{Recipe} Fresh Fruit Dog Pops

Can we rewind the last 48 hours, please? Seriously. Who's in charge of the clock here? I need it to be Saturday again.

Ok-well while I'm off trying to figure out who can set the clock back 48 hours so we can all be back in bad and in our pj's, I have a new recipe for you. Well...for your dog. But since dogs don't have thumbs and making treats seems rather difficult for someone without thumbs, this recipe is for you.

One thing I must admit I'm guilty of is over-treating Oakley. AKA: any time she does so much as look at me cute, sister gets a treat. (Ok so there's a little, tiny exaggeration in that but still...you get what I'm saying and you're probably just as guilty as me. Right?!) While this is not only a not-so-healthy habit of hers mine, it also gets expensive because lets be honest, she's not getting the Milk Bones. Her treat stash consists of all-organic/all-natural treats that are free of all the crap and preservatives and they are less than cheap. Hey-if I wouldn't eat something like that, why should she? Exactly.

On another note, I firmly believe if Oakley had the option, she would turn into a fruit bat. I've had several dogs in my life and never have I ever seen a dog who loves fruit as much as she does.

She also LOVES ice when we come in from our 95 degree morning walks. Yes-I said 95 degree MORNING walks... (I think I'm sweating again just thinking about it...)

So I took the combination of her love of fruit and ice and voila! Fresh Fruit Dog Pops came to life!

Here's how to make 'em:


Ingredients:

• 2 C fruit (any dog-friendly kind)
• 6 oz. plain Greek yogurt
• water 

Instructions:

1. Chop up your fruit. I went with pineapple, watermelon and (skinless) apple. Refrain from using grapes or apple skin...no-no's on the dog-friendly list.
2. Mix in your Greek yogurt.
3. Add water until you get a consistency that looks like milk. (You need it to be pretty runny so that it freezes.)
4. Have your dog perform a taste test. 

5. Once your dog approves, pour your mixture into an ice tray & freeze for at least 12 hours.

6. Finally, if you're a really good mom, you'll let your dog lick the bowl when you're done. Duh.

I break all of mine out of the ice tray and keep them a bowl in the freezer once they're frozen for quick and easy access. When it's scorching hot outside and we just get back from a mile-long walk, you try holding back an 80 pound Ridgeback as you struggle to break out one cube from the tray! ;)

Seriously though-she LOVES them and literally sits in front of the freezer when we get back from walks!

And I LOVE them, too, because they're SO easy to make and they're super healthy! She gets lots of vitamins and nutrients from the fruit (especially because it's frozen, not cooked-out like the nutrients are in most treats), there's NO crap added to it (just yogurt, fruit and water) and the probiotics in the Greek yogurt are really good for her skin and immune system. #WINNING

If you're in the baking mood, these Peanut Butter + Pumpkin Dog Treats are also a HIT! I promise your dog will love you even more...as if that's even possible, right?! ;)

That's all I gots for ya today! Have a great week!