I've been busy crafting with my kids making all sorts of home-made projects to double as New Year decorations. All was going fine with woodburning, popsicle stick houses, a glued house of cards, drawings, ribbons, glitter and recycled paper towel rolls until one craft really stood out.

Meatball Popsicles for Dogs?

It's an idea that came from one of our readers at Toy Tips and it's super easy to make for Angus, the dog.

As you are making spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, save a meatball and add to the end of a rawhide chew, then freeze.

Just in case you don't have a good meatball recipe, here's mine, a 3rd generation Sicilian meatball that goes perfect with the right family secret spaghetti sauce!

Marianne's favorite meatball
1 lb ground chuck (more flavorful than ground round)
1 egg
1 large bunch of parsley, chopped
a shake of oregano
a shake of basil
1/2 cup fresh shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup fresh shredded Romano cheese
sea salt
cracked black pepper

Cook for humans but for dogs, omit the egg and cheese and serve it raw! Enjoy!

Marianne