Turkey Cheeseburger Pet Bites

    I've been on a baking spree lately. It's been chilly and damp here in NEPA, so that's when I heat up my oven. My girls actually love this weather, because they know that treats will be coming their way. This week I created a new recipe. It's Turkey Cheeseburger Pet Bites, and my girls are head over heels for these goodies.

Turkey Cheeseburger Pet Bites

    I had fun creating this recipe. First of all, it used up some leftovers, and I love being able to "upcycle" foods because there's no excuse for waste. Secondly, these differ from the traditional fruit or veggie treats I make my dogs. Lastly, I had all of the ingredients on hand, which is super convenient. As I said, the main ingredient was leftovers I had in the fridge. Also, as a side note. When you're cooking meat for your family, save those grease drippings! I pour mine into freezer safe bowls, let them cool, and pop in my freezer. When it comes time to bake, I break some off, and then warm it up in the microwave. It's good for your dogs coat and skin, and makes for wonderful flavor. Remember, moderation is healthy, so you don't need a lot of it. (I save all of my red meat grease in a bowl, and all of my white meat grease in another.)

    With only six ingredients, these treats are simple to make, and easy on the food budget too. So let's get started with what you'll need.

Ingredients:

• 3 cooked hamburgers (I ground mine up in a food processor.)
• 2 jars of Turkey baby food (the small 4 ounce jars.)
• 1/3 cup of coconut oil
• 1/4 cup of grease drippings
• 1 cup of flour
• 1 cup of shredded cheese

    Preheat your oven to 400°. In a bowl combine ground hamburgers, baby good, oil and grease. Next, mix in shredded cheese. Add flour into bowl slowly, and mix well. Place mixture on cookie sheet by the rounded teaspoonful. Bake for twelve minutes. See? Easy peasy!

Ground up cheeseburgers make a tasty cookie base for pets.

    This recipe yields about 32 cookies. It will keep fresh in the fridge for about a week. So freeze some, and just defrost as they will be eaten. Josie and Bayleigh are head over paws for these cookies. We'd love to know what your fur baby thinks of them.

Slap Together Summer Meal

    Ugh! I don't know about you, but when it's hot, I don't feel like cooking. But for some odd reason, my family insists on it. ;) Tonight I made an amazing slap together meal that was easy, and I thought I'd share it with you all.

Slap Together Summer Meal

    If you're familiar with my recipes, you know I don't always measure. I cook by eye. So I will do my best to give you round about measurements of the ingredients that I used. If you're familiar with cooking you'll be fine because chances are, you do the same thing too. This meal only takes a few ingredients, and with different ways to make it, it could only take two. It's really all in how you want it. Let's get started.

What You Need

• Ground beef - about a pound or two (I used ground Angus, and if you do as well, you will need some water later in the recipe.)
• Taters! I used 6 medium sized red potatoes
• Cheese (optional) I used extra sharp, and regular sharp cheddar
• Milk (again, optional)
• about 1 tbsp salted butter (optional)
• about 1 tbsp onion (optional as well)

Prep and Cook

    Dice up about a tablespoon of onion. (I have to do mine extra small because if my hubby knows it's in there, he won't eat. Oddly enough, he loved this meal. All because he didn't know there was onion pieces in there!) In a large skillet or pot, start to brown your burger. While that is cooking, thinly slice those taters! I use a mandolin for this, and though it makes slicing a breeze, watch those digits! My daddy almost took a fingertip off on his! 

    Once your taters are sliced, rinse them well, and set them aside in a bowl of cool water. Check on your burger, and break it up nicely. Once it's done cooking, drain your potatoes, and toss them in. Now, if you used Angus like me, you won't have a lot of drippings to cook those potatoes. So add in some water. I think I added about a cup. Now cover your pot, turn heat to medium, and let simmer.

Cheese Please!

    I stirred mine about every five to seven minutes. Once your potatoes are soft, or start to break you they're done. If there is a lot of liquid left in your pot, you can drain it off now. Or leave it in there for more flavor. Now it's time for cheese! (If you don't want cheese, that's fine too. You're one skillet meal is ready to devour.)

    There are two ways to do this. First, you can just sprinkle a bunch of shredded cheese over the meat and potatoes. Cover it and let that melt. Or, if you want more cheesy goodness, grab a small saucepan.

    Over medium heat melt a tablespoon of salted butter, and add in about a half of a cup of milk. Once that starts to bubble, pour in about two cups of shredded cheese. Whisk it well, and once melted, pour it over your meat and potatoes. Give it a good stir. Then sprinkle on MORE cheese (yes please,) and cover with the lid to finish melting. 

    That's it. That's all there is to this easy slap together meal. If you want veggies, then maybe toss in some steamed corn. It would be super yummy with those potatoes, meat, and cheeses. Plus, you would have an extra food group in your dinner. ;)