Treats!

As usual, treats were a central part of the day's activities. Bella's parents brought some watermelon, which was enjoyed as much by the pugs as by the people. Birds 'n Paws also donated some Just Vegg'n treats, which Heidi and Bea love, especially considering they're great for sensitive stomachs and vegetarian doggies. My mom donated some homemade dog treats, which I'm pleased to say were immensely popular. So much so, that Gatsby and Maggie-Mae's mom has volunteered to bake a batch for the next Pug Party (didn't think I'd let you off the hook, did you?). Below is the recipe for the homemade treats, which was orginally passed along by Pugsly Dorey:

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The Best Doggy Biscuits!
Original recipe yield:42 biscuits

PREP TIME 10 Min

COOK TIME 25 Min

READY IN 35 Min

INGREDIENTS

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup cornmeal

1 tablespoon salt

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 egg 1 cup water

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a cookie sheet. In a large bowl, stir together the whole wheat flour, cornmeal and salt. Mix in the oil, egg and water to make a soft dough that is not too sticky. You may add more flour if needed. Roll teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place on the prepared cookie sheet. Flatten slightly. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until nicely browned and firm. Cool completely, then store in an airtight container.

Mom's Modifications: omit the salt, use (vegetable) bouillon instead of water, add 1 cup shredded cheese, add a bit of garlic and parsley, use a bit more flour than called for. Also, I rolled the dough out, and cut it criss-cross fashion (lengthwise and widthwise), so that it was many little squares - then I separated them onto two cookie trays, flattened them slightly with a fork, then baked them only about 15 minutes, because the pieces were much smaller than the recipe suggests.