homemade Archives - Stylish Paws

Tag: homemade

30
Mar
2018

Easter Yummies…

Easter, that holiday time where there is an endless supply of chocolate. Chocolate eggs, chocolate bunnies, chocolate chickens, chocolate-chocolate-chocolate. I have quite a sweet tooth and I absolutely LOVE chocolate so these holidays are definitely one of my favourite to celebrate!

We all know the serious dangers when it comes to dogs and chocolate! Ours is always packed away in a sealed tub on a high shelf. Oscar has zero chance of reaching it with his little legs-haha… And being in a tightly sealed tub Zara has zero chance of getting to it too. But did you know that dogs can enjoy some carob chocolate? Oscar and Zara absolutely love it and I make little carob treats for them on special occasions so they feel extra special and included in the celebrations. My Easter blog post last year focused on carob doggy Easter treats (read here), so this year I am using it in a different way.

Carob comes from the carob tree. Inside the carob pod is a sweet pulp that is then dried, roasted and ground into carob powder. It is naturally sweet and has a slight nutty taste. Carob is completely free of the toxic compounds that are found in chocolate and has a moderate amount of fibre, potassium and vitamins. Carob is also a great healthy alternative for chocolate for humans and boasts a range of health benefits. You can find carob chip and carob chocolate bars in selected health stores.

I like to keep carob powder in the pantry because it has such a variety of ways I can use it for Oscar and Zara. I love experimenting with it and seeing what they love and what they don’t. Zara usually loves everything, it is Oscar that I need to impress 😉

My Easter recipes are pretty simple and seriously yummy this year. There is one for us humans-which is a little different to the traditional way and one for the pups… Enjoy

Humans only Giant Chocolate Hot Cross Buns

Ingredients

Hot Cross Bun

1 1/2 cups warm milk

1/2 cup sugar

1 tbs yeast

4 1/2 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp nutmeg

2 eggs

4 tbs soft butter

1 1/2 cup chocolate chips (because raisins are the devil hahaha)

Depending on how sweet you like them you can add an extra 1/2 to 1 cup of sugar.

Syrup

1/4 cup water

1/4 sugar

Cream Cheese Icing

1/2 cup icing sugar

2 tbs cream cheese

1 tbs soft butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tbs water

Directions

Combine the warm milk, sugar and yeast and let it rest for the yeast to activate.
I use an electric mixer for the next step because it’s easier and quicker. Mix together your flour, salt and nutmeg. Add the eggs and butter to the yeast mixture and stir then pour it over the flour and using the dough hook beaters, mix until your dough looks lovely and smooth and well combined. You can add your chocolate chips at this stage and carry on mixing. If the dough is too wet then add more flour, if it is too dry add a little water.
You will need to let your dough rise, so lightly oil a big bowl and place your dough in the bowl. Cover with clingfilm and place it in a warm spot so it can rise. It is done when it has doubled in size.
Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Take your dough out the bowl and punch it down then break off small parts (mine turned out to be huge) and begin rolling your hot cross buns into balls. Place these on a greased baking tray and cover with a clean cloth and allow them to rise again.
Then bake them for +-20 minutes or until cooked and golden brown.
To make the syrup glaze simply mix the sugar and water in a pan on a low heat, allow it to just go a bit thicker then remove from the heat.
For the icing you beat together all the ingredients with an electric beater. You can either put it into a piping bag to neatly pipe onto the top of your buns or you can spoon it on, it’s entirely up to you-the icing is really yummy!
Once the buns are cooked, remove them from the oven and brush the top with your sugar syrup. Allow them to cool completely before decorating them with the icing. You can even add a few more chocolate chips on top-get creative! Then ENJOY!!

Doggy Hot Cross BunsIngredients

4 cups flour

1 tbs honey

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tbs baking soda

1 cup milk

1/2 cup organic greek yoghurt

2 tsp apple cider vinegar

1 tbs butter

Carob chips

Syrup

The same as above

Cream Cheese Icing

The same as above

Directions

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees.
Combine all your dry ingredients. Combine all the wet ingredients then add to the dry flour mix and add the carob chips.
Mix together until a dough starts forming then tip it out onto a floured surface and knead for a few minutes.
Break off small balls and round them into shape and place them onto a greased baking tray.
Bake for +-30 minutes or until cooked and golden brown.
Remove from the oven and you can use the same syrup mixture from the human buns to glaze these ones. You can also use the human buns icing mixture to decorate these yummy buns for your pus. They sure will love these!!

Along with enjoying these yummy hot cross buns and spending quality time together, Oscar and Zara of course had to dress up. Oscar decided he wanted to try become a chicken and Zara became a bunny-weiler… And of course the three musketeers wish you all a very Hoppy Easter too.

Whatever your Easter plans are, stay safe and enjoy precious family time!!

Thank you for reading

30
Sep
2016

Happy 13th Birthday Oscar

categories: Oscar

WOW, today my boy is officially a teenager!! Thirteen of the best years have been spent with my baby Oscar. The love I have for him is unexplainable, kind of like your first love. He is my soul mate and my best friend! We have been on many life adventures together and somehow we always know how the other is feeling. I would say we are the perfect match 🙂

So what do you do for your fur baby’s thirteenth birthday…. Celebrate of course!

This year will be a little different because we have Zara who will be joining in the fun. So far they have eaten cake, opened presents and played a whole bunch of games together, and I have documented everything!

Here is how Oscar will be celebrating his thirteenth birthday:

Breakfast in bed:

Everyone deserves breakfast in bed on their birthday, so that is what Oscar got! I made all of us some yummy pancakes with greek yoghurt and frozen berries. The humans of the house got Nutella and berry pancakes… Here is the recipe-

Ingredients

2 large eggs

1 cup milk

1 1/2 tbs melted butter

1 tbs honey

1 1/2 cups wholewheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

Sliced banana

Frozen berries

Greek yoghurt

Directions

Whisk together all your ingredients in a mixing bowl. Heat up your pan and lightly grease it with cooking spray or coconut oil. Take a spoonful of your batter and place it in your pan to make small flapjack style pancakes. Take some slices of banana and press them into each pancake. Cook your pancakes on each side until golden and cooked through. You can serve as they are or take cookie cutters and cut shapes. Serve them on a platter with some drizzled yoghurt topped with frozen berries. These are so good the entire family can enjoy them.

ps: if you have any spare pancakes you can freeze them for convenient breakfast in bed days…

With a birthday cake:

Of course I have baked Oscar a gorgeous birthday cake for him and Zara to devour! I love baking for my fur babies and when it’s a special occasion like this one, I go all out! This year

Oscar and Zara got their own cake which is decorated with homemade treats! Here is the recipe-

Ingredients

1 cup Apple Sauce

1 egg

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 cup wholewheat flour

1/8 cup coconut oil

Frosting ingredients

1 cup Greek yoghurt

1 cup peanut butter

Directions

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Mix together all the wet ingredients in a mixing bowl. Then add your flour and beat well. Place your cake mixture into a greased cake tin and bake for +-30 minutes or until cooked and golden. Once cooked remove it from the oven and let it cool slightly, remove it from the cake tin and let it cool completely before you begin icing it. To make the frosting simply beat together the greek yoghurt and peanut butter until it is a yummy creamy and smooth consistency. Once your cake has cooled you can spread the frosting evenly over the entire cake and decorate as you wish with homemade treats. You can place it in the fridge for a couple of hours or over night to set the frosting. Let your birthday boy enjoy his special cake 🙂

For the homemade treats-

Ingredients

2 shredded carrots

1 shredded medium apple

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1 tbs coconut oil

1 1/2 cups wholewheat flour

A few drops of food colouring if you feel like making them a specific colour

Directions

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Mix together all the wet ingredients in a mixing bowl, add the food colouring too if you wish, then add your flour. If the mixture is too sticky simply add more flour, if it is too dry add more milk. Once you have the perfect dough, roll it out onto a floured surface and using cookie cutters, cut out the treats. Place them on a greased baking tray and bake for +-20 minutes or until cooked and golden in colour. Once cooked let the treats cool before decorating your pups birthday cake.

Opening presents:

Oscar is a very intuitive boy and he knows exactly what is going on around him! He know’s when it’s special occasions for presents such as his birthday, Easter or Christmas. He loves unwrapping his gifts and making a mess. This year he had a little helper and they both had a great time. Of course Zara got gifts too because I cannot give one without the other… That’s just me! So both babies were really spoiled.

Creating memories:

Photographs last forever, literally! And that is why Oscar is the most over photographed pup on the planet. On special occasions I like to go all out and take as many photos as I can so we can look back and remember those special moments. This year is no different, the camera came out the moment we all woke up and I won’t put it down until we all go to bed tonight! Oscar’s birthday is a huge day and I will document each and every moment of it. Have fun with your pup, get him to pose for you, add some props and take some snaps together! Selfie sticks were invented for a reason 😉

Having fun:

Everyday spent with Oscar is a fun day, but on his birthday I like to create extra fun by doing the things he loves to do most, like having a picnic in the garden, going for a walk, playing games and taking an afternoon nap together!

Oscar’s thirteenth birthday will definitely be one to remember…

We hope you enjoy celebrating your pups birthday as much as we do!

Thank you for reading

23
Aug
2016

Oscar’s dry skin.

categories: Oscar

We all know what it’s like to have dry itchy skin… not nice!! So when your pup experiences dry and itchy skin caused from the harsh winter weather, it’s only natural to want to try and help him! Oscar’s skin is definitely dryer in winter and I need to take extra care to make sure it clears up and doesn’t bother him. During the winter months I try to keep him indoors so that he stays clean. Bathing him too often in winter definitely contributes to his dry skin, even though I always use a conditioner. Oscar has no issues with staying indoors, he loves nothing more than all day snuggles on the couch under his duvet-who wouldn’t? If it is really cold I have to coax him outside with treats just so he can use the bathroom, and he lives in his pyjamas! When it comes to winter, Oscar absolutely hates it! Luckily for him spring is around the corner and he needs to be in tip top condition, here are some things I like to add to Oscar’s diet to keep his skin healthy and his fur shiny…

Oscar loves snoozing on the couch with his duvet

Olive oil: this is a great one because we all have olive oil in our cupboards. I just drizzle a tablespoon over Oscar’s dry food which of course he loves.

Coconut oil: I have already written about how amazing coconut oil is for your pup (to read about the Wonders of Coconut Oil, click here), so it’s time to include it in his daily diet! I love making frozen coconut oil drops or simply scoop small blobs and dot them over his dry dog food.

Tuna in oil: Oscar goes crazy for tuna! He knows exactly what I am about to open before I have reached for the tin opener-haha! For Oscar I always opt for the tuna in oil, I either give it to him as is in his treat bowl or I make yummy treats for him to enjoy. The fish oils, mixed with the added oils do magic tricks for Oscar’s fur. Give it a try!

Ingredients

1 tin tuna in oil

1 cup flour

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 egg

Directions

Pre-heat your oven to 180 degrees. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. If the mixture is too sticky then add more flour until you get the right consistency. Roll the dough out and using cookie cutters cut cute treats for your pooch. Place them on a greased baking tray and bake for around 25 minutes or until cooked and golden. Once cooked allow the treats to cool before letting your pup enjoy. Store them in an air tight container.

Tuna treats are a real winner with Oscar, bake a batch for your furry love

Humidifier: a great room moisturiser is a humidifier. Oscar sleeps with us in our bedroom and we use a humidifier every night which helps keep Oscar’s skin moisturised too.

We hope that by using these easy tips, your pups skin will be summer ready in no time!

Oscar loves to roll in dirt so it is important that I take care of his skin and fur for him

Thank you for reading.