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From Throw Me a Bone

PUPPY POWER

I just love happy endings, so here's one of the happiest endings I know: in 1994, Christa and Chris Linzey worked at Camden Yards in Baltimore. When they left work after a day game, they noticed a young dog roaming around, apparently lost and alone. (That's the sad part. Now comes the happy part.) They adopted the pup, named him Camden, and gave him a nice new life. Camden, who's pictured here, had some health problems (sad part again), but Christa and Chris were undaunted and began feeding him natural kibble, fruit, and vegetables, and he thrived. What's more, they decided that Camden should enjoy many, many treats (good philosophy!). They decided they would make the treats themselves (since Chris was a professional chef), so they would be sure the treats were top-notch. Camden urged them on to greater and greater treat achievement (go, Camden!). Eventually Christa and Chris started 3C Baking Company so they could produce treats for all the dogs of the world. Their treats are made from all-natural human-quality ingredients without any added sugar, salt, eggs, or dairy; they're low-fat for the tubbies among us; have lots of fiber (good for the belly); and taste as great as they smell! They have Camden's bark of approval, too. And to think a little parking-lot pup started this whole thing.

These bars will become hard and crunchy. For a fun twist, you can drizzle melted carob chips over them.

1/2 cup rolled oats
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 cup water

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Place the oats in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Pulse until it forms a rough powder, about 30 seconds.

Transfer the oats to the bowl of a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add the flour, applesauce, cinnamon, and honey, and mix for about 30 seconds at low speed. Then, while the mixer is going, slowly add the water. When all the water has been added, turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides. Raise the speed to medium and mix until all ingredients are just incorporated and form a ball, 20 to 30 seconds.

Roll out the dough to approximately 1/8-inch, and cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. A dog bone-shaped cutter is recommended, but use your imagination! You can use hearts, cats, or even an apple-shaped cutter! (Be sure to re-roll and use any scraps.) Place the shapes on a nonstick baking sheet or a regular baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake until slightly golden, about 30 minutes. Set aside to cool. Store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.

YIELD: ABOUT 60 TO 75

Honey is the only sweetener that isn't man-made. It offers a more concentrated source of energy than other sweeteners but is also heralded for its use as a healing agent for maladies as disparate as burns, sore throat, baldness, and constipation.

Copyright © 2003 by Susan Orlean and Sally Sampson