Chicken Stew Biscuits for Fido: High in Protein and Vitamins

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

(c) Carrie Boyko
Leftover Chicken Stew
 Makes Great Dog Biscuits

Saving money on your pack's chow doesn't always have to be about clipping coupons or watching for sales. You do have options for supplementing your pup's diet without compromising his health or your wallet.

I've been inspired by other dog moms to not only cook some food to supplement Tanner and Oliver's kibble, but also I now use my leftovers to make all sorts of yummy goodies. This saves me big bucks on all those pricey treats, although I have to admit that my dogs love to sample a variety. Cooking at home helps to widen that smorgasbord.


A simple stewed chicken made of healthy, low-fat, organic chicken breasts, organic broth and vegetables (we used carrots) is easy to cook up in your crockpot with very little effort. I cut this up and scoop a few spoonfuls on the boys' kibble some evenings, to give them that home-cooked feel of a warm meal.


What's really great, though, is that when leftovers reach the breaking point (eat them quick or toss them) these cooked meats and vegetables make great dog biscuits that are simple and healthy. Here's a sample recipe that we renovated to make these fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants biscuits, which do not require rolling. This makes them much faster to prepare than those adorable bone-shaped ones you've seen here before.


Organic Chicken and Carrot Stew Biscuits


Instructions:

1. After chicken and veggies are cooked thoroughly in the crockpot, cool till they reach a comfortable working temperature.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
3. Place the chicken and veggies (any portions you have available) in your food processor with the blade in place and process until you have a smooth textured, babyfood-like mixture that is easy to stir.
4. Remove and replace the blade with the kneading blade.
5. Add one egg and mix in briefly.
6. Add a few tablespoons of broth and 1/2 cup organic whole wheat flour at a time, until you have a stiff dough, much like cookie dough.
7. Break off a tennis ball sized portion and press out on a clean surface until an even thickness of about 1/2 to 3/4 inch.
8. Using a small juice glass dipped into some flour, cut biscuits and add remaining dough back to the batch.
9. Continue till all dough has been used.
10. Bake for about 10-13 minutes at 350 degrees. Ovens and ingredients vary, so watch your first batch carefully for timing.
11. Store a week's worth of biscuits in your refrig. These make a nice substitution for some kibble at mealtime, or a generous afternoon snack that is healthy and satisfying.
12. Freeze the remainder in small enough portions to use within a week.
13. Don't forget to pat yourself on the back when your Fido devours his yummy, homemade biscuit that you provided. Unconditional love most certainly can be enhanced with great chow!