Minty dog biscuits

Dog breath is infamous for a reason. Let's just say that it tends to stink, a lot. Hey, so would yours if you never brushed your teeth!

Growing up with dogs have taught me many things, including what not to do when I got my own. I promised myself when I got Miyagi I would at least attempt to maintain good dental hygiene for him, especially after seeing my now-senior dog having trouble eating because her teeth are in such bad condition. Not only do cleaning your dog's teeth help their breath, it helps them down the road with basic health issues. Beyond brushing, an easy way to maintain your dog's teeth is to feed him crunchy treats that help break up plaque. Conversely, soft treats contribute to plaque and bad breath, so keep that in mind. My solution for Miyagi's bad breath is to make him crunchy treats that have mint and parsley, both natural breath fresheners, in the mix.

Tess' Tasty Treats
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/3 cup chopped fresh or 1 tablespoon dried mint
1/2 cup chopped parsley
3/4 cup water
6 tablespoons safflower oil (I used olive oil)

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Combine flour, cornmeal, mint and parsley in a large bowl. Add oil and water and mix thoroughly. Roll out to 1/4" on floured surface and cut with cookie cutters.
3. Bake for 40 minutes, or until lightly browned. Turn heat off and let biscuits dry out in oven for several hours (I ended up leaving mine in the turned-off oven for about 8 hours). Store in refrigerator in airtight container.

The hardest part of this recipe for me was rolling the dough out, mainly cause I don't have a rolling pin or a pastry board. I made do with a cup and a cutting board wrapped in parchment paper. Other than that, this recipe is extremely easy.

Yes, this is a cookie cutter shaped like Scooby Doo. I am that geeky.

Miyagi loved these a lot. He was kind of obsessed with them, and he's sort of a treat snob. You will not be disappointed with this recipe.