GRANOLA DOGGY TREAT

GRANOLA is one of those foods that is assumed to be

inherently good for you, so logic suggests that granola bars are,

too. Sadly, that is not necessarily the case: if you’ve ever looked

at the label on a granola bar, you know it can contain anything

from corn syrup and corn flour to chocolate chips and added

coloring. Nothing that will make you sick (at least not

immediately), but not exactly health food.

Enter the Pet Nutrition Systems homemade granola bar, a

combination of granola, almonds, apricots and crisp brown rice

that, like granola itself, is wide open to interpretation as long as

you keep the ratio of glue (the almond butter and honey mixture)

to granola and mix-ins about the same. This is a much healthier

granola bar for you and your pet.

The “secret” is the mixture of almond butter (or any nut butter

you like; peanut works well, and walnut is beautiful, too) and

honey (molasses , maple syrup will work, as will agave nectar).

You toss the granola and other add-ins with this mixture, then

simply press it all into a prepared baking dish. “Prepared” in this

case means oiling the dish, then lining it with plastic wrap; this

allows you to lift the granola bars out of the pan once they’re set.

Let the mixture set in the refrigerator for an hour; it will firm up

and become easy to cut into whatever shape you like. These bars

are more chewy than crunchy, and have way more flavor than

store-bought versions. And less is more — without the

ingredients you don’t need, they’re definitely a step or two closer

to healthy.

For a treat that will last a much longer time, Place a strip of

dehydrated yam, sweat potato or apple in the middle of the

granola bar. For larger dogs make the bars up to an inch thick

and or roll them into thick long round cylinders. (like a bigger

tootsie roll)

Time: 1 1/2 hours, largely unattended

1/2 cup almond butter or other nut butter

1/2 cup honey

1 cup crispy brown rice cereal

1 cup granola

1/2 cup oat meal

1/2 cup almonds, chopped

1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped

¼ cup of blueberries

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

Vegetable oil for greasing.

1. Put almond butter and honey in a small saucepan over

medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until they melt together;

whisk to combine.

2. Put the crispy cereal, granola, almonds, apricots, blueberries

and salt in a bowl and add the mixture of almond butter and

honey; stir well to combine.

3. Grease a 7- or 8-inch-square baking dish with a little oil and

line it with plastic wrap. Spread the granola mixture evenly into

the dish, pressing down gently, and cover with more plastic

wrap; refrigerate until set, at least one hour. Once set, remove by

lifting the edges of the plastic wrap out of the dish; peel off the

plastic and cut the bars to any size you like.

Yield: about 16 to 20 granola bars

J. Daryll Chester

2554LincolnBlvdSte246 Venice,CA90291 562.295.6391 570.262.9914              Quality of life for your pets with Pet Nutrition Systems TM http://www.petnutritionsystems.com