Beardie Coolers

Lynne (mom to Bryna, and also to Cap) makes these every year for Bryna's Birthday Bash. The Bash is a National Capital Bearded Collie Club tradition, in which Beardies and their people gather at Lynne's house. In lieu of gifts, Bryna accepts donations to the Beardie-related charity of choice (suc as Beardie Rescue or BeaCon). She also accepts DNA samples for the AKC Canine Health Foundation, in hopes that the CHF can help discover and perhaps even eradicate heritable diseases in purebred dogs.

Here is a special summer treat I make for Bryna:

Ingredients:

• 2 fresh beef (or other species) marrow bones, each at least 1 in long
• water
• 1 beer

In about a 2 qt pan, put the bones, and add enough water to cover the bones. Bring water to a boil; continue to boil for at least 10 min. (More time is ok, for a richer broth.)

Remove bones, and return any beef marrow to the liquid, along with any meat that you can get off the bones. Cool the broth to room temperature. Pour liquid only into 2-4 ice cube trays. Chop up the marrow/meat/gristle into little bits, and put them into each section of the tray. Freeze solid. Serve 2-3 cubes to your beardie on a very hot day. (Not too many if you made the broth very rich with extra bones or lots of marrow.)

Drink the beer yourself, while your dog enjoys the beardie coolers.

Bone appetite,
Lynne & Bryna (and now Cap, too!)