DANTAisms

K9 Krunchers was co-founded in 2010 by Janelle Harris who dabbled in making treats for her own furry family. Her dabbling has now led to a business that reaches out to critter companions across the United States.  Harris, along with her recently retired mom, bakes up concoctions that will make tails wag, “when they sniff the bag.”

Most of the treats are flavored with beef, chicken, peanut butter, banana, pumpkin and sweet potato. They use stock instead of broth in their recipes to make the flavors even more tempting.

K9 Krunchers products are baked fresh and do not contain any chemicals, soy or preservatives. Since the treats have no preservatives it is recommended that they go into the refrigerated up delivery. They can remain there for up to three weeks or can be frozen up to two months.  Their goal is to make treats that are one step above “traditional.”

 

“We are doing all the pet related events this year as usual,” Harris recently told me. “The North Tonawanda market on Saturdays and we are still very involved with the Niagara SPCA, donating a lot, volunteering and doing fundraisers,” she said.

 

In honor of Mardi Paw, I asked Harris if she could whip up DANTA’s readers a recipe that we could try at home. She happily agreed and started brainstorming.

 

Harris liked the idea of a “K9 King Cake.” The King Cake and Mardi Gras tradition in New Orleans go hand in hand. The “king’s cake” gets its name from the biblical three kings. Traditionally a small trinket is hidden inside, and thus the dessert has an ability to engage friends and family in searching out the “baby.”

Today, the trinket symbolizes luck and prosperity to whomever finds it in their slice of cake. In some traditions, the finder of the toy is designated “king” or “queen” for the evening. That person is also responsible for purchasing next year’s dessert or for throwing the next Mardi Gras party. The traditional colors are purple, green and gold. The purple symbolizes justice, the green symbolizes faith, and the gold symbolizes power.

 

We all know that if we hide a toy in a cupcake we are going to give our canines they are going to digest it, so Harris recommends putting a treat inside.  “Mix all ingredients together and pour into greased cupcake tins, hide any kind of treat you have inside batter,” Harris says. Bake for 20 minutes on 350 or until golden brown. Cool, spread cream cheese and decorate with sesame seeds!

 

“K9 King Cake”
1 cup wheat flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 cup oil

1/4 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup shredded carrots

1 egg

1/2 skim milk fat free cream cheese

colored sesame seeds (optional)