Natalie's Pumpkin Rice Dog Treats!

Baked, wheat-free, egg-free, food dye-free, sugar free -- these treats are healthy and yummy -- and vegan! It's easy to make them organic if you choose your ingredients carefully. After baking, they should be stored in the refrigerator.

Ingredients:

2 cups of organic brown rice flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 tsp cinammon (optional)
2 cups of COOKED rice (Wegman's brand basmati long grain white rice works well)
1   15-oz. can of organic pumpkin (Farmer's Market brand works well)
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
2 tablespoons of egg replacer (Ener-G brand works well)
4 tablespoons of water

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

1. Cook rice and set it aside to cool (remember, measure two cups of the COOKED rice -- that's only about a cup of uncooked rice)
2. Combine the brown rice flower, baking powder, and cinnamon in a medium bowl.
3. In a large bowl, combine pumpkin and vegetable oil.
4. In a small bowl, dissolve the 2 tablespoons of egg replacer in two tablespoons of water. Then add the other two tablespoons of water and stir to mix well.
5. Add the egg replacer/water mixture to the pumpkin and oil and stir to combine.
6. Add the mixed dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, cinammon) to the pumpkin mixture and stir to combine.
7. Stir in the cooked rice. Batter will be somewhat stiff.
8. Scoop out tablespoon (or larger) portions of the dough. Flatten the scoops into "cookies" (using your hand or a fork) on ungreased cookie sheets. (Parchment paper can be used to line the cookie sheets, but an ungreased cookie sheet will also work just fine.)
9. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 35 minutes. After removing from oven, immediately transfer to wire rack to cool. Longer baking times will make the cookies less chewy, shorter baking times will make them more chewy.

This recipe makes about 3 dozen small treats or 2 dozen larger treats.

Helpful Hints:
* The egg-replacer loses its "egg-like" baking qualities quickly, so don't mix it with the water until right before you use it.
* Break treats up into very small pieces to use as high-value training treats!
* These are special treats, not meal-time food, so please don't let your pup eat too many! Remember, an overweight dog is not a healthy dog.