Recipe: Cheesy Carrot Dog Treats

An Easy Pack Pleaser

This is a treat recipe that my Doggies have enjoyed for many birthdays. So this month when my SuperLabby Harley turned 11, we knew exactly what to do!

This “mini muffins” recipe is surprisingly easy to make and we hope your pack digs it as much as ours.

Always check with your Vet about which foods are appropriate for you to share with your pet. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 Cup  |  All-Purpose Flour
1 Cup  |  Whole Wheat Flour
1 Tablespoon  |  Baking Powder
1 Cup  |  Cheddar Cheese, Grated
1 Cup  |  Carrot, Grated
2  |  Cage Free Eggs
1 Cup  |  Milk
¼ Cup  |  Vegetable Oil

What To Do:

1. Grease a mini muffin tin with baking spray.

2. Combine the two flours and baking powder; mix well.

3. Add the cheese and carrots and mix well with opposable thumbs and the rest of your fingers.

4. In a separate bowl beat the eggs and whisk in the milk and oil. Pour the batter over the dry mixture and stir gently by hand or with a wooden spoon until everything is mingling well.

5. About this time preheat your oven to 350°F. While it’s preheating…

6. …Fill the mini cups to just underneath the top of the pan. Bake 20-25 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

7. Cool and serve. You just became your pup’s superhero! Again, and again!

Yields about 24 tail-waggin’ treats. 

~ Joe Paul Reider

Home Style Austin Founder
Austin Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

Harley’s 11th Birthday Pic ~ He’s Never Looked Happier!

 

 

 

Strawberry Cake Recipe

Very Berry Delicious

This cake has become a family favorite. It usually graces our table during the hot summer months and it’s loaded with the bright taste of strawberry – both inside the cake as well as the strawberry buttercream frosting. This cake has debuted at several family birthday parties and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Foodie Tips:

❤  After 2-3 attempts at making the icing I’ve mastered a non-runny frosting! You’ll want to drain the strawberries used in the frosting (not the cake) very well. I placed them in a small strainer to drain the initial juice by pressing with a spoon. Then I transfer the mashed berries to a coffee filter where I continue to blot until dry. If you find that your icing is still on the runny side you can add small batches of confectioner’s sugar until you reach your desired thickness.

❤  I store my cake in a covered glass cake stand until the unveiling; it keeps the cake moist and leftovers will last for a few days in the fridge.

❤  Decorating a cake can be as much fun as eating it (well kinda close). One way to make a surprising embellishment for your cake is to cut strawberry-shaped hearts using a small cookie cutter. Watch their eyes grow wide with your culinary skills!

Ingredients: 

The Cake
1 Package  |  Plain White Cake Mix
1 Package  |  JELL-O Brand Strawberry Gelatin Mix
1 Cup  |  Mashed Strawberries With Juice
1 Cup  |  Vegetable Oil
½ Cup  | Whole Milk
4  |  Cage Free Eggs

The Frosting (can be doubled)
8 Ounce Package  |  Philadelphia Brand Cream Cheese, At Room Temperature
1  |  Stick Of Unsalted Butter (I suggest Texas born Falfurrias Brand)
3 ½ Cups  |  Confectioner’s Sugar
¾ Cup  |  Mashed Strawberries, Well Drained
To Garnish  |  Sliced Strawberries or Fresh Mint Leaves (optional)

Directions: 

1. To Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Then lightly grease three 9-inch round cake pans and set them aside.

2. Make Cakes: In a large mixing bowl beat on low speed the six cake mix ingredients shown above. Divide the batter among the three pans and place them into the oven. Bake the cakes until they’re lightly brown (about 28-30 minutes). An inserted knife should come out clean. Remove the cakes from the oven and cool on a rack (about 45 minutes).

3. Make Frosting: Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl and mix on low speed for about a minute. Add sugar then the strawberries and blend on low until everything marries well.

4. To Assemble: Place one cake layer on a serving plate and spread the top with frosting. Add the second cake layer and frost the top. Top with the third cake layer and frost the top and sides of the entire layered cake.

5. Chill (optional): Your cake can be placed in the fridge to get it nice and cool. Serve chilled with a side of strawberry or vanilla ice cream. There’s nothing better!

Enjoy this berry fresh cake!

~ Joe Paul Reider

Home Style Austin Founder and Foodie
Austin Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

❤ Love Food? In a click and a scroll you can visit more of my favorite recipes!

Spicy Stuffed Cornbread Recipe

Cornbread With A Kick

This week with cold, icy weather blowing into Austin, there’s nothing I like better than cooking in a warm kitchen.

This spicy stuffed cornbread recipe packs a flavorful kick and will transform mere yellow cornbread mix into a sensationally savory dish that you can eat solo or paired with your favorite main course, like my family’s recipe for homemade chili.

You’ll never think of mere cornbread the same way again! And it surely warms-up the chilliest of days … and nights.

Foodie Tip:

❤  For an extra-savory dish you can add some browned beef or chorizo to amp-up the cornbread.

Ingredients: 

the stuffing:

15.25 Ounce Can  |  Whole Kernel Fiesta Corn, Drained
15 Ounce Can  |  HEB Texas Style Borracho Beans With Shiner Bock, Drained
7 Ounce Can  |  Diced Green Chiles, Drained
1  |  Fresh Jalapeño, Diced (Including Seeds)
To Taste  |  Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
1 Pat  |  Butter (I suggest Falfurrias Brand Butter)
2 Cups  |  Colby Jack or Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
2-3  |  Green Onions, Sliced Thin (Optional Garnish)

the cornbread: 

You can use your favorite packaged cornbread or if you’re shy of one, here’s a recipe I like to make from scratch:

1 ¼ Cups  |  All-Purpose Flour
¾ Cup  |  Quaker Brand Enriched Corn Meal
¼ Cup  |  Sugar
2 Teaspoons  |  Baking Powder
½ Teaspoon   |  Salt
1 Cup  |  Whole Milk
¼ Cup  |  Vegetable Oil
1  |  Cage Free Egg, Beaten

Directions: 

0. Preheat oven to 400°F (or to the baking temperature specified for your chosen cornbread recipe).

1. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the first five ingredients for the stuffing. Set aside.

2. Prepare your cornbread mix according to package instructions. If making the scratch cornbread recipe (from above) combine all dry ingredients together. Add the milk, oil and egg and stir. Set aside.

3. Butter a 9-inch square skillet or pan. Place the skillet (or pan) into your warm oven for about 5 minutes.

4. Remove your warmed skillet from the oven. Add half your cornbread mixture into the skillet. Top the cornbread mixture with your stuffing mixture. Add 1 cup of the cheese on top then pour the rest of the cornbread mixture on the very top.

5. Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until light golden brown and a knife or wooden pick inserted in the center removes clean.

6. Remove the stuffed cornbread from the oven, sprinkle the last cup of cheese on top then return to the oven until the cheese is bubbly awesome.

7. Remove the cornbread from the oven, garnish with some green onions (if you’d like) the let rest a few minutes.

Serve warm and enjoy!

 

 

~ Joe Paul Reider

Home Style Austin Founder
Austin Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

❤ Love Food? In a click and a scroll you can visit more of my favorite recipes!

Berry-Banana Smoothie Recipe

Berry Delicious

When it’s hot outside this smoothie recipe will cool things down in a jiffy. This smoothie packs a berry delicious triple-play punch of strawberries, blueberries and blackberries making this smoothie perfect for breakfast, a lighter meal or dessert.

Foodie Tips:

• The colder the ingredients, the more refreshing the smoothie.
• If you already have frozen, whole bananas in the freezer, this will work – you’ll just need to apply a little TLC removing the peel.
• Any frozen berries will work – we used the frozen Organics Mixed Berry Blend from Central Market (strawberries, blueberries and blackberries)

Ingredients: 

10 Ounces  |  Mixed Berries, Frozen
2  |  Bananas, Peeled and Frozen
8 Ounces  |  Vanilla Yogurt
1 Cup  |  Whole Milk
2 Tablespoons  | Local Honey
Dash  |  Orange Juice (Optional)

Directions: 

1. Toss everything into a blender and purée.

2. Pour into chilled glasses and serve.

Yields: 2-3 Smoothies

~ Joe Paul Reider

Home Style Austin Founder
Austin Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

❤ Love Food? In a click and a scroll you can visit more of my favorite recipes!

 

No Bake Peanut Butter Balls Dog Treat Recipe

Holy Oatmeal, Batman! *

There isn’t an easier treat to make on the planet than these peanut butter and oat balls.

Best of all, this recipe requires no baking and just three ingredients! No kidding.

Your pup will keep their “eyes on the prize” while you’re making these tail waggers! Give this recipe a test drive and you’ll agree.

Ingredients:

3 cups  |  Rolled Oats
1 cup  |  Sugar-free, Organic Peanut Butter
1/2 cup  |  Milk, Soy Milk, Broth or Water

What To Do:

1. Hand mix all the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl.

2. Using a melon baller or spoon, scoop out the mixture and hand roll.

3. To clean hands, hold opposable thumbs and neighboring fingers in front of your pup’s nose for up to 20 seconds. Then wash hands with soap.

4. Store treats in the fridge or freezer.

5. Serve! Then bow… you just scored some “high fours.”

Yields about 75 treats. A puppy pack pleaser.

Always check with your vet about which foods are appropriate for you to share with your pet. Enjoy!

~ Joe Paul Reider

Home Style Austin Founder
Austin Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

Love Oatmeal? Then you’ll flip knowing there’s a local Oatmeal Festival close to Austin in Bertram, Texas held each Labor Day Weekend. Why not celebrate all that is Oatmeal by making a visit. Click here for Festival Info.

* Holy Oatmeal, Batman? Watch this video for a “holy smokes” view of action-packed nostagia.

Meet Boomer (left) and Harley (right), Home Style Austin Doggies Extraordinaire. They have their eyes on their oatmeal peanut butter treats at all times!