[Dailydrool] Home cooked dog food

[AWoodrum]

I use the crock pot (slow cooker) to cook a rice-based stew for my bunch,
you make a big batch and it lasts for several days to a week or more,
depending on how many dogs you are feeding.  This is very simple and easy to
do, just make sure you have a nice big container with a lid to store it in
the refrigerator.  

This is the full recipe, but if you are only cooking for one dog I would cut
the recipe in half and use a small crock pot.

1 cup regular rice - NO Minute Rice
8 cups water
2 cans or more of vegetables, drained
1 to 2 cups of cooked, shredded meat
1 to 2 tablespoons chicken or beef bouillon powder

Put the rice and water in the crock pot, cover and cook on High until the
rice is done (anywhere from 4 to 8 hours, depending on how old and tired
your crock pot is).  When it is done it will look like a rice soup.  Turn
off the crock pot and Do Not Drain!!  Add your veggies, meat and seasoning
while it is still hot.

Add 2 cans of vegetables, any kind your dogs like, but I would not use corn
because they cannot digest it and it goes straight through (yuck).  Also be
careful of carrots, you will be microwaving this to warm it enough for them
to eat, and carrots tend to explode in the microwave.  Fresh vegetables are
fine too, just cut into small pieces.  Sister Gracie hated the texture of
beans, so when we had beans in their dinner, I had to mash hers up before
giving her the bowl, or she would pick the beans out and spit them on the
floor.  If they were mashed she was fine.  All the other dogs loved beans.

Add a cup or two of cooked meat that you have shredded or diced.  We put all
kinds of leftover meats in baggies and freeze them for doggie dinners (shred
before freezing).  Roast beef and pork, pork chops, chicken, hot dogs,
cooked hamburger, lunch meat - they don't care, they love it all.  If Tony
is having kidney problems you might want to chop up hard boiled eggs and
sprinkle on his food and cut back on the amount of meat.  

The last step is to season the rice stew mixture with either chicken or beef
bouillon powder.  Can't tell you exactly how much, probably a tablespoon,
maybe two.  I shake some in and stir well and then taste it.  If it's too
bland, add some more.  When it tastes good to you, the troops will love it.

I put a ladle full over kibble in each bowl, stir it up, and serve it to
them.  They love it.  While they are eating, take the leftovers and put in a
covered container and store in the fridge.  Next meal, get enough out, put
in a small bowl and heat until it's lukewarm.  Pour over kibble, stir, and
there's breakfast or dinner for the doggies.   It's very nutritious, they
gobble it down, you know exactly what is in it, and you can adjust for
special dietary needs.  You can feed just this, but I like to add kibble.
It makes the meal more stick-to-the ribs, and it also has all the vitamins
and minerals they need.  Plus crunch, a couple of mine are very big on
crunch.  Hope this helps.

Anita Woodrum
awoodrum at clear.net