting blog helped be through a very difficult time in my life earlier this year when I was dealing with health issues and surgery.  Her crafting blog inspired me and kept my mind busy and then she created her One Body For Living blog that just really inspired me and helped me realize there are a lot of people out there that want to heal and care for their one and only bodies and it made me realize our whole family needs to get back to the basics.  Why do we eat?  To survive.  What do we eat in this rush, rush, hurry, hurry, no time to spare world we are whizzing around in.......JUNK.  It's not nourishing our bodies.  It's not building up our bodies.  It's adding toxins to an already stressed and nutrient depleted body.  For the past 7 years I've been focused on making sure our dogs eat a healthy, nourishing diet and homemade foods and treats to avoid all the artificial ingredients, preservatives, dead/diseased animal by-products, etc....

Now it's time to focus on the whole family and get all of us -  humans and dogs into better eating habits.  We all only have one life and we need to take care of it the best we can.

On Wednesday Sept. 1 2010 I will be joining a Largest Loser weight loss challenge.  It will run approximately 12 weeks I believe.  During that time I will  be trying to makeover the way we eat, exercise and live day to day so that old unhealthy habits are broken and replaced with healthier ones.

That means no more....

That means starting Wednesday September 1, 2010 we will be eating more like this:

Mmmm it looks so refreshing.  I feel better just gazing upon healthier foods.

The girls are drooling already...they are counting down.

I got four paws up for this one....and noses in the air

My goal is to lose at least 24 pounds by the end of the challenge and to lose at least 16 of those pounds before November 6, 2010.  Anything above and beyond that will be excitedly accepted and welcomed.  Now that the weather is getting cooler and more enjoyable outside it's also my goal to make sure the girls get out and moving more too.

Come on girls....grab your leashes and lets get moving toward better health.  Oh, I think they are ready.

Spot's Stew Recipe

Spot’s Chicken Stew from Halo
 

2 ½ pounds whole chicken
¼ cup chopped fresh garlic
1 cup green peas
1 cup coarsely chopped carrots
½ cup coarsely chopped sweet potato
½ cup coarsely chopped zucchini
½ cup coarsely chopped yellow squash
½ cup coarsely chopped green beans
½ cup coarsely chopped celery
1 tablespoon kelp powder
1 tablespoon dried rosemary
11 to 16 cups spring water 

Add 8 ounces whole barley and 6 ounces rolled oats, and adjust the water content to a total of 16 cups, or enough to cover the ingredients. 

Instructions:

Combine all of the ingredients in a 10-quart stainless-steel stockpot with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat as low as possible and simmer for two hours – the carrots should be quite soft at the end of the cooking time. Remove from the heat, let cool, and debone the chicken.

With an electric hand mixer, or using a food processor and working in batches, blend all the ingredients into a nice puree; the stew should be slightly thicker for dogs and more soupy for cats. Using zip lock bags or plastic yogurt containers, make up meal-sized portions. Refrigerate what you’ll need for three days and freeze the rest. Seek your pet’s advice (and your vet’s) on ideal meal sizes.

Serving size:

Amounts will vary depending on age, activity level, health, weight, and season, but here are some guidelines: Because dogs vary so much in size, consult the table below. The amount shown should be split into at least two meals daily.

Dog’s Weight Up to 10 pounds 11 to 20 pounds 21 to 40 pounds

Total Daily Portion 1 to 1½ cups 2 to 3 cups 4 cups

For each additional 20 pounds, add two cups. Remember, pets are individuals, so let intuition and observations guide you, and always consult your vet.

 

Personal  note:  I prefer to purchase and use boneless chicken in recipes because it eliminates the process of removing the bones.  It will save some time and I like knowing that there are absolutely no bones and no chance that I may have missed any.  Yes, it will cost a bit more to purchase boneless chicken breast but to me it's worth knowing there aren't any bones to worry about. 

 

If you like this recipe you can find more in the book :  "The Whole Pet Diet: Eight Weeks to Great Health for Dogs and Cats" by Andi Brown

We interrupt this blog for an important message ......giveaway :)

I know if I'm going to continue blogging about sewing and giveaways I really need to start a blog for that.  I do apologize for getting off topic.  My first love is my dogs and all things dog.  I do enjoy a few other things and I wanted to share this wonderful new blog I found called Prairie Flower Farm and let everyone know they are having a wonderful giveaway. 

Click HERE to sign up.

I had no idea there were so many faith centered women and friendly people out there to connect with.  This is really amazing and wonderful.


I guess I will be creating 2 new blogs in the very near future as soon as I can decide on a name for them.  The first will be focused on dog training and other fun activities to share with your dog to enrich both your lives.  The other will be on hand embroidery and sewing.

As soon as time permits I will be submitting posts on recipes to try for this blog since that is the reason I started it.   We will also discuss allergies and other nutrition related topics.  I will feature both meals and treats.  With the holidays fast approaching there is no better gift than a goody bag of homemade dog treats.  YUM!!  They are so tasty you might even want to try one yourself.

Meals to Share

Cooking for our dogs isn't really that difficult.  We don't always have to spend the entire day over the stove trying to make up batches of food to freeze for the week ahead. 

We are on a quest for health and longevity too so when we have meals that don't have any foods the girls can't have we share.  Oh, and they know the second we savor the last morsel on our plate because they are dancing and prancing and racing back and forth to their bowls.  When we do have a meal they share with us they get some in their bowl after we have finished....along with some while me are eating :)  Who could resist their pleading gaze?

Meals & Treats to share:

• Meatloaf (no onions or garlic) and vegetable
• Eggs with ham/bacon and toast
• Deviled Eggs
• Fresh fruit (no grapes, or pits of any kind)
• Celery sticks w/ Peanut butter
• Spaghetti w/ Meatballs (no onions or garlic)
• Baked Chicken
• Salmon Patties
• Pork chops, boneless
• Baked Sweet Potatoes
• Sardines
• Eggs, hard boiled

Whenever we are making a meat dish for ourselves we will save some aside for the girls before adding any spices or ingredients to the dish that they can not have.  Cooking for our furry family can be incorporated right into the daily menus already being prepared.

We interrupt this blog for an important message :)

As you can see from the blogs I am following I do have a few limited interests that are not four legged.  I do try to involve dogs and my love for dogs in everything I do...including sewing and embroidery.  You should see all the dog themed fabric just waiting to be made into something beautiful. 

The important message I have to share is that Cotton Pickin Cute is having a wonderful giveaway that you should enter.  You can visit by clicking HERE.  You can see a glimpse of the beautiful items on the bottom left of this blog there is a cute little button.

Once I figure out the world of blogging I will hopefully have a setup as nice as Jenny of Elefantz and Tracy at Cotton Pickin Cute....fingers crossed.

Also keep an eye out for a new blog I am creating that will be all about DOGS.  Everything you ever wanted to know about training using positive reinforcement - which is a wonderful humane way to train and teaches you how to work as a team with your dog and your dog will learn much faster than using those harsh, cruel old school torture techniques of yanking, pulling, hitting, and such.  I don't know about you but I want my dogs to willing want to do what I request.   We will also discuss dog friendly travel, products, and much more.

No time to cook or bake....don't fret there are still options

Are you having a busy day and can't find time to squeeze in one more thing from your to-do-list?  Not to fret.  There are still some stand by options for those rare days that don't offer a moment left over to pop something in the oven or on the stove.

When I stumbled upon the book "Amazing Gracie" I fell in love.   If you haven't read this book it's definitely a  MUST.  Three Dog Bakery makes wonderful treats for dogs, at least our girls think so.  They are made from all natural ingredients.  Check this out...

the only ingredient is Sweet Potatoes.  They are crunchy and make a nice natural chew instead of those chemical filled chew sticks.  The best part is you won't feel guilty about giving your fur kids one of these instead of a homemade treat.  Other flavors include apple, banana, and carrot.  I think I will be making some of these for the whole family when time permits in our food dehydrator and I think it will be more economical.

I also found these yummy baked treats...

Pumpkin Bones and MintRounds.  The girls love the Mint Rounds.  What dog couldn't use a minty fresh breath cookie?

How cute are these....doggie Oreos. 

Three Dog Bakery also has store front bakeries across the country you can find a location near you HERE

We have visited several of them....7 so far.  Every time we go on vacation we make sure the girls get to stop at their favorite bakery.  They also sell some very nice boutique and gift items.

Don't forget some other fresh and all natural treats are just at your fingertips like:  apple slices, celery sticks, banana slices, blueberries, etc... you can even dip them in peanut butter or cream cheese for added flavor and appeal.  

I smell hamburger

If you are new to cooking for your dog hamburger is a good place to start.  Drain off the excess grease and rinse under hot water to remove as much grease as possible.

You can add a bit of hamburger to kibble as a tasty topping. They will love the taste of yummy protein since most kibble is high in carbohydrates. This will allow you to gradually work over a week or so to add in other real foods like cooked or pureed vegetables.  With summer in full swing the possibilities are endless....zucchini, yellow squash, carrots, potatoes, cucumber, green beans, blueberries, strawberries, peaches (pits removed), pears, apples (no seeds), etc...

Woof Woof Patties

1/2 lb. ground beef, leanest available

1/4 C. cheese, shredded

1 egg, beaten

1 sprig parsley, minced

Mix all ingredients thoroughly.  Shape into patties, and brown on both sides until done.

Malamute Meat Loaf
3/4 lb. ground beef, leanest available

3/4 C. bread crumbs
1/3 C. cheese, shredded
1/4 C. carrot, shredded
(or other vegetable of your dogs liking)
1/4 tsp. Italian seasoning
(without garlic, onion or salt)
1 egg, beaten
5 1/4 oz. (1/2 a can) of tomato sauce
Preheat oven to 350.  Mix beef, bread crumbs, cheese, carrot (or other vegetable) and seasoning.  Combine egg and tomato sauce, mix into meat.  Shape into a loaf and place in a baking dish.  Bake for 1 hour or until browned and done.  Drain off excess grease.

If your dog can not tolerate beef you could substitute ground turkey, lamb, or chicken. 

What are you cooking for your canine family?

Foods Toxic to Dogs

While feeding real foods to dogs can provide valuable nutrients and increase health and the pleasure of eating it's important to know which foods to avoid. Some foods can be dangerous and even toxic if consumed by the dog.

These foods should never be fed to any dog:

• Alcohol
  
• Apple seeds
• Apricot pits
• Avocados
• Bones
• Caffeine
  
• Cherry pits
• Chocolate
• Candy/Gum (containing the sweetener Xylitol)
• Coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans)
• Garlic
  
• Grapes
• Hops (used in home beer brewing)
• Macadamia nuts
• Moldy foods
• Mushroom plants
• Mustard seeds
• Onions and onion powder
• Peach pits
• Potato leaves and stems (green parts)
• Raisins
• Rhubarb leaves
• Salt
• Tea (caffeine)
• Tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
• Walnuts
• Xylitol ( found in candy and gum)
  
• Yeast Dough

This list was compiled from several sources including the ASPCA and The Humane Society of the United States. This list may not be a complete list of all the foods that can be harmful to a dog as each dog is an individual and may react differently. If you have any questions consult your veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist.

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/people-foods.html
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/foods_poisonous_to_pets.html

Be cautious if you purchase any canine cookbooks as some of them do include ingredients from this list. I have seen them include raisins which are toxic to dogs. I have seen them include onions or avocado both of which are on the above list. Please do your research on foods that can be harmful to dogs. If you purchase any cookbooks make sure to avoid adding any ingredients that could be harmful.

Would you eat the same food every day for your entire life?

This is an important question to ask. Would you eat the same food everyday for your entire life?

What would your reaction be if you walked into the grocery store and the shelves were lined with boxes of food labeled infant food, toddler food, pre-teen food, teenager food, pre-adult food, adult food, active adult food, mature food, and those were your only choices? But, the labels claim to provide a complete and balanced diet. How can that be when we are all individuals with different nutritional requirements.

When you have a dog with numerous allergies both environmental and food and begin reading labels and researching dog food companies trying to find one that hasn't been part of the 2007 recall it becomes a struggle to find a food that meets all the requirements you are looking for.

This is where the simple art of cooking and baking come in. We do it everyday for ourselves and our families so why not plan those meals with the four legged family members in mind too.

Kibble only came onto the scene in the early 1900's even though it was first created in the mid-1800's. That means dogs ate "human food" which I find an interesting term..."human food" since humans are not the only beings that consume meat, fruits and and vegetables.

I would have to say that feeding live food is much healthier than feeding a dry dehydrated kibble that has been chocked full of artificial ingredients. I wouldn't want to eat a dry kibble and after watching our dogs eat "human food" vs dog food the winner paws down is "human food".

The whole family (dogs are family) are eating much healthier. Meats, fruits, vegetables and some grains.