Simply Sunday and Countdown to Turkey!

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is almost upon us! The national holiday where we all give thanks for nature's bounty and the family and friends that we share it with! This year may be more dear to those who have had their lives turned upside down (literally) by Hurricane Sandy! We are having the holiday here at Ozzie's house with a good size group of family and friends.

The menu is pretty much predictable, turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, green beans etc. There are "no bones about it" though that the menu presents some dangers to our pets. Once again the food of the holidays will present perilous situations, and we really have to be on guard!

Turkey bones are a major no-no, they can puncture, scrape or cause blockages to their stomachs/intestinal tracts. The skin from the bird is very high in fat and eating that can lead to pancreatitis  in dogs. Here is a list of 10 things to avoid giving your dog and or cat during this feast of thanks.

So what can we give  our canine pals to enjoy while we are all noshing away on Thanksgiving dinners?! I came upon this recipe from Rachel Ray who regularly whips up cuisine for dogs. It's called "Who are you calling turkey?!" Patty. It can be made from your leftovers and sounds like a winner to me.

As usual keep an eye out for Uncle Fred who is constantly giving hand outs when your back is turned!

To follow are Ozzie's obligatory pictures with the turkey hat! Sorry about this Oz, but your so darn cute in it!

"This totally takes away my dignity! Besides, I hate turkeys! They are big fat stupid birds!"

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Talking Turkey with Ozzie

" Turkey roasting on an open fire....buttered rolls nipping at my nose!" "Ah turkey....yumo!" ZZZZZZZZZ



Ozzie is patiently awaiting Thanksgiving day. He knows that something good is coming his way...food wise that is! I have bought my fresh turkey and all the trimmings...I think?! I am sure that there is something I forgot and I feel reassured that the grocery store is open Thanksgiving morning for knuckleheads like me! Though there will plenty of food, drink and merriment on Thursday there is also some dangerous doggie pitfalls to recognize. As much as you and your guests are tempted to give into that adorable pooch and feed him some turkey there are some things you should be aware of. That delicious crispy flavorful turkey skin that we all love is very fatty and can cause pancreatitis in dogs. Canine pancreatitis can produce severe diarrhea and vomiting which can cause dehydration! Dark turkey meat should be avoided as well since it is hard to digest. Turkey bones are a no no since they can cause a blockage or perforation of the intestine. There are also cooking accessories of the day that present dangers such as pop up timers, roasting bags, skewers etc.. Now that I have taken all the fun out of the day for Fido let me say there are some alternative goodies. The white meat from the turkey is fine for them and if you like you can prepare Ozzie's ground turkey with butternut squash and cranberries the day before. Whatever you do I hope that it will be a day celebrated with great food, family and friends...oh and of course with man's best friend!

Finally Friday!

Thoughts of turkey and stuffing are in Ozzie's head today and mine as well! I have my shopping list for the big day and have already purchased some non perishables at the store. I have hosted Thanksgiving for several years and you would think I have it down pat by now! After all its a holiday with a pre existing menu! I still manage to fudge something up or make something that I totally forget about until I find it in the garage refrigerator the next day! Last year we cooked two turkeys on the rotisserie grill outside. The birds proved to be a bit too heavy and they caught on fire! Oh well the company makes up for what the meal lacks anyways! I have a holiday meal for Ozzie that I have already previewed to him. It is a dish of turkey, butternut squash and cranberries. All very tasty and fill of "fido-nutrients"! Here it is if you like to give it a whirl with your pooch.
Peel and chop 1 medium size butternut squash into 1 inch cubes ( I know, not fun! ) Place on lined cookie sheet and drizzle some EVOO or canola oil on top. Put into preheated oven of 350 degrees for about 35 minutes or until cooked through.
Meanwhile take a pound of ground turkey and brown it in a skillet with a little EVOO until all the pink is gone. Drain on paper towel. Let both the butternut squash and turkey cool completely. This should be enough for a few meals since I mix this in with his kibble. Add appropriate amount of turkey and butternut squash mix to kibble and then sprinkle with some dried cranberries. ( note: do not replace dried cranberries with raisins ..which are dangerous to dogs. Though I believe most dog owners know this! )
Ozzie just loves it! Well there isn't too much that Ozzie doesn't love! Have a wonderful weekend and as Ozzie would say "Bone Appetito" !