We had decided a while ago that when the current huge bag of kibble ran out, we would start making Apollo's food (recipe at the end). Bob had gone to Costco and, while buying chicken, beef, eggs, etc. for the cat food, also bought enough to get us started making Apollo's food. Clearly he knew something was happening that had to do with him and eating. While I was drinking my coffee and reading blogs, this is the look I was getting:
After some other morning chores, exercise, feeding a friend's cat and eating lunch, we finally got started.
The process was all very similar to the cat food, with slight variation of ingredients, except when we got towards the end he somehow KNEW this batch was for him...(he doesn't do this when we make cat food).
"Mom, when am I going to get some?"
Okay, fine, it's 2:00 in the afternoon, but you can have a test bowl to see how this goes.
Approximately a minute later:
I think that was a success! Annnnd... Somehow we created a monster who just wanted seconds. And thirds.
"Please sir, can I have some more?" (Has to be said in a British accent for full effect.)
The cats were mostly oblivious through the whole thing since they just had food made for them yesterday. But after Apollo got his test bowl, word got around that he was getting his own special food.
"Pssst! Did you hear they're making food for the DOG now?!"
Battle lines were drawn. Both sides took their places.
But in the end, when it was obvious no one was getting any more food, they did what they do best... Nap until it's time to eat again.
Stay tuned for Dog Food part 2: Potential Diarrhea 😂 (I promise I won't post pictures)
DOG FOOD RECIPE:
- About 14 chicken breasts (1 whole package from Costco) - split over 2 glass 9 x 13 baking dishes - bake 45 minutes on 350. We do this first so it has time to cool a little before shredding it in the food processor.
- 4 cups (un-cooked) brown rice, cooked in the rice maker, we start this at the same time as the chicken.
- Roughly 6-ish lbs of ground beef, split evenly into two large pots. Cook on medium.
- 4 sweet potatoes, cubed and cooked with the beef, split evenly between the 2 pots.
- 2 bags of petite organic baby carrots, roughly chopped in the food processor and then cooked briefly with the beef towards the end. Split evenly between the two pots.
- 2 bag frozen broccoli , roughly chopped in the food processor and then cooked briefly with the beef. Split evenly between the two pots.
- 8 hard boiled eggs, with shells, cooked and then obliterated in the food processor with the shells on. To cook the eggs, heat in the water until the water is just boiling, then immediately remove from the heat and let sit for 12 minutes in the hot water to finish cooking. After 12 minutes, remove and put in ice water for 10-15 minutes. Once cooled, add to the food processor and pulse until shells are in very, very tiny pieces and the eggs are basically a paste. Split evenly among the 2 pots.
- 400 mL total vitamin powder for dogs, or 200 mL per pot (amounts vary, this is for a 40-lb dog, fed twice a day)
Once the chicken has cooled a little, add to food processor and pulse until desired consistency. For the dog food I pulsed until almost all small, bite-sized chunks or smaller.
Add chicken to the pots with the beef, eggs, carrots and broccoli. One pan of chicken per pot (or roughly even number of chicken breasts per pot).
In a separate LARGE mixing bowl, put half the cooked rice and 200 mL vitamin powder and mix. Add in one pot of the chicken, beef, carrots, broccoli and eggs and mix (we usually mix about a third of the pot at a time before adding more). Mix well. Divide into storage containers and freeze.
Add the remaining half of rice to the mixing bowl, the other 200 mL vitamin powder and mix. Repeat with the remaining pot. Mix well, divide into storage containers and freeze (except one container to use now). We usually take a container out of the freezer about a day before we need it so it can start to thaw. We heat it in the microwave for about 30 seconds, add about a Tablespoon or two of water, and serve it to your happy puppy!
And this... because I can't stop laughing about it. Probably because it's so true.
I Let You Go - Clare Mackintosh -- One of my favorite books I've read all year. Also came highly recommended, this time via one of the hosts of The Popcast, Jamie Golden. (side note: if you're not listening to The Popcast, get on it. You're welcome.) Also just realizing the second book on this list with some domestic violence themes. Not sure what that's about. BUT this is a FANTASTIC book... you'll think it's a "pretty good" read until about halfway through and then BAM! World rocked. I think I tore through it in about a day. So, so good.
