Java Biscuits

Thank you Jean for requesting my dog biscuit recipe. They would make a great Christmas gift for any dog-lover. Your comment came in just as I found my recipe folder. I was given this recipe by Sylvia Oates, a Vancouver painter who had a wonderful hole-in-the-wall coffee bar in a artist's studio building. She provided fuel for artists and treats for their dogs. Java was the much loved dog of one of her customers, and Sylvia created this recipe in Java's honour. It can be easily adapted to what ingredients are on hand.

Java Biscuits

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 egg shell, crushed to powder
1 cup grated carrot, chopped fine
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 egg
1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup water

In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients, add veggies, and mix well.
In a smaller bowl, beat egg, putting shell in a 325 F. oven to dry out for next batch.
Add oil and water to beaten egg and whisk together.
Make a well in dry ingredients, pour in wet, mix together. You will have a stiff, but workable dough. Spray with water if too dry and knead in.
Roll out on floured surface 1/2 inch thick and use a sharp knife to cut into squares, or cookie cutter for fun shapes. The classic Java Biscuit is shaped like a bone.
Place on non-stick cookie sheets - you will need two.
Remove egg shell from oven and turn up to 375 F.
Place cookies sheets in oven and bake for 30 minutes. Check for crispness and if still very moist in the centre  bake a few minutes longer. Turn off oven and allow to cool in oven.

Makes 3 dozen bone-shaped biscuits

Variations:
- A mixture of different flours and even a bit of cornmeal can be used.
- The original recipe called for 1/2 cup of milk powder but since I never have any in the cupboard I leave it out.
-You can use whatever oil you have: olive, safflower, or even the oil from sundried tomatoes.
- For an especially tantalizing biscuit use leftover bacon fat, meat drippings, or finely chopped leftover meat, potato, or squash from the family dinner. I have even been known to put chicken bones in the blender and buzz them into powder - homemade bone meal!
- This recipe also originally included 1 tsp.garlic powder, but apparently onions and garlic can be toxic for dogs. They will happily eat it though, and of course garlic has health benefits, so do your own research and decide for yourself.