Miki gets ready to unwrap presents...

The holidays are here! And that means, it’s time for good food, family get-togethers, and shared memories. But what to do with all those leftovers? Make them into pet food!

Hearty Party Leftovers (Doggie Recipe)
Ingredients (scrounged from a party):
  • 1 cup raw salad greens
  • ½ cup baked potato or cooked rice
  • 1 cup leftover chicken or turkey meat (bones removed)
  • ¼ cup avocado*
  • ¼ cup broccoli
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic
Directions:
Heat oil and garlic in a wok or frying pan on medium heat until garlic turns golden brown. Add broccoli and sauté until tender. Add remaining ingredients except avocado. Cook gently until heated through. Allow to cool, add avocado, and serve. *Contrary to popular belief, avocado is not toxic to dogs.

Holiday Kitty Snack Recipe – Shrimp Burgers

Ingredients:
  • ½ cup of raw hamburger
  • ½ teaspoon shrimp paste (see Asian food section of grocery store)
  • ¼ cup shelled, washed in hot water, and minced shrimp
  • ½ teaspoon catnip
Directions:
Mix shrimp paste with the catnip and then hand work it into the hamburger. Add minced shrimp to the hamburger mix and make into little meat balls. These can be fed raw, or baked at 425° F for 10 minutes.

Christmas Turkey Jubilee

Ingredients:
  • 1 cup turkey meat scraps (leftovers)
  • 2 eggs scrambled
  • 1 baked sweet or white potato, diced
  • ½ cup shrimp, washed and chopped (leave shells on)
  • ½ cup chopped spinach or leafy greens
  • ½ cup stewed tomatoes
  • 1 tsp nori or kelp powder
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 4 tbsp turkey fat, or coconut or olive oil
Directions:
Heat the turkey fat or oil in a wok or large saucepan. Add chopped garlic and turkey meat and cook on medium heat for
about 3 minutes or so. Add diced potato, green, leafy vegetables, and stewed tomatoes and cook for 10 more minutes. Stir in scrambled eggs, kelp powder and shrimp, cover and simmer for 10 minutes more. You can serve this by itself or add to brown rice or pasta.

Pumpkin Pork Stew

Ingredients:
  • 4 cups pumpkin, peeled and cubed
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 cup chopped pork liver (or chicken livers)
  • 2 cups ground pork
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 small piece ginger root
  • 1 tsp. sea salt
  • 8 cups water (add more if necessary)
  • ½ cup pearl barley
  • ½ cup brown rice
  • 1 cup chicken stock or soup (without MSG please)
Directions:
Put all the above ingredients into a large pot (a crock pot is perfect), mix well, and set on low or slow cook. Bring to a boil and simmer for approximately one hour or so, adding more liquid if necessary. Stir occasionally. (Use a heavy copper-bottomed pot if you have one).

Everyone *loves* to get into the holiday spirit! Image courtesy of El Caganer

And our last recipe to share today isn’t edible, but it will have your pets smelling like the holidays, and it will also keep them clean and healthy…

Pet Shampoo Recipe – “Christmas Blend”

This shampoo will be safe for both cats and dogs. Besides the pleasant smell that permeates the air, Christmas Blend will help to kill & repel fleas, control the growth of bacteria and yeast on the skin, and keep your pets smelling clean.

Ingredients:

  • 12 oz of Baby Shampoo or Dr. Bronner’s Magic Liquid Soap
  • 4 oz Aloe Vera Juice
  • 2 oz Witch Hazel
  • 1 oz Glycerin
  • ½ teaspoon Cinnamon Bark Oil
  • ½ teaspoon Orange Oil
  • ½ teaspoon Peppermint Oil
  • 1 oz Canned Coconut Milk (see Asian Food section of your supermarket)
  • 2 tablespoons of fresh Lemon Juice

Directions:

Mix all the essential oils with your coconut milk, and add this mixture to the shampoo. Mix aloe, witch hazel, lemon juice, and glycerin all together and add to the rest of the shampoo. Shake well and use. Always make sure you rinse the shampoo off completely, since the oils can cause irritation if left on too long. If you are a person sensitive to essential oils, you may need to wear gloves when bathing your pets. Always wash off any residual suds off from your hands with running water.

Have you tried any of the recipes above? Please share in the comments!