Fun Recipes for Dog Treats and People Treats

Kitchen Creations that Children Will Enjoy

© Theresa Bledsoe

Mar 24, 2009

It's fun to whip up something unusual in the kitchen. It's especially enjoyable when what's being prepared is a treat for the senses. For children, texture, shape, and novelty add to the adventure of cooking.

The first recipe below is for the human members of the family, while the second is strictly for the canine variety. Adult supervision is required for both, as the use of a range top or oven is necessary.

Edible Jello Aquarium

This recipe serves four nicely, but could easily be doubled or tripled for serving at a children's party. Best of all, your child can help with the preparations.

Ingredients:

• 1 package (4 serving size) of blue colored gelatin (Try a berry flavored variety. This will represent the "water" in the aquarium.)
• 3/4 Cup of boiling water
• 1/2 Cup cold water
• ice cubes
• Fish shaped gummy candy in a variety of colors

In addition, four small, clear bowls will be needed for serving the dessert. (Short glass tumblers or clean baby food jars will also work.)

Directions:

1. Dissolve the gelatin completely in boiling water.
2. Combine 1/2 cup cold water and enough ice cubes to make 1 1/4 cups ice and water.
3. Add ice water to gelatin, stirring until slightly thickened.
4. Remove any unmelted ice. (If mixture is still thin, refrigerate until slightly thickened.)
5. Pour thickened gelatin into four clear dessert bowls, or glasses.
6. Hold gummy fish in "swimming position" and press into gelatin.
7. Refrigerate until set or about one hour.
8. Serve.

Preparation time: 20 minutes. Makes four servings.

Gelatin's changeable appearance is great fun for children. It can serve as the basis of a learning experience as well, since gelatin can be a liquid, a solid, or, as is the case with the recipe above, a colloid. Children can enjoy using gelatin in other ways such as making gummy fruit candy, or making a better bubble solution.

Real Homemade Dog Biscuits

This recipe is strictly for Rover, but it's such fun to make that kids may want to bake up a batch even if the family doesn't own a dog. These dog treats are ideal for giving to a canine loving relative or neighbor. Just make sure the recipient knows they are intended for the dog.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup non-fat dry powdered milk
• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 6 Tablespoons of margarine
• 1 egg
• 3 Tablespoons of powdered chicken or beef bouillon
• 1/2 cup of cold water (more or less to bring dough to kneading consistency)

Directions:

1. Stir all ingredients together in a medium mixing bow. Mix well.
2. Turn dough out onto lightly floured table or counter top.
3. Knead dough well for about 3 minutes. Well kneaded dough should come together in a ball. Add additional flour if needed to create a well-formed ball.
4. Roll dough out to 1/2 inch thickness, and cut into dog bone shapes.
5. Bake 'bones" on a lightly greased cookie sheet for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
6. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature.

Cooking is an important life skill in and of itself, but it also teaches measurement principles, the importance of following step-by-step directions, and some of the basic elements of chemistry. In addition, what child could forget making and eating an aquarium, or baking dog bones to feed to the family pet? Cooking with a child is about more than making food. It's also about making memories.

mixing bowl

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