My First "Child"

About author / Pamela Chester

Mom of two; graduate French Culinary Institute; kids cooking program instructor; Master's degree in food studies. Creates kid friendly foods and loves her slow cooker.

We are coming up on a milestone birthday for our first child. Not one of the human ones, but our beloved four legged pal Sadie, who will be turning five this Saturday. It may make us sound a little wacky, but my husband and I have been getting extra sentimental lately about our dog’s fifth birthday because it seemed like only yesterday that she was a puppy. We mist up when we hear certain songs that remind us of her puppyhood, and also when we think about how faithfully she has stuck with us as our family has grown and changed.

But I have to tell you I was just as dog crazy as a kid growing up. From dressing our over-sized yorkie up like a doll with special hairdos and outfits, to hand feeding her yogurt, we treated her like a princess. Although underneath that small fuzzy exterior laid a strong willed force that really served as the glue that held our family together. In her own way, our goldendoodle/mutt Sadie is a loyal presence that always sees us through thick and thin.

Scenes from our life with Sadie are usually more “Marly & Me” than “Lassie”, but we love her just the same. Our two boys make sure she is well fed, and she is a real food hound and expert counter surfer. Whenever we leave the house, we have to “Sadie-proof” and make sure there is no food out that she can reach. She does not discriminate, but her favorites are peanut butter and pumpkin! None of my recipes would be complete without a few stolen ingredients, but the time she swiped some dark chocolate right out of the pantry was probably the most memorable as we had to make an expensive vet visit, albeit with a very reassuring outcome.

If you and your human children are just as wild about your canine and feline (or other pet) companions as we are, then maybe you’ll want to make a special treat for them every so often. Pet treats seem to be big business lately. I’ve seen stands selling all natural dog treats at the farmer’s market and there are also whole stores devoted to baked goods and special treats for our favorite furry friends. Well, you won’t find me in the fancy pet bakery buying a doggy birthday cake for Sadie this year! I’m going to go the homemade route and spoil her with this peanut butter-pumpkin cake she’ll be sure to love.

You and your human children can get together and make homemade dog and kitty treats that don’t break the bank. With no strange ingredients, like those found in treats you can buy in the big box stores, there are so many recipes for all-natural, homemade treats that your pets gobble right up. Of course, as with anything, moderation is key, and always consult with your vet if there is a question about what’s good for your pet’s diet. There are scores of recipes available online for homemade pet foods, including a whole section right here on CDKitchen. It just goes to show that my family’s not alone in being crazy about our dog!

If you have pets at home, than you know they are an excellent way to teach children responsibility and nurturing. So why not reward them back with a little bit of homemade love?

Serves/Makes: 8

• 1 cup whole wheat or rice flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup all natural creamy peanut butter
• 1/3 cup unsweetened canned pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup finely shredded carrots