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Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Make your own seed cakes for the birds!



Birdseed Jubilee

Make these treats into a single shape, or use a variety of cookie cutters if you like. Mix an edible glue to hold the treat together with 3/4 cup flour, 1/2 cup water, 3 Tbsp. corn syrup and a package of plain gelatin. Add to this glue mixture 4 cups of the following, mixed together: bird seed, nuts, fruits, raisins and berries. Cover a large tray with wax paper and roll out the mixture till it's 1/2 inch thick. You may use cookie cutters or hand shape the mixture into wreaths and let it dry for six hours. Turn the shapes and dry them an additional six hours. Tie them with raffia or ribbon and hang them from trees and porches.
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I am going to believe (until I make one of these) that this "glue" will hold together a large block of seeds for my feeder (AND NOT MELT IN WARM WEATHER, like suet does). I am not making ornaments, although these sound fun for kids to make. I was about to step out the door to go get my birdseed and gelatin (the only two things I did not have in the house), and it started pouring rain!!! OH, I am also not planning to add any fruit to the mix...only seeds, to cut down on any rotting in the warm air here. I may have to wait until tomorrow, sadly. I am a "do it NOW" kind of person, and here I sit with dark skies and pouring rain. Pooey.

I will report back (planning to take pics of the process) later with full details. Hope this will inspire some of you to try making your own bird treats! Read more: Homemade Birdseed Treats at EHOW.

4 comments:

Mary said...

hmmm.. dunno. Birds do like suet in the heat--but I usually buy or make it more in winter and during the start of nesting. Of course most of the year is hot by you, and about half of it by me. I guess we'd be good testers wouldn't we?

Snippety Gibbet said...

Interesting idea. I so enjoy making suet in the winter. I've never seen this recipe, so I'll have to give it a try. jan

meemsnyc said...

What do you use for "glue"? Peanut butter, can't wait to see your photos.

Marisol Arancibia said...

lindisimo tu blog y los cactus maravillosos.
buenisimas las fotos.
saludos