A Recipe for Golden Paste That Actually Tastes Good (For You and Your Dogs!)

I decided to try my hand at golden paste. But I wanted a golden paste that tastes good. I know of the benefits of it, for both humans and canines. I have been giving the dogs (particularly Neeko) turmeric with a fat carrier for a long time. But turmeric is better absorbed with the addition of black pepper. I myself could never stomach turmeric alone, only as an ingredient in various recipes, such as our Bone Broth.

I did some research, and learned that the amount of black pepper included in a standard recipe recently increased from 2 tbsp to 3 tbsp, so that is one difference in our recipe. They other difference is the one that makes it much  more palatable for humans and canines alike is raw honey! Though its a sugar, and contains carbs, honey has a variety of benefits. It is a natural antimicrobial and antifungal. It can help with environmental allergies. It contains phytonutrients and antioxidants.

This is easy to make, requires easily obtainable ingredients, and stores in the refrigerator for 2 weeks, if it lasts that long. I eat a bit plain morning and evening. One could add it to smoothies or yogurt. For the dogs, I simply spoon a small amount, about 1-1.5 teaspoons, over their food, morning and night.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup turmeric powder. Turmeric is more cost effective if purchased in the supplement aisle as opposed to the spice aisle.
• 1/3 cup organic virgin coconut oil.
• 1 cup water.
• 3 tablespoons black peppercorns.
• 3 tablespoons honey.

Method

I started by grinding 3 tbsp of black peppercorns in a personal blender/magic bullet. A coffee grinder works well too. You can also use an old fashioned pepper mill, but that is time consuming and will likely leave you with sore hands, wrists, and forearms.

Ignore my nails and cuticles.

Mix together the water and turmeric in a small saucepan. Cook over medium to medium-high heat for 7-10 minutes, stirring frequently. A thick paste should form.

Remove from heat. While still warm, stir in coconut oil, freshly ground pepper, and HONEY. Stir until thoroughly combined.

Pour into a glass jar, store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, and enjoy! This recipe fits perfectly into a 16 oz Mason jar.

If you're looking for an alternative to golden paste in treat form, read about our liver turmeric treats.

An Alternative to Golden Paste: Raw Turmeric Liver Treats

Are you looking for an alternative to golden paste for your dog? When Neeko became hesitant to eat her golden paste, I brainstormed and came up with a solution that works for us. Her golden paste didn't go to waste, I ate it without hesitating. I'll be sharing *our* recipe for a golden paste that actually tastes good later.

I won't go into the details about how good turmeric is for you, that is very well known, and it is easy to find plenty of documented evidence and studies showing it's benefits. I have written about and have been giving my dogs (particularly the princess) turmeric for a long time now, with various delivery methods. At first I gave it alone, then learned it is better absorbed with a fat. So I would mix it with salmon or coconut oil. I then made a golden paste that actually tastes good (to me, anyways.) Neeko, with her recent struggles, began refusing and eating around the golden paste, so I wanted to come up with an alternative.

Neeko has texture issues, so I decided a frozen treat was in order, as she typically eats stuff frozen that she won't eat thawed - like fish, organs, etc. 

I came up with what might be the most disgusting thing I've made to date.  Raw liver turmeric treats. I used all the same beneficial ingredients of golden paste, and combined them in a form that my dogs love, with the added bonus of raw liver.

Ingredients

1 lb raw liver. I used lamb liver from My Pet Carnivore, but pork, beef, or other liver would work.

1/2 cup organic turmeric powder. It's more cost effective to buy turmeric powder in the supplement aisle, as opposed to the spice aisle.

1/3 cup organic, virgin coconut oil. 

3 tablespoons peppercorns.

Method

I started by cutting the lamb liver into somewhat uniformly sized chunks, 1-2 inches in either direction. It's a pretty disgusting task, so I highly recommend these poultry shears I recently raved about on Facebook.

Toss them into a food processor. I'm a huge fan of my (older model) KitchenAid mini processor. Add in the coconut oil, turmeric, and whole peppercorns. The processor action will grind the peppercorns.

Pulse until well combined and of a smooth consistency. You may have to use a rubber scraper to scrape the sides a time or two. (There's a funny story about me offering the scraper to Bruce to lick. I didn't think that one through. He jerked it away from me and took off with it.) WARNING - turmeric stains. It stained the plastic housing of my processor blade. It still works fine, is just now a lovely yellow shade instead of white.

Divide mixture evenly into a freezer-safe silicone mold/tray. These are the molds I have. It helps to place the mold on a baking sheet BEFORE attempting to add the product.

Depending on the size of your molds, the treats may need to split the treats in half or quarters after freezing. My molds gave us 16 treats (with a small amount of leftover slurry) using the ingredients above.

They are not necessarily the prettiest treats.

Each of (our) treats contains:
1 oz lamb liver
1 tbsp turmeric
1 tsp coconut oil
almost 1/2 tsp black pepper.

The dogs all eat them willingly, which makes me happy.

Do you offer your dogs turmeric?

Easy Bone Broth Recipe You Can Share With Your Dog

I am a huge fan of bone broth, both for myself and my dogs. On a cold day, I enjoy a hot cup of bone broth in the afternoon more than a cup of coffee.

I don't claim it to be a cure-all, but it is nourishing and hydrating. And something about drinking it feels soothing for me.

It is a source of various nutrients and minerals, along with the well publicized collagen, for both humans and dogs. The collagen and nutrients in bone broth can potentially be beneficial for joints, GI systems, skin and hair/coat.

Why not make a batch that is beneficial for dogs, but also delicious for humans?

Ingredients

• Large, cut beef joint bones
• 8-9 cups water
• 4 tbsp turmeric
• 1/3 cup raw apple cider vinegar
• Several smashed garlic cloves
• Fresh ground black pepper
• Salt for the humans, added just prior to drinking

The key to delicious bone broth is roasting the bones.

Start with some beef joint bones. I purchased mine from a local butcher. Line a baking sheet with foil, and preheat oven to 450.

Place bones on sheet, and pop in oven. Roast for 25-45 minutes, depending on size. They are done when they smell delicious, and are nicely browned. Try not to eat the marrow that may be attempting to seep out. (If you haven't tried roasted bone marrow, I highly recommend it.)

Place roasted bones in a large crockpot, and cover with water. Smash several garlic cloves. It's ok to leave the skin on. (Omit this step if you are not comfortable giving your dogs garlic.) Add garlic, apple cider vinegar, turmeric, and fresh ground black pepper. Some optional, but not necessary additions are other dog-safe herbs, carrots, celery, etc. If it is just for human enjoyment, I like to add a rough chopped whole onion, skin and all.

Cover crockpot, plug it in (I have forgotten this step!), turn on low, and forget about it for 24 hours or so.

I find starting a batch of bone broth in the evening the easiest. It cooks for 24 hours, and needs to be refrigerated at least overnight. By starting it in the evening, I never rushed in the morning to move to the next step. 

After it has cooked for 24 hours, remove the lid. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove all solids, placing them in a colander set over a bowl. Return any liquids that drain into the bowl to the pot. If their are carrots, celery, or the like present, use the spoon to push any liquid from them into the bowl to return to the pot.

Transfer contents of the crockpot to a large room temperature pan or bowl, cover and place in refrigerator.

Let refrigerate at least overnight, and remove.

The fat will solidify at the top, and can be easily scooped off with a spoon. I like to leave a little fat behind, for flavor.

You should now have a container of broth the consistency of jelly, thanks to all that beneficial gelatin.

Scoop the beautiful, gelatinous broth into bowls or storage containers, and refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze.

For my dogs, I feed it cold, as is.

For myself, I cut it with water, add a little salt, and heat up to make a soothing, nourishing beverage.

It also makes a great base, when cut with a little water, for any soup or recipe that calls for broth!

Have you tried bone broth?

Cooking With My Dogs' Food - Rosemary Roasted Quail

As described in my beef heart recipe I have decided that the dogs should share their food with me. The majority of the food I buy them is for human consumption, so why not.

Quail is a source of protein variety for my dogs. I don't feed it to them all that often, as they are small, bony, and pricey. But if my dogs can eat this delicacy, then why can't I?

Ingredients

• Quail. Count on at least two quail per person, as they are quite small. The quail I purchase are in packs of six.
• One stick butter.
• Fresh (or dried) rosemary, to taste.
• Salt and pepper to taste. 

Method

Preheat oven to 500 degrees and line the bottom of a roasting pan with aluminum foil.

Melt the butter in a bowl. Mix with rosemary, salt, and pepper. 

Individually toss each quail in the butter mixture.

Place the quail, breast up, on the roasting pan.

Roast for 20 minutes.

Tossing the quail in butter imparts a little moisture in these lean birds, and makes the skin a nice, crisp brown. They have their own flavor, and the rosemary, salt and pepper compliment it. Being small, they cook quickly and can handle the high heat well.

These are fun to eat. My dinner companion called them "Barbie chickens." I laughed, because it almost felt like we were eating toy food.

This was a tasty, quick, easy meal, and pairs well with just about any side dish. Big thanks to my dogs for sharing their food with me, yet again.

Cooking With My Dogs' Food - Grilled Beef Heart with Beer Mustard Marinade

A couple of months ago I decided it was time that the dogs started sharing their food with me. About 75% of what I purchase for them is human grade and intended for human consumption. It's usually incredibly healthy, so why not?

I first made a meal of turkey hearts, as there are many benefits to eating organ meat. Hearts are considered meaty meat for dogs, but are technically classified as an organ meat. Heart (and other organ meats) are typically less expensive, and usually contain higher amounts of protein, vitamins, and macronutrients.

Cooking With My Dogs' Food - Turkey Heart Stroganoff Recipe

Organ meats were once a stable of many people's diets. They have fallen out of favor for a variety of reasons, likely mostly due to our squeamish associated with eating something identifiable.

There are many and well-documented reasons to eat organ meat. I am not at all opposed to it; I actually enjoy eating liver on occasion.

Organ meats are typically much less pricey than other cuts of meat, because they are less desirable. I pay 70 cents per pound for turkey hearts. 

One organ meat that I had never had until recently was heart. I decided to change that. 

The turkey hearts I purchase for my dogs are actually processed and intended for human consumption. They come in 30 lb cases which I thaw and portion out. While portioning out the most recent case I received, I put aside some turkey hearts for my own use.