Birthday Cake for Our Dog

Our dog (Betty) had spent a few good years fending for herself on the streets before settling into our home. This wonderful girl has given us so much joy and laughter, especially with her unique sheepishness that she showers us once too often. For instance, she keeps thinking that elevators and cars are the best teleporting machines in the world. She gets really upset if we get into one without her. And you will never find another dog that loves the collar as much as her. She will delightfully stick her head into one anytime. As nobody knew when she was born, my husband and I decided that her birthdate would fall on 16 August -  the day  (in 2013) that she first set foot into our home...and never left.  

My husband and I just wanted to give her the best on her 6th birthday. We brought her for a nice morning outing, bought her pressies, gave her a spa standard bath and baked her a birthday cake that she absolutely adored.

The cake was baked with the following considerations :

• incorporating her favourite indulgence : carrot, peanut butter, cheddar cheese
• must be textured...so the cake cannot be too soft 
• relatively small size and thin...so that she can finish it in 2 days
• the cake should suit the taste and health requirements of the dog than us humans

Ingredients (for a 9-inch baking pan) :

• 1.5 cup flour
• 1 cup carrots (finely chopped)
• 1 egg
• 3 tbsp peanut butter
• 2 tbsp honey
• 3 tbsp cooking oil
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 1.5 tsp baking powder (Note: I deliberately used baking powder instead of baking soda so that the cake would not rise too high. It would rise only to about 1/3 height compared to using baking soda. Your choice.)
• 1 pc cheddar cheese (for decorating)

(tsp = teaspoon; tbsp = tablespoon)    

Method : 

Preheat oven at 175 degrees celsius for 15 minutes. Combine 1 egg, 3 tbsp peanut butter, 2 tbsp honey, 3 tbsp cooking oil and 1 tsp vanilla essence into bowl.

Mix ingredients well.

Add finely chopped carrots and mix well.

Then slowly fold in flour and baking powder or soda. Remember to sieve your flour and baking powder beforehand.

Continue to mix till a nice batter forms.

Grease your baking pan.

Fill the pan with the cake batter. As this is a recipe for dogs, the batter would not be as moist and soft compared to our human cakes.

Bake in oven at 175 degrees celsius for 40 minutes.

Remove cake from oven after 40 minutes. Let it cool for about 5 to 10 minutes in pan and transfer to wire rack for further cooling.

As our dog adores cheddar cheese, I decorated the cake with a piece of cheddar cheese (cut into shapes and bits). You may also decorate with other favorite food of your dog(s) such as banana slices, apple dices, treats etc.

She cannot wait to taste her cake.

Cut into slices for storage and consumption.

Savouring in big bites.

Her satisfied face tells it all!

Peanut Butter Cookies for Our Dog

I once read a quote that says "Money will buy you a fine dog, but only love can make it wags its tail".  I can't agree more!

We adopted Betty 6 months ago.  Betty was born on the streets and spent a few good years fending for herself as a stray.  

When Betty was a stray dog - she lived underneath heavy trucks and was drenched in diesel when her rescuers found her.

Betty Now - The Little Princess of our family.

We love her. Unconditionally. We have seen her transformation - from a shy, insecure and timid girl to one that can communicate effectively with us and trusting us. Others may not understand - that she has come a long way.  

Betty accidentally bit my husband's finger in a dog fight last evening. We forgive her. For she did not mean it. Whilst we solicit professional help to investigate into any possible behavioural issues that she might have brought with her as a stray, she has remained calm and stable throughout.  She even appeared remorseful to my husband.  

It gives me heartache to see both my husband and our dog wounded at the same time. I am glad that both are healing well now. So, tonight... I have decided to make more Peanut Butter Cookies for Betty. I'll use these cookies to train and coach her in the next few days. At this stage, she needs our reassurance and reinforcements.  I will do it out of love for her.

Ingredients :

• 1 egg
• 1 tbs peanut butter 
• 1/2 tbs honey (I use mountain honey)
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 beaten egg for glaze

Method :

1. Mix the egg, peanut butter and honey and beat till well combined.
2. Fold in flour slowly. Beat till dough is well combined.
3. Flatten dough with a rollin pin
4. Use cookie cutters to cut and create various shapes for the cookies
5. Don't forget to brush a layer of beaten egg on the surface (such that it will have a nice golden brown colour) 
6. Pre-heat oven to 150 degrees celsius.  
7. Bake in pre-heated oven for 35 minutes 
8. Transfer to cooling tray for cooling before storing them into airtight containers.

Simple ingredients and cookie cutters to begin with.

Mix egg, peanut butter and honey till well combined. 

Fold in flour slowly and mix till well combined.

Flatten dough with rolling pin, then use cookie cutters to cut dough into various shapes. 

Brush cookie surface with beaten egg.

Pre-heat oven to 150 degree celsius.

Bake in pre-heated oven for 35 minutes.

Cookies freshly baked from oven. Transfer to cooling tray before storing cookies to airtight containers.

It is a bit tricky to bake for Betty as there are many usual baking ingredients that are unsuitable for dogs. I keep very simple recipes for dogs. She has eaten these cookies many times and absolutely loves them! Yes! She will wag her tail for them.