Quiche for Dogs

You know Snark would gladly scarf down any people food you could put in his food bowl. A scrambled egg pie would suit his diet and rock his world. Quiche is surprisingly easy to prepare for your mutt and yourself. Slobber-size it by adding healthy tidbits to pique his palate and fine-tune his nutrition.

Fix this basic recipe any number of ways for you and your pooch.

1 frozen pie crust, 9 inches Fork Baking spray Skillet 1/2 pound turkey sausage Spatula
1/2 cup shredded lowfat mozarella or cheddar cheese or 1/2 cup cottage cheese Bowl 4 large eggs 1/2 cup half-and-half or milk 2 tablespoons parsley or basil, or 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Prick the bottom of the frozen pie crust with a fork before placing it in the oven; bake it for 8 to 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Meanwhile, give the skillet a coat of baking spray and brown the sausage thoroughly, breaking it into small chunks with the spatula. Allow it to cool before scraping it onto the pie crust. Mix the eggs, spice and half-and-half in the bowl, beating the mixture completely. Sprinkle cheese over the top of the sausage, then pour the egg mixture over the cheese. Bake the quiche for 40 minutes. Cool thoroughly before serving it to your dog.

For dogs with wheat issues -- or if you need to watch your pooch's carbohydrate intake -- make a crustless quiche.

Baking spray Pie pan 8 eggs, beaten 1 1/2 cups milk Mixing bowl 1/2 pound turkey sausage, cooked and cut into pieces

Apply a coat of baking spray to a 9-inch pie pan. Mix the eggs and milk in the bowl with a wooden spoon. Stir in the sausage and pour the mixture into the pie pan. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes. Cool completely before serving it to your dog. Spices are optional.

You can add vegetables easily to a regular or crustless quiche. For the crusted recipe, add up to 2 cups of pureed vegetables to the mixture. For the crustless recipe, add up to 1 cup of pureed vegetables. Vegetables to consider are spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, green beans, potatoes and peppers. You can add one single vegetable or a mixture of his favorites. Never use foods from the onion family.

Rather than spice it up to make a savory quiche, surprise your dog's palate with a variety of vet-approved fruits baked into the egg mixture. Add 1 cup of chopped berries, apples, pineapples, peaches or a mixture to the basic quiche recipe instead of using meat, vegetables and spices, and bake as directed. Never use raisins or grapes, as these are toxic to your dog.