Please welcome our guest Cate Conte! Cate writes the Cat Cafe Mysteries and the new Full Moon Mysteries. As Liz Mugavero, she writes the Pawsitively Organic Mysteries, the first of which was an Agatha Award nominee for Best First Novel. She lives in Connecticut with her rescue pals.
Take it away, Cate!
Who says dogs can’t enjoy the holidays too?
I love Thanksgiving. Which is odd because I don’t eat meat, right? But it really has nothing to do with the meal. It’s all about the feeling the holiday brings, the gratitude it inspires, and yes, the vegan meals I’ve been ordering from Whole Foods the past few years (they are SO good!)
I like to think that Thanksgiving is especially poignant for all the rescue pups and kitties out there. Even though they may not know that the day is a holiday specifically, I’m sure they feel the vibes that come from a safe, warm home with people in it who are equally thankful for them, as they are for their humans.
And what better way to show our thanks for their constant love, companionship and comfort than baking them some homemade treats?
I have to admit that I’m not a big cook or baker. I just can’t seem to find the time to devote to it. But while I’m not always keen on taking the time for myself, I’ll make an exception to give the pups something special. And since they don’t get leftover turkey (because I don’t eat it), I usually feel guilty enough that it will send me to the kitchen.
So
this Thanksgiving, their holiday table will include apple and cheddar pupcakes
- a healthy, human-consumable treat that can be made either gluten free, or
with regular flour. My babies love this one - I hope yours will too!
And because it’s Thanksgiving and a time for thanks, I’m giving away one copy of my new book, Claws for Alarm, to a commenter here. Tell me what you like to give your favorite furries as a special holiday treat!
With gratitude for all the readers out there,
Cate/Liz
Apple & Cheddar Pupcakes
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour ( 1-1 gluten-free flour)
1/4 cup Traditional Rolled Oats
2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 cup Applesauce
1/2 cup Water
1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
2 tbsp Honey
2 Eggs
1 Apple - peeled, cored and minced
1 cup Grated Cheddar Cheese
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line muffin tins with paper liners.
2. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, oats, baking powder and baking soda. In a medium bowl, whisk together the applesauce, water, oil, honey and eggs, then stir in the apple and cheese. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and stir until just barely blended.
3. Spoon the batter into the muffin tins, filling almost full (you may have a couple spoonfuls of batter leftover). Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in the tins for a few minutes and then remove to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Yields: 8-10
Cate's Giveaway
I’m giving away one copy of Whisker of a Doubt
#4 in the series
to one commenter here.
Tell me what you like to give your favorite furries as a special holiday treat!
Remember to leave your email so I can contact you.



