HOMEMADE PEANUT BUTTER DOG TREATS

I got this recipe from a dog food cook book a few years back that is super simple and quick. It is peanut butter dog biscuits! 

INGREDIENTS:

1 Cup whole wheat flour

1 1/2 Teaspoon of baking powder

1/2 Cup of Peanut Butter

1/2 Cup of hot water

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and mix all of your ingredients in a bowl.  Once everything is mixed together roll it out and use a cookie cutter ( I used a jar top) to cut out the shapes that you want. Then bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown! Make sure to let it cool on a cooling rack before giving it to your pups! 

I made these the other day for a friend and his adorable dogs. For the jar I used a old salsa jar and glued on a plastic dog to the top and spray painted it black. I cut a strip from a brown paper bag to make the label which I then glued to the jar. For the gift tag I used an old map (I chose a map of Detroit because that is their hometown!) and cut it into a gift tag shape with trimming from the same brown bag I used for the label. 

This is such a quick gift to put together. With the baking and all, it took me about an hour to finish! 

-Amy-

DIY: BATH SALTS, BATH FIZZ AND BATH OIL

I have the most adorable boss ever. But unfortunately in the world of retail things get really stressful for her. She always does nice little things for all of us, I decided this time I wanted to do something for her. I decided to make her some bath goodies to help her mellow out and wind down after a day of hell that comes from retail. My house smells like a bomb of lavender and lemons has exploded! Everyone in the house will be intoxicated to relaxation to say the least.

For her relaxation kit I made a lemon sugar scrub, Lemongrass and Lavender bath oil, Lavender bath salts (hallucination free mind you), and some Bath Fizz (directions found here).

Bath Salts:

3/4 Cup Epsom Salt

1/2 Cup Sea Salt

1/4 Cup Baking Soda

8 Drops of Pure Lavender Essential Oil

Blue and Purple Food Coloring

1. Mix all dry ingredients together

2. Add in drops of oil and coloring and mix

Bath Fizz:

1/2 C citric acid

1 C baking soda

2/4 c organic cane sugar

food coloring

10-15 drops essential oil

spray bottle, silicone ice cube tray

1. Mix all dry ingredients together

2. Mix food coloring/oil/water in spray bottle and spritz as you mix everything together till it all sticks

3. Set in mold

I used these cheeeeeeesy flower molds because that is all Walmart had. I also used some mini cupcake holders too.

Bath Oil:

1. carrier oil- I used Almond oil and olive oil

2. lemongrass and lavender essential oil- I used 7 drops of lemon grass and 13 of Lavender.

-Amy-

HOMEMADE VANILLA CHAI MIX

This is the most amazing vanilla chai mix, so creamy and full of flavor. Some of the ingredients are harder to find, like the cardamom. I got lucky because my boyfriend’s mom heard I was on the prowl for some and gave me hers. To store it, I grabbed an old green chili jar, spray-painted the lid gold, then mod-podged a label on. It makes a great gift, especially with fall coming up!

Vanilla Chai Mix

• 1 Cup Non Fat Dry Milk Powder
• 1 Cup Powdered Non Dairy Creamer
• 1 Cup French Vanilla Powdered Non Dairy Creamer
• 1/2-2 Cups Sugar
• 1/2-1 Cups Unsweetened Instant Tea 
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon cardamom
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon white pepper (or black!)

To make the mix, grind up all the larger stuff (the powdered milk, creamer, sugar, and instant tea) in the blender first, then add all of the spices after and mixed those in. The consistency should look like cocoa powder mix. Add to hot water or milk to taste.

-Jerica-