Community Service Project - Dog Biscuits - posted 10-5-06 by Sharon Allen, New Albany <sallen@nafcs.k12.in.us>

The town of New Albany holds a fall festival called Harvest Homecoming.  During Harvest Homecoming the animal rescue league sells homemade dog biscuits.  A few years ago this group enlisted the help of our foods classes to assist them in making the dog biscuits.  The timing (early fall semester) is ideal because we can make the biscuits during ISTEP when we have partial classes and when some sections meet more often than others.  Making the dog biscuits teaches several cooking skills so we feel good that our students are learning new concepts.  In addition, a lot of our students have pets so they enjoy doing something for animals.  It also works well because when the kids who were in testing (and didn't get to cook) ask those who did get to cook what they made, they aren't so upset when they learn that the class made "dog biscuits" --kind of funny, huh!  We also get good community PR from this.

Hope some of you can use this idea!  We use dog bone (the smaller work best), fire hydrant, and dog house cookie cutters. Here is the recipe and some pictures.

Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits 1 ¼ c. whole wheat flour ½ c. all purpose flour 1 tbsp. baking powder ½ tsp. salt 1 c. peanut butter (sugar free, smooth or chunky) ¾ c. milk Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine wheat and all purpose flour, baking powder and salt in mixing bowl.  In a separate bowl, stir together peanut butter and milk until well combined and smooth.  Fold peanut butter-milk mixture into dry ingredients and mix well to a soft dough.  Turn out dough onto the counter and knead lightly. Knead lightly.    Using lightly floured rolling pin, roll dough out to 3/8 - ¼ inch thick.   Smooth out any cracks with a moist fingertip or pasty brush. Cut with cookie cutters. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 15- 18 minutes or until lightly browned. Woof!