Day 296: Meatloaf Sandwiches and Leftovers Cookies
Lou went for the Big Snip yesterday. Today he is slightly drugged, sporting a giant plastic cone around his head and a fresh Brazilian wax. A bull in a china shop has nothing on this guy. Every time he wants to come up the stairs (which is every time I want to go upstairs, or every time any one of us has to go to the loo) you sort of have to hold up his cone to prevent him from chopping himself in the throat as he rams it into the upcoming stair with every step. And every time he comes running up behind you, which is about every five minutes, you get knocked over at the knee and another half-moon plastic cone imprint on the back of your leg.
I figured he deserved some sort of treat. Plus we needed something to use for our cone-toss. (Just kidding. Kind of.) So I made leftovers cookies. These make use of whatever meat and veg (even mashed potatoes) you might have left over, with enough batter to bind it all together. So it’s a good recipe to have during turkey dinner season, because dogs never tire of turkey dinner. They are grateful for whatever they can get, even left over leftovers. (If you don’t have mashed potatoes, you could always microwave a small sweet potato and mash it with a fork. Or leave them out altogether. Hey you could even use meatloaf in these. But then you’d have one less sandwich.)
Am I being clear enough that these are intended for dogs? I mean, you could go ahead and have one if you really wanted to. They might be like those meal replacement bars you take to the gym.
Leftovers Cookies
1 cup mashed potatoes, cooled
½ – 1 cup chopped cooked chicken, turkey, beef or pork
½-1 cup cooked vegetables, such as carrots, peas or broccoli, chopped or mashed
½ cup chicken or beef stock or leftover gravy, or scrapings from the roasting pan, coaxed off with some water or stock
1 large egg
2 Tbsp. canola or olive oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 cups whole wheat flour
½ cup cornmeal
1 tsp. baking powder
Pinch saltPreheat oven to 350°F.
In a large bowl, combine mashed potatoes, chopped meat, vegetables, broth, egg, oil and garlic. Add flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt and stir just until blended.
Drop large spoonfuls of dough onto a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with nonstick spray, or use your fingers. Press each cookie down to flatten a little with your hand, or squish with a fork. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until springy to the touch. Cool on the pan or transfer to a wire rack.
Makes about 2 dozen cookies. Store extras in a tightly sealed container in the fridge, or freeze.
Oh right – dinner. Meatloaf sandwiches, of course. Everyone knows that the very best sandwich in the world is a meatloaf sandwich; reason enough to make meatloaf in the first place. I love/hate that you can slice a nice, clean, congealed slab off of a cold loaf.
On buttered bread, with ketchup.
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October 22 2008 06:36 pm | leftovers
Dana mccauley on 22 Oct 2008 at 6:44 pm #
Phew! I read the leftover cookie recipe before I read the text and I was freaked out when I thought you were suggesting them for people. You got me!
Lisa on 22 Oct 2008 at 7:24 pm #
Poor Lou!! The visual made me laugh out loud, though.
robyn on 22 Oct 2008 at 8:13 pm #
Cone toss!!! Too funny!
Theresa on 22 Oct 2008 at 8:22 pm #
You got me too on that one. Yeeeeick
Melanie on 23 Oct 2008 at 12:14 pm #
Is it so wrong that I could identify with the dog – having this remote feeling of knowing what it is like to have a cone smashing into your neck as you go up the stairs??? Maybe I was a pooch in a previous lifetime? If so – I would have loved these ‘cookies’ – I’m sure.
Terri on 23 Oct 2008 at 12:55 pm #
If the cone isn’t working out that well try an old t-shirt with holes cut for the back legs and the tail…just have to take it off for potty times! Good thing his name isn’t actually John Cusack…I wonder how he would feel about being ‘altered’?!
jennifer on 23 Oct 2008 at 1:50 pm #
Hi Julie,
I am new to this blog and am loving it! The only problem is that I am worrying that when you reach day 365…….. poof! it will all disappear and I won’t be able to access the archives. I have a lot to cover as I only started on day 280something. Will the blog remain after the year is up?
By the way I really enjoy both Grazing and One Smart Cookie and have given many copies away as gifts as well as Starting Out to my niece and nephew. Any new cookbooks in the works? You inspire me in matters culinary………thank you!!
Jennifer
Cindy H on 24 Oct 2008 at 10:06 am #
I’m like Dana,
I read the recipe of the leftover cookies before I read the text above. I’m embarrassed to say I thought I could just have extra gravy on the cookies, and I’d be good to go for a snack! lol
On a more serious note, that is a terrific idea! My 2 big dogs watch me hungrily when I eat a normal cookie, and sometimes….sigh…..I give in and feed them one. Now I wouldn’t have to feel guilty, and they’d be none the wiser!
Thanks!
Cindy H
http://www.jbkpottery.com
A on 24 Oct 2008 at 1:50 pm #
The cone came off after 2days at my house. I couldn’t take one more skining of my flesh on the backs of my legs. Or the paint chipping off of the door frames everytime the dog misjudged the width. I just kept my eyes on him by day(if he licked,he had to wear it) and I put the cone on at night when I coudn’t watch him. We all healed up just fine. Cookies for dogs eh!
I’ll put it on the list