Fur Family PB Truffle Snacks and Soup in a Bread Bowl

Peanut Butter Truffles with Dried Carrot and Apple Sprinkles

My horoscope has really been speaking to me lately...or maybe I just want to feel that is speaking to me. Either way, it was spot on today, and I really should have just called it a day and snuggled in with a book. But gosh darn it -- I had planned on experimenting and applying various odds and ends from the refrigerator. I did, and ten hours later, I am writing this post.

I was having a rough time getting started, so I made some brown rice for tomorrow (this was oddly calming, kind of like having a cup of tea or knitting, if that's how you roll).  Then, I had some investigators in the kitchen, so I decided to start with our goody first.  Here's a great homemade treat for the puppies that can use apple peel/carrot scrapings that you have as scraps or the cleaned apple/carrot choppings if you are sharing with them.

Fur Family PB Truffle Snacks  

(Pet-only version since using the peels)


Servings: 12-16 small truffles

For middle:
4 med. carrot peels, finely minced
1/3 large apple, finely minced.
1/4 c. peanut butter (smooth is best)

For topping:
1 c.  mix of carrots and apples

Preheat oven to 200. Dry for 2-3 hours (or put in oven while you are baking something else...just not sure if they will burn at higher heat.)  Line baking pan with parchment paper.

Mix all middle ingredients together in a bowl. (may heat PB to loosen it before you mix).  Roll into 1/2"-1" balls.  Put in fridge.

Spread topping mix over parchment paper.  Once toppings are dried to your liking (slightly crispy so as not to brown form air),  put into a bowl and roll balls to coat.  Then, serve; check out the audience reception.

Oooh.  That looks AWESOME!  Let's share!

                      

I will now sit closer than you -- all the better to get the treat quicker!  If only I could catch them...

Nestle (back): Delicious.  Just checking to make sure I didn't miss any crumbs.

     Boomer (front):  She's slow, but I'm ready.  I now give you the treat stare down.

Doggies make life happy; share your treats with them!  If your pets love pb and produce, these are a great alternative to straight carrots (our house fave) or conventional treats (that often have substantial grain filler and potentially problematic by-products).

And now...Dinner: A Mixed Review

1) Sunflower sprouts are awesome!  A nice, colorful alternative to carrots when you just want an easy veggie.  Look for a lovely variety at your local Farmers Market.

2) BREAD BOWL!  I really just wanted to see if I could make one, and I just wanted to make this beer bread.  Bowl factor -- yay!  Beer bread --I used this recipe  http://www.fatfree.com/recipes/breads-yeast/beer-bread.  I wouldn't use a winter lager next time.   Otherwise, texture was fantastic and PERFECT consistency for the bread bowl eating.

3) I really wanted Broccoli soup (a la days of yore when that used to be my meal of choice at a certain P chain), but I had no broccoli -- thus butternut squash.  I wanted to change it up a bit so I subbed half of the broth for beer (in keeping with the theme) and then added some different spices.  I don't know if it was the combination or the addition of tarragon, but it wasn't as yummy as usual.  Ah well -- can't improve without risk!

My activities didn't stop here.  Check out The Revisionist's Treatery (see link to the right) for odds-'n-ends applications and some new items:  Popcorn Balls -- Updated!; Cinnamon-Infused Chocolate Cake with Almond Ganache and Caramelized Almond Popcorn; and Mom's Trifle -- Revised!

Zzzzzz....
K

P.S. I didn't have any cake flour (as needed for the bread) and found this substitution suggestion online http://www.food.com/recipe/cake-flour-substitute-87689 -- totally worked!  Just thought I'd spread the info, as we all have those inopportune missing ingredient moments!