Feeding Your Dog Scraps - Good Or Bad?

Many people cannot resist feeding their dogs a little something from their own plate, especially when met with those adorable puppy eyes that seems to say "Mommy... I'd really love to try a little bit of yours please!" And so it is inevitable that a dog will sample some of the more human culinary delights.

The fact is, while many say that this is no good for dogs, canines do have strong stomachs - ask any dog who has rummaged through and found a tasty treat in the garbage! However, there are some foods that are better than others and some foods that are a definite no-no for dogs.

Atop the list is chocolate. While a small piece once won't kill him, if taken or found by mistake, it is not advised to ever give your dog chocolate. This is because the theobromine in chocolate is toxic to them in larger quantities and can have much the same effects as caffeine. Do not panic if your dog eats a small amount however. You will notice some symptoms if he has eaten too much, such as hyperactivity, increased urination, vomiting and diarrhea to name but a few.

Another food that is often fed with caution is pork. While some say it is fine to feed, others have found their dogs have sensitive stomachs when it comes to pork products. Mostly, a thoroughly cooked meat will be fine but pork has been rumored to cause liver or pancreas problems too in dogs, so feed with caution.

Many who eat meat off the bone, such as steak or chicken, will often save the bones for their dogs. This is fine and will not harm them in anyway concerning the contents of the food, but beware of small or sharp pieces as this can either choke or cut a dogs throat inside, causing them great pain. Give big and bulky bones and always remove smaller pieces. If your dog chews and small or sharp pieces off, throw them away.

It is also best not to feed him any dessert foods, because of the potential chocolate in them or the high fat content.

Other things that should not be fed to your dog include, but are not limited to:

Caffeine products, such as tea and coffee,
Alcohol - none whatsoever.
Onions and garlic
Various nuts
Gum
Raisins/grapes
Uncooked dough (since it can expand and cause pain or even rupture of the stomach.

Some other, mild acidity or less fatty scraps are okay to feed. Pastas, cheesy foods (in small amounts), most vegetables, and most if not all meats. If you are unsure, don't. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Border Collies and Common Health Problems

When it comes to livestock work, nobody can belittle the abilities of border collies. These intelligent and hard working dogs are excellent in herding different kinds of animals from sheep to cattle, pigs, ostriches and others. This characteristic makes them champion in every farmer's hearts.

Border collies excel not only in herding but in other activities as well such as flyball and disc dog competitions. In order to keep them happy and fit to do the tasks expected of them, breeders should make sure that they produce healthy puppies free from diseases such as:

Hip Dysplasia.

Hip dysplasia, or HD is the most common disease affecting border collies. It is a degenerative disease characterized by varying degrees of hip joint laxity or looseness, partial dislocation and severe arthritic change. Hip dysplasia is a result of the abnormal development of the hip joint in the young dog. It could affect one or both legs, both right and left sides. Symptoms may not exist but the most typical are pain and discomfort during and after vigorous exercise, walking or running with an altered gait, limping and decrease of activities in general. Without treatment, the dog may not be able to walk anymore.

Collie Eye Anomaly.

Collie Eye Anomaly, or CEA is a congenital disorder in which parts of a dog's eye such as retina, choroid and sclera do not develop normally. It can be a mild disease that can cause visual impairment but may also cause blindness. While CEA is not a progressive disease, there is no method known to treat collie eye anomaly right now.

Epilepsy.

Another genetic disease affecting border collies is epilepsy. It is a chronic disease characterized by seizures. Two types of epilepsy are primary and secondary. The primary epilepsy is genetic or inherited thus it is sometimes called true epilepsy. A dog with primary epilepsy may have his first seizure between the ages of six months to five years. On the other hand, secondary epilepsy refers to seizures caused by health issues such as degenerative and developmental diseases, toxicity, infections and metabolic, nutritional and traumatic issues.

If you suspect your border collies may be affected with one of the diseases mentioned, you should seek out your vet's attention at once. Proper tests and medication, if there is any, should be done to help your dog. Border collies deserve more than just painful diseases. Have them checked and treated to make your beloved pets happy and healthy.

Easy Fast Dinner Recipes - Inexpensive and Quick Recipes

Have you just arrived home from a long work day and want to prepare something simple? You look in the refrigerator and the only thing that looks easy is the not-so-tasty frozen dinners, so instead you hop in the car and it's off to the fast food restaurant.

Here are some quick and easy to prepare delicious recipes:

1. A Quick Dessert

Ingredients:

- 4 Pieces toast
- 4 sl Cheese Nutmeg
- 1 1/2 c Applesauce
- 1/4 c Sugar

Direction:

- Add sugar and nutmeg to applesauce.
- Put applesauce on toast, about 3 tablespoons on each piece of toast.
- Lay a slice of cheese over the sauce.
- Bake in a moderate oven until the cheese melts. Serve hot.

2. A Quick Way To Decorate Cake

Ingredients:

- 1 pk Marshmallows
- Vanilla to taste
- Green food coloring
- 1 pk Red hots
- Box of cornflakes (4 1/2 c)
- White angel food cake

Directions:

- Melt marshmallows, add food coloring and vanilla.
- Add the cornflakes, stir until well coated.
- Spread this onto a cookie sheet, shaping into holly leaves.
- Place a red hot in middle.
- Let dry about 5 hours.
- Then top a white frosted angel cake with the holly leaves.
- Makes a very pretty cake.

3. A Real Easy Cookie

Ingredients:

- Graham crackers
- Pecan halves
- 1/2 c Sugar
- 2 Sticks cutter

Directions:

- Melt butter and sugar.
- Bring to a boil.
- Boil for two minutes ONLY.
- Place graham crackers on foil lined sheet.
- Place nuts on cracker center.
- Spoon butter and sugar mix over graham crackers.
- Bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes on top rack.
- Cool completely before breaking apart.

4. Baked Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

- 1 cn (10 3/4 ounces) Condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup
- 1/2 cn Milk
- 1 ts Prepared Mustard
- 1/8 ts Pepper
- 2 c Hot cooked Elbow or medium shell Macaroni (1 1/2 c dry)
- 2 ts Margarine or Butter, melted
- 1 tb Dry Bread Crumbs

Directions:

- In 1-quart casserole, combine soup, milk, mustard and pepper.
- Stir in macaroni.
- In a cup, combine margarine and bread crumbs.
- Sprinkle over casserole.
- Bake at 400 degrees F.
- 20 minutes or until hot and bubbling.
- Makes 2 1/2 Cups = 2 main dish servings or 4 side dish servings.

5. Beef and Rice Crisp

Ingredients:

- 1 lb Lean ground beef
- 1 c Coarsely-chopped onion
- 1/2 c Coarsely-chopped green pepper
- 2 tb Ketchup
- 1/4 ts Salt
- 1/2 ts Dry mustard
- 1 1/2 c Cooked rice
- 1 c Milk
- 1 (10 oz) can cream of Mushroom soup
- 1 1/2 c Shredded Cheddar cheese
- 1 ts Worcestershire sauce
- 2 c Corn flakes, coarsely crushed
- 3 tb Butter, melted

Directions:

- Saute beef, onion and green pepper in a large frypan until meat is browned; drain off any fat.
- Blend in ketchup, salt and dry mustard.
- Turn meat mixture into a 2 quart round casserole; spread rice on top.
- Gradually stir milk into mushroom soup.
- Stir in cheese and Worcestershire sauce.
- Pour over meat and rice layers.
- Combine crushed corn flakes and butter; sprinkle evenly over casserole.
- Bake in preheated 375 degree F oven 35 to 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Makes 6 servings.

HCG Diet Recipe For HCG Stages

HCG recipes are not tough to locate. Simply browse the web and you'll discover a lot of HCG recipes claiming to be the most powerful. But of course acquiring the correct a single is a distinct matter.

The sort of HCG eating habits recipe which will give the most benefit ought to be dependent on the stage of HCG remedy you are in. There are four phases. The first level is the preparatory phase exactly where you get ready your physique for the HCG. In this stage you will have to take some supplements to assist your body speed-up the metabolic process course of action. The next stage begins when you start acquiring the HCG. Your diet recipe will certainly not be the very same during the very first phase. To begin with it will be loaded with body fat for two causes - to enable you to have sufficient reserve vitality till the HCG normally takes effect and enable you to adjust more very easily to the calorie restricted period of the remedy which is the 2nd stage of level two.

Cycle three recipes sustain fat reduction gains in preceding phase. The recipe advised normally consists of food rich in protein and fiber. This is a stage where you can take pleasure in some of your previous preferred food given that your eating plan can previously include fats which have been previously prohibited. Starchy, oily, quickly and processed food are even now frowned upon.

After getting passed all tests and attained the figure you like, the stage four recipe - called maintenance formula or eating habits - ought to not current difficulties. Besides, your new seem is the greatest motivation to maintain the eating plan and in comparison to your previous recipes, this a single resembles a tiny little bit of your previous diet before you chose to have HCG therapy due to the fact now you are allowed to add starch, despite the fact that gradually, to your eating habits. However, you are needed to continue to keep your protein heavy diet plan and remain away from quickly meals and processed food items.

Recipe - Scampi Shrimp - A Family Favorite

Seafood was always plentiful where I grew up on the west coast of Florida. Shrimp was a dinner time staple in our house. This Scampi Shrimp recipe was formulated from a combination of tastes and ingredients from my all time favorite restaurant recipes in my hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Scampi Shrimp

1 pound (peeled and deveined) jumbo fresh shrimp
1 medium onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup butter or margarine, melted
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
1 teaspoon steak sauce
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Cooked fettuccine

Peel and devein shrimp. Cook onion and garlic in butter in a large skillet (medium heat), stirring constantly, 4 minutes. Add lemon juice and next 3 ingredients. Bring to a boil; add shrimp and cook, stirring constantly, 3 to 5 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Serve over fettuccine. Yield: 3 to 4 servings

When I moved away from the coast of Florida where fresh seafood is plentiful, I also moved away from the seafood specialty restaurants that I'd always loved to dine at during my formative years. I began experimenting in my own kitchen, where I perfected this Scampi Shrimp recipe. My goal was to create a scampi recipe with just the right combination of herbs, worcestershire sauce and butter to achieve great taste and perfect aroma. I like to serve it over fettuccine, however it can be served over rice or any other type of pasta. It should be doubled or even tripled for a large group and works well with a salad or vegetable of choice on the side.

Eating Cheap: A Week's Worth of Inexpensive Meals

Short on cash? Are you a starving student? Or maybe you're saving up for that next tank of gas!

Whatever the case, sometimes we all need to cut corners until the next paycheck rolls in.

These meals will fill you up without emptying your wallet. They should feed four hungry mouths.

While prices vary widely depending on your part of the country and your grocery store, you'll still find these dinners will stretch your food dollar to the max.


Lentil stew. One package of lentils, a couple of carrots, a couple of potatoes, water. Place the package of lentils in a large soup pot and add the appropriate amount of water (1-1/2 cups water to one cup of lentils works best). Peel the potatoes and carrots, and slice to bite size. Add to soup pot. Season to taste. If you have it: Add a ham bone, a bit of leftover beef, bacon bits, bay leaf, or favorite herbs.


Baked potatoes. Nothing complicated here. Buy large baking potatoes or just get a bag of potatoes on sale. If small, bake more of them per serving. Choose your favorite toppings: Simply butter, salt and pepper, cheese, broccoli, sour cream, bacon bits, or whatever is on hand.


Cheese quesadillas. Make these with flour tortillas. Heat two tortillas in a skillet and remove one to a plate. Top the remaining tortilla with shredded cheese. When melted, about 1-2 minutes, place the other tortilla on top. Allow to cook for a minute or so, flip the whole thing over and cook the other side for another minute. Dump onto a plate, slice with a pizza cutter. If you have it: Add shredded cooked chicken to the cheese. Serve with salsa.


Scrambled eggs. Get a dozen for less than one dollar. Crack eggs into a bowl and whisk. Add milk, salt, and pepper. Cook eggs in a skillet. If you have it: Add your choice of mushrooms, cheese, green pepper, or onion.


Spaghetti and sauce. Here again, not too creative, but you can pick up a package of spaghetti and a can of sauce for less than two dollars. Add parmesan cheese on top.


Tuna sandwiches. Frequently on sale, tuna provides a meaty dinner this week. For four filling sandwiches, use four of the smaller cans. Dump all of the cans into a bowl, add mayonnaise or salad dressing, along with some relish if you've got it. Stir, spread onto bread. I like to use ranch dressing.


Grilled cheese sandwiches. Butter bread on both sides and place on a medium-heat grill. Add a slice of cheese. Splurge on an extra slice of cheese per sandwich!

Accompaniments:

Watch for sales on frozen vegetables. You can frequently pick up a one-pound bag for less than a dollar.
Slice a fresh tomato into wedges or a cucumber into slices to go with a sandwich. Any fresh vegetable will do.
Slice a piece of fruit for a healthy dessert.
Stop by Walgreen's and see what's on sale in their food aisle. They frequently have good deals on canned mandarin oranges which make a tasty dessert. Add a bit of coconut or a few marshmallows if you have them.
Walgreen's frequently carries canned mushrooms on sale, too.
How about lunch for a quarter? Check Walgreen's for ramen noodles.
Cake mixes and canned frosting are often priced under a dollar, especially the store brands. Your only additions will be a bit of oil (or applesauce if you're counting calories) and a couple of eggs (save from the meal above). For a couple dollars, you can have dessert for a couple of nights or snacks for a few days.

Even if you're on a tight budget, you can still create a tasty meal. Not gourmet dining, but you won't be hungry!

Make an Old-Fashion Comfort-Food Meal For Your Family Quickly and Easily!

Sometimes we just feel the need to have an old-fashion comfort food meal. These recipes are quick and easy to make and will be a hit with your family. The best part is that all these recipes are inexpensive so they will fit right into your food budget. Start with Aunt Stella's Cheeseburger Pie as an entree, add Easy Old-Fashion Baked Beans, they bake for 1 1/2 hours but they are quick to assemble and can be baked ahead to save time later. The Garden Vegetable Salad will round out the meal.

AUNT STELLA'S CHEESEBURGER PIE

1 1/2 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
3/4 cup catsup
1 pkg American cheese
1 can biscuits

Brown the hamburger meat with the onion, salt it to suit you, and drain off fat. Add the catsup and stir to mix up. Place the mixture in the bottom of a round cake pan. Top with the cheese slices then the biscuits. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

EASY OLD FASHION BAKED BEANS
This recipe is from an old grocery store ad.

2 cans (regular-size) Great Northern Beans
1 cup tomato catsup
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp prepared mustard
1 medium onion, chopped
6 slices bacon, cut into 2-inch pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Saute the onion and bacon. Set aside. Combine the beans, catsup, brown sugar, and mustard. Pour the bean mixture into a lightly buttered casserole dish. Top with the bacon and onion mixture. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours. Serves 6 to 8.

GARDEN VEGETABLE SALAD

1 head cauliflower
1 large bunch of broccoli
1 can black olives
1 lb fresh white mushrooms
1 lb cherry tomatoes
1 small red onion, sliced into thin rings
salt to taste, optional
Your favorite dressing

Cut or break cauliflower and broccoli into bite size pieces; place into a salad bowl. Slice the mushrooms into the bowl. Drain the black olives well and add to the bowl. Cut the tomatoes into halves and add to the bowl. Add the onion rings and salt, if desired. Mix vegetables together well. Add your favorite dressing (I prefer Italian) and toss before serving.

Enjoy!