Nutrition

Watermelon also is high in lycopene, an antioxidant esearchers believe may reduce the risk of cancer and help protect the skin from harmful UV rays.

From The Organic Dog Biscuit Cookbook INGREDIENTS 2 cups of whole-wheat flour 1½ cup of oat flour 1½ cup of brown rice flour 1 teaspoon of baking powder 1 teaspoon of ginger 1 teaspoon of cinnamon ½ teaspoon of baking powder 1 egg ¼ cup of safflower oil ¼ cup of molasses ¼ cup of peanut butter 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar ½ cup water (add slowly) DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients except water. Add water slowly and mix until dough forms. (If the dough seems too dry, add more water or if it's too wet, add more flour.) If your dough reaches a good consistency before the entire ½ cup of water is used, no worries.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, spoon out dough and roll into balls (about 1 inch in diameter) Place on  the cookie sheet. It's OK to place cookies close together; they won't expand much while baking. They also won't rise or flatten, so if you want a flatter cookie, press before baking. Bake 18 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool cookies on a wire rack, place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.

Ginger, used in ancient Chinese herbal medicine for at least 2,000 years, is good for your dog’s health and helps prevent motion sickness. If your pet can’t stomach a car ride, try feeding ginger 30 minutes before. That should give the ginger enough time to take effect. Vomiting and motion sickness are symptoms of rebellious energy, called qi in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Feeding ginger helps restore harmony and gets qi moving in the right direction to improve digestion. And because ginger is a warming herb, it works naturally to heat the body. But there’s more. Ginger lowers cholesterol, ventilates lungs, circulates the blood, treats gallstones, lowers blood pressure and prevents blood clots from forming. If your dog experiences any of these problems, incorporate a ginger-based treat into his diet once or twice weekly. A word of caution, however: Ginger is not recommended for dogs that are anemic, have recently had surgery or that battle digestive problems, as the heat may worsen the condition. Ask your vet if ginger is OK for your pet, especially if he's following a prescription diet. Dr. DuBose also suggests serving ginger tea. Steep two thin slices of fresh ginger root in 1 cup of boiled water for 5 minutes. Cool completely and give to your pet 30 minutes before traveling. Dosage: Cats and small dogs: 1 to 2 teaspoons; medium to large dogs: ⅓ cup

We're told it will make Bowser's tail wag. Let us know if it's a hit or miss in your kitchen. INGREDIENTS 6 cups of water 1 pound of ground turkey 2 cups of cooked brown rice 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary 8 ounce package of frozen broccoli, carrots and cauliflower combination DIRECTIONS Place water, ground turkey, cooked rice, and rosemary into a large Dutch oven or iron skillet. Stir until the ground turkey is broken and evenly distributed throughout the mixture. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Add frozen vegetables, and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Refrigerate until using. Makes 10 servings. Dr. DuBose says cooked rice is much easier for dogs to digest. In fact, she soaks rice in water overnight before cooking it. "Otherwise, it just comes out the other end."