Recipe: Natural, Organic Dog Treats
My dogs love their treats, but they’re so filled with “junk”! Instead of giving them boxed treats for their Christmas present (or every day!), try this yummy treat recipe. It’s so natural that we humans can eat it!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of 100% organic whole wheat flour (or wheat germ, spelt, rolled oats, or a mixture of these)
- Fido’s K9 Yogurt Icing (add water and food coloring according to directions on package)
- 2x 4oz jars of pureed organic baby food (beef, blueberry, sweet potato, chicken, etc. Whatever sounds good)
IMPORTANT NOTE: Make sure there are no onions/onion powder in it. Also, avoid any with artificial preservatives (should be easy, most are just pureed veggies and water).
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Mix together to form a stiff dough. Add extra flour or water as needed.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to about a 1/4 inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut into fun shapes or a pizza cutter to make cubes.
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, place treats about 1/2 inch apart. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes. Allow to cool completely then add Fido’s K9 Yogurt Icing and allow to harden before storing in a paper bag (storing in an air-tight container will make them soft, but they’re still edible).
Consider adding grated carrots or sweet potatoes, a little bit of parsley (which helps with bad breath), blueberries, or some peanut butter to your next batch!
Thank you to Curbly for the treat recipe
Recipe: Santa Strawberries
Make these adorable Santa Strawberries along with these Grinch Kabobs for a more nutritious snack for the kids this year!
Ingredients:
- 1 dozen strawberries
- 1 cup whipped cream
- chocolate sprinkles
Directions:
- Slice the leafy end off each strawberry with a pairing knife so they stand up evenly. Then slice the tip off to make a little hat (isn’t it perfectly shaped for that?).
- With a spoon or icing tip, put 1-2 tsp of whipped cream on top of the strawberry base. Put on the hat and put a tiny tab of whipped cream at the very tip to look like the puff on the top of Santa’s hat.
- Put 2 chocolate sprinkles in the “face” to look like Santa’s eyes.
- Add 2 tiny tabs of whipped cream down the front of the strawberry base with a toothpick to look like buttons.
- If not eating immediately, cover and put in the fridge to keep from melting.
Thanks to Leanne bakes for the recipe!
DIY Snowball Wreath
Do you have a ton of snow? Do have no snow and wish you did? Either way, this super easy snowball wreath will be the perfect decoration for the whole winter season!
What You’ll Need:
- styrofoam wreath form
- assorted styrofoam balls (the picture shows 8 large, 4 medium, 20 small, and 10 tiny)
- fake snow
- decoupage medium
- decoupage brush
- red satin ribbon
- low temp glue gun
Directions:
- Using the low temperature glue gun, glue the large snowballs to the wreath form, then fill in with the medium, then small.
- Add a thick layer of decoupage to the styrofoam. Make it really thick in some places.
- Add the fake snow over it.
- Add a bow and you can add a little decoupage and fake snow on it to make it look more realistic if you’d like!
“Melted Snowman” Ornament
This very inexpensive gift and decorating idea is so funny! Make a “melted” snowman ornament for your kids’ teachers, neighbors, whoever else you can think of for just a couple of dollars and a few minutes of your time. Here’s how:
What You’ll Need:
- Table salt (for the “snow”)
- Peppercorns (for the “eyes” and “mouths”)
- Orange fimo molding clay (for the carrot nose – can be purchased at craft stores)
- Plastic or glass clear ornament bulbs
- Plaid fabric (optional – for a “scarf”)
- String, yarn, or anything you’d like to use to hang the ornament
- Funnel
- Drinking cup the same width as your ornaments
- Baking sheet
Directions:
- Roll out the fimo clay (you can also use playdoh or salt dough) and make carrot shapes. Cut the thicker end with a knife to make it look like a carrot (less rounded). Bake the fimo at 230 degrees for 30 minutes. Let cool.
- While waiting for the clay to harden, prop the ornaments into a drinking cup (so they can sit up on top without rolling). Poor in 1/4 cup of salt (approximately).
- Toss in 7 or so peppercorns on top of the salt.
- Cut a small piece of scarf-shaped fabric and throw into the ornament (optional).
- Once cooled, put a “carrot” into the ornament, then tie the ornament on a string.
That’s it! SO SIMPLE and so cute. The snowman parts should stay on top of the salt. Thanks to Eyeballs by Day, Crafts by Night for the tutorial!
DIY Snowflake Necklace
This adorable snowflake necklace can be made for a few dollars and a few minutes of your time. This would make a great stocking stuffer!
What You’ll Need:
- 18″ necklace (any kind, but the blog shows a ball chain like this one)
- White shrink plastic film (like this one by Graphix)
- Necklace jump ring
- Hole punch
Directions:
- Print this template and trace it on to the shrink film. Cut it out.
- Punch a hole into wherever you want to put the jump ring through.
- Put into oven and bake according to directions.
- Allow to cool, put the jump ring through the hole, and put the necklace through the ring. ALL DONE!
Thanks to Lana Red Studio for the amazing template and necklace directions!