The guys from one of the national pet insurance companies have come up with some great animal treat recipes, including our very own fish and chips.
Humans give us occasional treats but their research has revealed that three quarters of dog and cat owners regularly feed their pets leftovers, including fish and chips, pizza, curries and burgers.
The people from More Th>n, asked Charlie and myself if we would give their healthy pet recipes a taste test. How could we resist?
Taste test
We chose fish and chips, because we often have a little fish when our mum and dad have theirs, but we now we can have our very own portion of fish and chips.
To encourage a more healthy approach to treat time, More Th>n have teamed up with professional animal nutritionist and founder of the Canine Cookie Company, Stephanie Mehanna to create five healthy, pet friendly recipes of popular human dishes.
These take very little time to prepare and we can be assured that we are getting healthy alternatives.
The recipes
Vets are keen to point out that animals should not eat human food, not just because much of it is fatty and unhealthy to us, but because some everyday human foodstuffs can also be extremely toxic to dog and cats.
Mum said the recipes are clearly printed and easy to follow, so she put all the ingredients together and started cooking.
As mum got to work we eagerly waited for a quick taste test and the best bit for all boys – the licky bowls….
So yummy
The smell was yummy right from the start as mum mixed all the fish pattie ingredients in the bowl, then formed it into small balls as the recipe stated.
Then she cut the carrots into battons and coated them with the cod liver oil.
These were placed on a baking tray and put into the oven with the patties.
Mum gets creative
Somewhere in mummy’s arsenal of cookie cutters, she knew she had a fish shaped one, so she added a bit more flour to make the remainder of the mixture into a dough and used the cutter to cut out fish shapes to make into yummy dog biscuits.
Then she found a cat shaped cutter and just could not resist! She also made little squares and ovals for smaller treats.
The patties, biscuits and carrot battons went on baking parchment in the oven for about fifteen minutes.
We watched through the oven door as the sniffs began to fill the kitchen.
Fish pattie with carrot chips
Ping, ping, ping went the oven clock and mummy opened the door to reveal our yummy smelling licks.
We just could not wait as mummy put the delicious snacks on a wire rack to cool. The smell was soooo good it made Charlie’s wagging tail go round and round.
Once cool enough, our meals were ready, a fish pattie with a side order of carrot chips please mum!
Down the hatch – Lickylicious!!!!!
INGREDIENTS FOR THE FISH PATTIES:
250g (8 oz) cooked quinoa
400g (13 oz) canned red salmon, well drained
150f (5 oz) canned tuna, well drained
75ml (3 fl oz) blackstrap molasses
50g (2 oz) flour
1 egg, beaten
INGREDIENTS FOR THE CHIPS:
150g (5 oz) carrots, sliced into small batons
1 tablespoon of Cod Liver oil
METHOD
Mix all the patty ingredients in a large bowl until combined. Scoop out large teaspoons of the mixture and roll it in your hands to form 3.5cm (1 ½ inch) balls – or spoon off small handfuls and mould into small patties. Place on to a baking sheet lined with greaseproof paper.
Bake in a preheated oven, 200C (400F), Gas Mark 6, for 15-20 minutes until golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Place in a small resealable freezer bags and freeze until required. Defrost at room temperature and use on the same day. The patties will keep in the freezer for up to three weeks.
You can substitute canned tuna and salmon for fresh fish, but make sure it is canned in spring water and not brine or oil, and that you remove all the bones.
FOR THE CHIPS:
Combine the carrot batons and cod liver oil in a bowl. Make sure all batons are coated with the cod liver oil. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top. Place the carrot batons on a baking sheet and brush with any remaining oil.
Cook in a preheated oven, along side the fish patties, for 15 minutes. Allow to cool before serving.
This recipe makes about 30 servings, so mum can pop some in the freezer for another day.
Health benefits
Cod liver oil is an Omega 3 oil which is great for healthy, glossy coats.
Vitamin A gives us healthy eyes and immune system.
Vitamin D is also found in Cod liver oil and this is necessary for strong healthy bones and a happy nervous system.
More information
More Th>n pet treat recipes – Find the pet Fish and Chips and other yummy recipes.
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