Doggy Biscuits in a Jar

1-quart wide-mouth canning jar
1 dog biscuit cookie cutter
16 inches pretty ribbon
1 large envelope, with a hole punched in the upper left hand corner
1 cup all-purpose unbleached flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup instant nonfat dry milk powder
1 teaspoon brown or granulated sugar
Pinch of salt

Type baking instructions (see below) on a pretty piece of paper or card and tuck inside the envelope.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine: the flours, cornmeal, milk powder, sugar and salt. Using a funnel, pour dry ingredients into the jar. Close jar tightly. Tie dog biscuit cookie cutter and instruction card around the top of the card with a pretty ribbon.

Doggy Biscuits

Position a rack in the center of the oven. Preheat it to 250 degrees F.

Place Doggy Biscuits mix ingredients in a medium size bowl. Add 1 large egg, 1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, and 1/4 to 1/2 cup (or more) hot chicken broth, beef broth or very hot water. Make a dough that is very heavy, but not sticky. Add more flour or water, 1 teaspoon at a time if dough is too moist (use flour) or too dry (use hot water). Turn out dough onto a floured pastry cloth and knead 8 to 10 times until elastic. Let dough rest for 5 minutes.

Roll out dough 1/2 of an inch thick and cut with a dog-bone shaped cutter. Place cookies close together as they will not spread. Bake for 1 hour. Rotate the baking trays in the oven (turn tray around 180 degrees F), and bake them another half hour. Cool the cookies in the pan for 1 minute, then transfer to a wire cake rack to cool completely.