Saturday, February 25, 2012

Happy Belated Banana Bread Day-Banana Bread for Dogs

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Plenty of us know that a lot of people foods are beneficial to our canine companions.  In fact fresh raw or cooked foods are a lot healthier then the over-processed kibbles on the market.   The healthiest option for pet guardians is to serve raw or cooked foods, but its not always the most practical option.  First off, its a lot of work to make sure a home-made diet meets all of your dogs nutritional needs and the preparation and storage is not necessarily a snap, particularly for those of us with big dogs or multiple dogs, or both! A good compromise, and the method we use in our home, is to supplement quality kibbles with home cooked food and treats and other healthy add ons.  One food I regularly give the hounds is bananas.  The dogs love them, they are high in fiber, and they help alleviate stress (a banana before a trip to the vet may be a good idea).  Our friend Bunk has a great post on the benefits of bananas here.


So why all the talk of bananas?  Because Thursday February 23 was National Banana Bread Day.   I bought a big bunch of bananas and planned to make the hounds some tasty dog friendly Banana bread in honor of the day, but come Thursday I was feeling staycation lazy and the bananas where still not quite ripe enough.  So I put it off until this morning.   I decided to use coconut flour since its wheat free and high in protein, the one draw back is it's pricey!  Luckily my babies are well worth it.   The only other changes I made to a human friendly banana bread recipe where to replace sugar with molasses, add peanut butter, and use dog treats in place of nuts.   

Banana Bread for Dogs


1 1/3 cup Coconut Flour 
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup molasses, preferably Black Strap Molasses 
1/4 cup canola oil
2 heaping tbsp. of peanut butter
2 eggs beaten
3 mashed ripe bananas
1/4 cup of broken up high quality dog treats, I used  Plato Duck Strips


Preheat the oven to 350.   Spray a loaf pan or an 8 x 8 inch cake pan with non-stick spray.  Whisk together the flour and baking powder in a small bowl.   In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment beat the wet ingredients and the bananas together.    Stir in the flour mixture and fold in the treats.   Pour in the pan and bake half hour to 45 minutes, watch closely!  I burned mine but then the dogs didn't mind one plus of cooking for hounds vs. humans, all your efforts are appreciated!


"Hey Ma, Gimme  Some!"


15 comments:

  1. Lucky pups to have a banana bread baking momma!

    I'm dropping by on this lovely Saturday in Atlanta enjoying the posts on the blog hop.

    Go see what I have to see about McDonalds recent ads slamming pit bulls.

    www.pet-peeves.org

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  2. Woof! Woof! Oh how my mom missed this. I LOVE LOVE LOVE bananas ... my favorite Kong stuffers. I do eat 2 bananas a day. ENJOY! Happy Weekend. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

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  3. I did't know that Banana Bread had a day! Yay! We love banana bread. Your babies luck out again with banana bread brunch today! Your such a good Momma!

    P.S. - I did not know that pugs bay!

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  4. Its kind of a yippie bay, more like a screech

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  5. What a fun link on the blog hop! I had no idea you could make banana bread for dogs! I love making banana bread, but now maybe I'll make some for my mother's 5 dogs instead of making a whole loaf to eat myself!

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  6. I've been meaning to make some banana bread. Never new that poochies could have their own banana bread. Thank you for the recipe!

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  7. Great recipe. Am definitely going to whip Dexter up a batch...

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  8. Yummy!! And I can have this one since it's grain-free! My mom better be writing this one down or else...
    Love,
    Payton

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  9. I did not know about Banana bread day, but I love banana bread!! Also I did not know banana helps alleviate stress.
    Your banana bread looks yummy! Mmm...I gotta go get some banana breads!

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  10. that looks good...oh that face! kissy kissy
    Benny & Lily

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  11. I'm not fond of bananas, but I'm sure I'd eat banana bread especially banana bread with Plato strips.

    Emma

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  12. This is GREAT!!! I love them nanners!!!! I actually JUST wrote an article with banana treat recipes and would love to include your banana bread recipe if you give me your permission!!:) Let me know at bunkblog@gmail.com or just write a line on my blog. This is amazing!!! HAPPY BANANA BREAD WEEEEEKKKKKK.

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  13. We are going to have to try this the pups love bananas!! Thanks for sharing!

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  14. Great recipe - thank you! I never knew about National Banana Bread Day. Our girls would love the bread!

    Nina, Myshka, Sasha, Betsy, Lucy, Phoebe and Lily

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  15. That sounds really great...Coconut Flour, Hmmmmm, going to see if Bob's Red Mill has that here in Oregon.

    Wyatt's Mom

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