Happy Birthday to Josey
March is Josey’s birthday month. Therefore, I thought it would be fitting to share the recipe for one of her favorite treats this month: Pumpkin Oat Dog Treats. These Pumpkin Oat Dog Treats consist of simple ingredients and an easy-to-follow recipe, that are sure to have your fur friend’s tail wagging. Not only are these homemade biscuits cheaper than store-bought treats, I like knowing exactly what’s in the treats I give to my beloved Josey Mae.
Happy Birthday to Me
Josey was the best birthday present I ever received. As soon as Josh (my then-boyfriend/current-husband) showed me this photo of this roley-poley, sweet-faced pup online, it was love at first sight:
She is a Mountain View Cur, which I had never heard of before. We drove all the way from central Illinois to Elizabethtown, KY to get her, and it was worth every mile. We even stopped to pick up pizza from Pagliai’s (my favorite place) on the way home with her (because Josh & I were both on the verge of hangry, but hadn’t been together quite long enough at that point to admit it). So, temporary starvation aside, it was truly the perfect day.
I’m Being Followed By a Moonshadow
Josey has been there for all of the significant (and insignificant) moments in my life ever since. She was there the first time Josh told me he loved me. She has been there to snuggle & comfort me when I was sick, or sad, or simply enjoying being lazy. She is there to greet me after work everyday, with a waggly tail, a happy bark, and an enthusiastic romp around the yard or house. Seeing her at the end of the day is truly the best part of my day, each and everyday. I often think that we, as flawed human beings, truly do not deserve the love and unadulterated joy that dogs bring.
Did it Take Long to Find Me? I Ask the Faithful Light
Josey was there when Josh proposed to me, and helped to announce our engagement to family & friends. She was the “Flower Girl,” at our wedding, escorted by my brother-in-law and accompanied by Cat Steven’s “Moonshadow.”
Leaping & Hopping on a Moonshadow
That’s why: “Moonshadow,” is on today’s Kitchen Playlist. Ever since Josey was a puppy, I would sing this song to her. It’s a fitting tribute to Josey Mae, whose white fur shines like the glow of the moon, and who, true to her loyal and protective breed, often follows me wherever I go. My biggest hope is that I have made Josey’s life as happy, fulfilled, & full of love as she has made mine. Making Josey these yummy Pumpkin Oat Dog Treats is just one more way to show her how much I love her. I hope that your fur-babies enjoy them as much as Josey does!
Josey’s Pumpkin Oat Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 1 cup Whole Wheat Flour
- 1 cup Whole Old Fashioned Oats
- 1 cup Old Fashioned Oats ground into flour
- 1 1/2 cups Pumpkin Puree
- 2-4 Tbsp Water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Mix the wheat flour, ground oat flour, whole oats, and pumpkin puree. Add water a tablespoon at a time, until the dough is workable and easily rolled.
- Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough to an even thickness (approximately 1/4 inch thick).
- Using a cookie cutter(s), cut the dough into desired shape(s). I prefer to use a variety of woodland creature cut-outs (mainly because it includes the shape of Josey's dreaded enemy: The Squirrel).
- Bake the dog treats for 20-30 minutes, until lightly browned.
- Then, turn the oven off, leaving the treats in the oven to dry out as the oven cools, approximately 10-15 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
Notes
