With this week’s record temperatures across much of the country, I’ve been looking for a no-cook recipe…and came upon one completely by mistake.
Have you ever dropped a piece of cheese or lunchmeat in the refrigerator…and found it days later, shriveled and dried? (Come on, I know you have!) This week I cleaned out our refrigerator and came across one of those pieces of cheese jerky which started me thinking: what if I used this same drying principle on purpose?
You can use the refrigerator’s moving air to dry food into inexpensive and easy training treats for your dog. You’ve probably already got the ingredients on hand.
Ingredients
- 2-4 slices of lunchmeat
- 2-4 slices of cheese
If you suspect the lunchmeat is a little salty, soak it overnight in a bowl of water in the refrigerator; the next morning, pour off the water and pat dry the lunchmeat.
Slice the lunchmeat and cheese into small, coin-sized pieces. Take a cookie sheet and cover with a layer of paper towels then put a single layer of meat and cheese on the towels. (It’s important to make sure the pieces are in a single layer or they won’t dry properly.)
Next, slide the tray into the refrigerator…and wait. Check the treats daily; the cheese will harden first. The Swiss and cheddar slices I used took three days to dry; the lunchmeat took four. When you’re done, bag the treats and refrigerate. You’ll have an inexpensive–and very popular–training treat without heating up the kitchen!
Cooks: Don’t miss our My Dog Says I’m a Great Cook™ cookbook with over 100 dog treat recipes from the publishers, readers and fans of DogTipper! This paperback book is available in our PawZaar gift store!
- Who are the Top Pet Influencers and Should Your Dog Join In the Fun? - April 10, 2024
- Should Dogs Sleep on the Bed? - April 9, 2024
- 10 Spring Cleaning Tasks for Dog Homes - April 9, 2024