In all my years of cooking, I never thought my favorite dessert – ice cream - would become one of my favorite treats to make, especially since this recipe isn’t designed for human consumption!
Now I am late to the pet game, I mean really late, but it hasn’t taken me long to become “that” dog owner. You know the one: the person who thinks nothing of spending crazy money on the “cutest” new dog toy, softest blanket, or best smelling shampoo. The one who thinks her dog is the smartest, most well behaved, and of course the best looking. The one who treats her dog better than people – so much so that her brother claims he’d like to come back as her dog in his next life. Yep, that’s me, and truth be told, I am unashamed of my blatant adoration of my fur baby. But when it comes to doggie ice cream, I quickly realized that I could make my Hemingway a healthy and tasty cool treat at a fraction of the cost of what is bought at specialty pet stores or even human ice cream shops. All it takes is a bit of fat-free Greek yogurt, canned pumpkin, peanut butter, and perhaps a few crispy bacon bits as sprinkles!
I make this treat in batches, and freeze in ½ cup containers to store in the freezer. We give it to Hemingway in lieu of dinner once a week. The pumpkin and Greek yogurt are great for his tummy, and I often sprinkle some doggie probiotic on top just to add to the health benefits. I know some dogs don’t tolerate dairy well, so this recipe may not work for your dog, but if so, I highly recommend giving it a try.
Dog-Friendly Ice Cream
Makes 6 1/2 cup servings
1 – 16 oz. container of fat free plain Greek yogurt
1 – 14.5 oz. can of pumpkin puree
1/4 cup smooth natural peanut butter
2 Tablespoons uncured bacon cut into a small dice, cooked until crisp, and drained of excess fat
1. Place all ingredients in a bowl, mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon.
2. Divide evenly into small plastic 1/2 cup serving size containers.
3. Place lid on top – add freezer tape/label with date.
4. Freeze for at least 2 hours. It will last for a few months in the freezer, but I’m positive you won’t have it that long!
Truth be told, this frozen treat is totally edible for us humans, although I would swap out the bacon for a chopped nut/seed of choice, and then add maple syrup and some sweet spices like cinnamon and nutmeg to liven it up. (I don’t have exact amounts. I would just add the syrup to taste, and a total of 1 teaspoon of the spices.)
The Chopping Block doesn't currently have any pet food classes on the calendar, although we do at times offer them, so why not try out our Fabulous French Pastries class on Sunday, July 28 at 10:30am at the Mart so that both you and your furry friend can enjoy a special treat this summer!
