A Family Treasure

While I was visiting my boyfriend's family over the holiday his mom was nice enough to share with me a copy of his Great Aunt Opal's cookbook, "The State Fair Blue Ribbon Cookbook". It's filled with recipes she submitted to the Illinois State Fair over a 45 year period - during that time she won over 2,000 Blue Ribbons, 42 trophies, and 16 Purple Rosette Sweepstakes Ribbons. In 1955, 115 of the 130 entries she submitted won Blue Ribbons - obviously, she knew what she was doing! Needless to say, I am thrilled to have a copy of this family treasure. The recipes range from breads to cookies and from cakes to jams. I've been eyeing several of the bread recipes and decided to start with the Great Aunt Opal's Cheese Bread - no surprise, it's as scrumptious as it sounds!

Cheese Bread

1 pkg dry yeast

1/4 C warm water

1 3/4 C scalded milk

3 Tbsp sugar

1 tsp salt

2 Tbsp butter

1 1/2 C grated cheese

5 1/4 C sifted flour

Soak yeast in 1/4 C warm water. Add cheese and shortening to hot milk. Let cool. Add yeast mixture. Add 1 C flour, sugar, and salt and beat until smooth. Add remaining flour, stir until smooth, put on floured board and knead about 5 minutes, until smooth and elastic. Put in a greased bowl, cover and keep warm 80-85 degrees, until doubled in bulk.

Divide dough in half, using the rolled dough method* mold into two loaves. Place in well greased pans, 9x5x3 inches. Let rise until doubled. Bake at 375 for 40-45 minutes.

Butter top of loaves while hot. Cool on rack.

Rolled dough

 *I wasn't sure what the rolled dough method was and couldn't find any info online or in my other cookbooks, so I did what I thought Opal meant - I divided the dough in two and rolled out each ball of dough, then I rolled each like a jelly roll and placed them in the pans. If I did it again, I would sprinkle a little shredded cheese on the dough before rolling it.

More Dog Treats

Fruit & Veggie Dog Biscuits

3 C white whole wheat flour

1 C quick-cooking rolled oats

2 Tbsp flaxseeds

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
3/4 C water
1/2 C chopped carrot
1/4 C finely chopped cored apple
2 Tbsp molasses
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 large egg
1 tsp pure vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, flaxseeds and cinnamon. In a food processor, combine water, carrot, apple, molasses, oil, egg and vanilla. Puree until smooth. Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and mix well.

In the bowl use your hands to knead the dough until it holds together; you may need to add water in small amounts if dough seems too dry. Transfer to lightly floured surface. Using a rolling pin, roll out dough to about 1/8-inch. Cut dough with a cookie cutter or knife into bite-size shapes. Place about 1/2 inch apart on baking sheets.

Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until firm. Place pans on racks and let cool completely. Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. Bake for 30 minutes longer or until hard. Transfer cookies to a rack and let cool completely. Store in a tightly sealed container for up to 30 days.

These biscuits should be hard and crunchy, which is good for your dog's oral health.