Ask A Los Angeles Expert: Your Best Homemade Dog Treat Recipe

May is National Pet Month. It is is a time for pet owners to do something special for their four-legged loved ones. When it comes to dogs, treats are sure winners. With nutritional balance being a top priority in today's consumer market, creating homemade dog treats is one way to make sure your dog consumes the best food items that are fresh, flavorful and healthy. From German Shepherds to Chihuahuas, dog owners can prepare homemade dog treats that are both nutritious and delicious. Here are a few private chefs and their tasty recipes that take dog treats to a gourmet level. These recipes will leave your dog barking for more.

Mary Ellen Bloomingdale is known as the Poodle Lady To The Stars in Hollywood. Bloomingdale is a unique celebrity poodle breeder with an expertise as an educator about dogs and healthy diets. In addition to the recipes below, she recommends giving your dog a whole raw carrot three times a week. It is a cold treat, helps them in teething and gives them vitamins naturally. Carrots help clean their teeth and keep their gums healthy.

Peanut Butter Biscuits

• 2 1/2 cups of flour
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1 egg 
• 1/4 cup of warm water

Directions:

1. Mix peanut butter and cinnamon in bowl. Add egg and mix together, set to side.
2. Mix peanut butter mixture into flour. Add a little water until it becomes a solid dough.
3. Roll out dough to a 1/2 inch thickness
4. Use your favorite cookie cutter and cut shapes.
5. Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees fahrenheit until biscuits are well done.
6. Cool and serve.

Sweet Potato Chips

• 2 sweet potatoes
• Dehydrator

Directions:

1. Slice sweet potatoes into 1/4 inch thick slices.
2. Place on dehydrator tray.
3. Process chips in dehydrator for 5-7 hours.
4. Place dried chips in container and refrigerate.
5. Serve.

When it comes to dogs, Chef Yuka looks at preparing their foods just as she would for humans with the most important component being fresh ingredients. Chef Yuka is selective when it comes to selecting the right ingredients for her pet recipes for dogs. Her vision for homemade treats and food preparation inspired the creation of The Barking Chef, a product based business specializing in homemade, nutritious and organic products for dogs. The following recipes are some of Chef Yuka's favorite.

Chef Yuka's Homemade Jerky

• Dehydrator
• Jerky Gun
• 2 lbs. of meat. Chef Yuka recommends 93-99% fat free meat. (Product recommendations: Ground Turkey or Trader Joe's Ground Beef)
• 1/2 teaspoon each of organic garlic powder (great flea repellent), turmeric, cumin, basil and parsley

Directions:

1. Place meat in a large bowl.
2. Add seasoning to the meat.
3. Fill the jerky gun and create jerky strips.
4. Place each jerky strip on the dehydrator tray. Then turn it on.
5. Process meat for 5-7 hours in the dehydrator.
6. Place jerky in a sealed container and place in the refrigerator.
7. Serve when your dog is ready for a tasty snack.

Chef Yuka's Seared Meat Recipe

• 1 chicken leg
• 1 1/2 slice of beef steak
• Spinach or green beans

Directions:

1. Place meat in a skillet to cook
2. Sear the outer layers and sides of the meat for several minutes to get rid of salmonella.
3. Sear the meat to get a good sear on the outside leaving the inside and bones still raw
4. Add spinach or green beans to the skillet and sautee a few minutes.
5. Serve with homemade jerky on the side

Cheryl is known as a Celebrity Chef to the stars who has worked with some of the top stars and producers in the industry. As a master of time management, Cheryl wears several hats, one as a French chef and another as a founder of a music and arts nonprofit, the Ken Khristian Scholarship Fund. When it comes to cooking, Cheryl is a seasoned connoisseur training in France, and upon her return to California, she worked with two Austrian Cordon Bleu chefs with whom she gained her expertise in the kitchen. Cheryl shared that she cooks from instinct especially when it comes to preparing tasty treats. She has a knack and a creative flare for preparing eclectic dishes for both people and pets. When it comes to pet treats, Cheryl believes in the simplicity of natural flavors. Cheryl delights in creating exciting recipes for dogs, especially when it comes to tasty treats that are simple to prepare while at the same time all made from scratch.

Beef Jerky Treats

• 1/2 pound of calf liver
• 1 pound of ground beef
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 egg

Directions:

1. Pour ingredients in food processor
2. Pulse ingredients until mixture is thoroughly mixed thoroughly
3. Create small round shapes on a baking tray
4. Bake for 7 hours at 250 degrees fahrenheit in the oven.
5. Cool and serve

Cheryl's Dog Biscuits

• 2 cups of whole wheat flour
• 1 egg
• 1/2  cup of all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 cup of beef broth 

Directions:

1. Mix ingredients in a bowl. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. If the dough is sticky, add more all purpose flour until dough holds together nicely
3. Let dough rest in bowl for 30 minutes.
4. Roll dough out flat with rolling pin to a one inch thickness.
5. Use cookie cutters to cut out round discs. Place on baking tray.
6. Bake 45 minutes in the oven until golden brown
7. Cool and serve.