Bake Some Valentine’s Day Treats for Your Pup

Our four-legged friends deserve a little love this Valentine’s Day too, but since they can’t eat chocolate – it can be toxic to dogs – they may prefer treats of the beefy kind. Homemade dog treats are a cinch to make, and can be cut into heart-shapes to suit the season. Of course dogs, unlike humans, appreciate the idea of a little meat in their cookies. For gift-giving, pack a dozen in a Chinese takeout container lined with pink tissue, and warn the recipient that they’re intended for our canine friends…

Beefy Heart Dog Treats

vegetable oil, for cooking
1/2 lb. lean ground beef
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup cornmeal
3/4 cup beef stock, tomato juice or water
1/4 cup canola or olive oil, plus extra for cooking
1 large egg

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Heat a drizzle of oil in a skillet set over medium heat; cook the beef with the garlic until no traces of pink remain. Set aside to cool.

In a large bowl, stir together the whole wheat flour and cornmeal. Stir in the beef mixture. In a small bowl, whisk together the beef stock, oil and egg. Add to the dry ingredients and mix until well blended.

On a lightly floured surface, roll dough about 1/2” thick and cut into heart shapes with a cookie cutter or 1”x2” strips with a knife. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes, until springy to the touch.

Makes about 2 dozen cookies (depending on their size). Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator or freeze.