Cat and Dog Treats you can make at home!

My cats are bored.  The squirrels that play on my patio keep then entertained when there is daylight, but as you all know in the northern hemisphere this time of year the days are shorter and the nights are longer. 

As a result the cats get bored and start picking on each other.  We got them many new toys for the holidays, a catnip mouse and a small stuffed cigar that can be carried around in the mouth, which my one cat loves to do.  We even created a new cat sleeping area under my husband's desk that is getting rave reviews.   However, they still wake us up in the middle of the night with cat wrestling matches.

Malo Gato

So we decided to reward good behavior with treats.  Let us sleep through the night and you get treats in the morning.  Don't and you have to wait until night time for anything special.

I can make treats with tuna and chicken, but these cheese bites seem to be the most popular in the morning.  They are even more popular than squirrel watching!

Savory Cheese Treats

·   3/4 cup white flour

·   3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

·   5 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

·   1/4 cup plain yogurt or sour cream

·   1/4 cup cornmeal

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine cheeses and yogurt. Add flour and cornmeal. If needed, add a small amount of water to create a nice dough. Knead dough into a ball and roll to 1/4 inch. Cut into one inch sized pieces and place on greased cookie sheet. Bake for 25 minutes. Makes 2 dozen.

PaddyWhack

Now, just because the cats are getting treats, we cannot leave out the dog, so here is a treat for the pooch as well!

Dog Treats

biscuit dough:
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 Tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup water
glaze:
1 large egg
2 Tablespoons milk

1. Preheat the oven to 275°.
2. In a large bowl: combine the flour, oatmeal, wheat germ, peanut butter, vegetable oil, honey, baking powder and water.
3. Mix the ingredients until thoroughly combined.
4. Roll the dough out to a ½-inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut into desired shapes and place on baking sheets.
5. In a small bowl, mix together the egg and milk. Brush the glaze on the biscuits.
6. Bake for 30 minutes. Rotate the pans, and bake for an additional 20 - 30 minutes, until biscuits are golden and firm.

Lemon Scones, Lemon Tea and Lemon Curd!

This time of year I start thinking about tea and scones and so in celebration of Hot Tea month.  You get the makings of a perfect tea party!  Tea, scones and lemon curd.  Enjoy!

Lemon Scones with Sour Lemon Glaze

These flaky lemon scones, drizzled with a tangy lemon icing are delicious hot, but I enjoy mine at room temperature the following day so the lemon flavor is at its best.

Makes 8 to 10 scones depending on size.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold butter, cut
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest (about one lemon)
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 egg

Icing:

3/4 cup confectioner's sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

 Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, measure the sugar and blend in the lemon zest.  Work the zest into the sugar with your fingers until the entire mixture becomes aromatic.
2. Then whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. 
3. Cut in the butter.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, cream, and egg.
5. Stir egg mixture into dry ingredients, just until a dough starts to form. Knead a couple times until the dough holds together.
6. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and gently press dough into a circle, about an inch thick. 
7. Cut into 8 to 10 wedges.
8. Place scones on an ungreased baking sheet, not touching each other, and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned. 
9. Remove from oven and let rest on the sheet for 5 minutes.
10. Prepare the icing by mixing the powdered sugar with enough lemon juice to make a drizzling consistency. 
11. Place scones on a wire rack. Drizzle or brush icing over warm scones.

Lemon Herbal Tea
  This is a kin to my popular herb tea Zesty Lemon, featuring fun lemon herbs.

1 Tbls. Lemon Balm or Lemon Verbena
1 Tbls. lemon peel
1/2 Tbls. lemon grass

Use 2 tsp. per cup of water and let steep for 5 to 8 minutes.  The tea will be very light in color, but the flavor will be great!

Lemon Curd

2 cups sugar

12 large egg yolks, beaten and strained

1 cup lemon juice

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, unsalted at room temperature

2 Tbls. grated lemon peel

Combine sugar and egg yolks in a medium saucepan.  Gradually stir in lemon juice.  Cook, stirring constantly over low heat, until mixture coats the back of a spoon and the temperature registers 168 degrees F. on a candy thermometer.  Do not allow to boil.

Remove from heat and whisk mixture until slightly cooled.  Stir in butter, 1 Tbls. at a time, and add lemon peel.  While it is still warm, pour mixture into sterilized jars, cover tightly and refrigerate until ready to use.

You might also like to see the Lemon Poppy Seed Cake that we posted back in December 2012.

My Scent Surpise from the Lemon Verbena lady

Recently I entered a giveaway on the blog of my herbal freind Lemon Verbena Lady.  I enter herbal giveaways when ever I run across them because you never know what might happen.  Well, this time I WON!

Here is the amazing scent collection I received as a result.  It was actually in a basket (there was some question about that happening) and included a cute herb tea towel, I think I will take with me when I give lectures.

Many of the scented items were crafted at the Village Herb Shop in Chagin Falls, Ohio, where Lemon Verbena Lady took a recent trip.

If you look carefully you will find that there is a Jingle Bell Potpourri, a Simmering Spice Blend, a cleaning spray and a room spray and some reed scent diffusers with a great "strung popcorn" scent.

There was a short note inside which said look for a few surprises as well.  I am guessing these wonderful Herb Jellies were part of that surprise.

Now I have never been to the Village Herb Shop, even though it is not far from my hometown.  It opened after I moved to Chicagoland, but I have corresponded with Kathleen Kips the proprietor on many occasions and I recommend a trip to the shop if you are ever in the Cleveland area.  Kathleen is most noted for her knowledge of the Language of Flowers and Herbs and has a wealth of information on the subject to share.  The shop is located in a great victorian and surrounded by gardens.

There was one extra surprise that made me jump for joy!  You see that bright orange folder?  That is an herbal mustard seasoning from the Reppert's herb shop The Rosemary House  in Mechanicsburg, PA.

That seasoning is called the Mayor's Magic Mustard Mix.  The Mayor refers to Mr. Reppert the former Mayor of Mechanicsburg.  Since Mustard is a passion of mine, I cannot wait to try this and all the recipes included.  The Rosemary House is known for their special seasoning blend called Roastmary about which my husband says I make nothing that can compare to its perfect blend of seasonings for roasting meat and vegetables.  I've given up trying to copy it and just buy a proper supply each season.  Here is the link if you wish to do the same: Roastmary!

So a super big thank you to Nancy, the Lemon Verbena Lady, for this special package of herbal surprises that arrived just in time for the holiday!  That wonderful ornament/decoration is already hanging on my herbroom door!

Merry Christmas

From My Family to yours --
         Have a Joyous Christmas and a Blessed New Year

This is our unusual ways of celebrating:

Yes that is my cat under the tree.  We never saw this cat unless the tree was up then he sat in among the gifts until we took the tree down (in February!)  At which point we would not see him again until December!

My brother and sister in law in Wisconsin, the only real tree I ever see these days! We celebrate with our plush family... long story!

My mother in law with the plush family members!

My well decorated fake tree!

Holiday De-stress treatment

Okay it is two days before Christmas.  Time to stop for a moment, give thanks for your blessings and take a few minutes to rejuvinate yourself.

This aromatic bath is good for relaxing muscles and relieving stress.  It is also valuable to those with arthritis.  Juniper berries essential (volatile) oil breaks down the surface tension of the skin helping it to absorb the beneficial aspects of the remaining herbs.

Muscle-Saver Relaxation Bath Bag

1 tsp. juniper berries

2 Tbls. dried peppermint

2 Tbls. dried spearmint

2 Tbls lavender flowers and leaves

Place all the ingredients in a square of muslin or a handkerchief, tie up with string.  Or place in an unbleached muslin bag.  Place the bag in the tub while it fills with water.  The bag acts like a giant tea bag, turning your bath into a therapeutic herbal tea.  Use the soaked bag to scrub your skin.  If you prefer a shower, soak the bag of herbs with the shower head, then use it like a washcloth.

Winter Holiday Beverages - Weekend Recipes

I love the smell of Christmas! To me it smells like cinnamon, cloves, oranges, apple pie and evergreens! Two of my favorite things to make for the long winter months here are a mulling spice to be used in wine or cider and a simmer recipe ( I shared my simmer recipe earlier this week, check it out.)  I’ve shared items like this in the past, but I can create any number of combinations so these are just a bit different from those I have shared previously.

Mulling Spice

2 Tbls. Cinnamon chips

2 Tbls. Orange peel chunks

4 tsp.  whole allspice

4 tsp.  whole cloves

For mulled wine, use 2 T of the spices in a tea ball or muslin bag. Add to 1 ½ quarts Burgundy wine with 2/3 cup sugar or honey. Heat to almost boiling and simmer 20 minutes.

For mulled cider use 4 T in a tea ball or muslin bag and add to 2 quarts of cider. Simmer 15-20 minutes.

Cran-Apple Mulled Punch

This special recipe was shared with me by a customer.  She created it using the Backyard Patch Spiced Cider / Mulled Wine Blend, but you can use the blend I shared above.

12 cups apple juice

6 cups cranberry juice

½ cup brown sugar

2 Tablespoons butter

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 Tablespoons Mulling Spices

Simmer on low heat for 30-45 minutes.  Serve warm. Serves 20 to 25 (6 oz. cups)

Hot Spiced Pineapple Juice

I think my internet friend Mary Ellen Wilcox said that she uses this recipe at her Christmas Workshop.  I loved it because it was pineapple which is such a great juice to use at a holiday gathering.  It could also be a favorite of mine because of the rum??!

1 (48 oz.) can pineapple  juice
1 cup apple cider or juice
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1 cup light rum or 2 tsp. rum  extract
Whole cloves
Lemon slices
 

Insert the wholes cloves into lemon slices and set aside.  Combine pineapple juice, apple cider, sugar and spices in a large saucepan.  Simmer for 15 minutes.  Stir in rum or extract.  Serve in tall mugs with the lemon/clove slices as garnish.  Makes 9 (6 oz.) servings.

Tea Infused Hot Chocolate

I will reach for a cup of tea any long cold day or night.  In truth I drink hot tea almost any time of year.  My husband has been enjoying Hot Cocoa in his Coffee for several years now.  When he was diagnosed with diabetes he stopped enjoying this until he discovered the happiness of Backyard Patch Sugar-free Hot Cocoa (It is amazing what he does not pay any attention to that I make until he needs it!)

His obsession with cocoa in his coffee got me to thinking, how would it taste in tea?  Since tea and milk go well together, this seemed like a great pairing.  So I did an experiment and came up with this recipe.

Hot Cocoa Tea

1 tsp. tea
          (any mint herbal tea is perfect, an oolong is a rich counter part and Chai was made for milk anyway)

1 cup of milk

3 1/2 Tbls. sugar (or sugar substitute equivalent)

2 Tbls. cocoa powder (dutch processed)

Directions:
Make one cup of tea and set aside.  Mix together the milk, cocoa and sugar. in a small pot and heat on the stove.  Stir constantly to keep the milk from scalding.  Once the milk is hot add the tea and bring back to a simmer (no bubbles) and whisk the ingredients.  Pour into a mug and enjoy.  (Makes one super sized serving for one or two smaller servings to share.)


Alternative with instant mixes

Make 1 cup of instant cocoa with water from 1 cup of steeped tea.  Whisk the cocoa for a richness of flavor and enjoy with a cinnmon or peppermint stick.