Post by kastern on Jan 12, 2007 9:03:50 GMT -8
It occurred to me this morning when I was taking down a block of store bought suet and replacing it with my own concoction that some of you might be interested in making your own 'suet'. I've found that when it gets this cold the birds don't go after the store bought stuff like you would think they should. I think it gets too hard, they seem to really have to work at it. On the other hand.....they just love what I make up.
You will need an old muffin tin which you should spray liberally with a cooking spray.
This isn't an 'exact' recipe....so here goes:
render down or melt some plain suet if you can get it, otherwise 1/2 lb of LARD (found in the cooking oil section in grocery stores)
in a large mixing bowl put about a cup of PEANUT BUTTER, pour in the melted suet or lard and stir until the peanut butter is liquid.
add: 1/2 to 1 cup of CORNMEAL, handful or two of PEANUTS, and enough mixed bird seed to make it thick but with still a bit of the liquid lard/peanut butter showing.
ladle into the muffin cups, cool, once it's cool put in the freezer. Once they are frozen you can tap the muffin tin upside down to release the suet pucks. Store in a zip top bag in the freezer until needed.
you can add stuff like SUNFLOWER MEATS, CRACKED CORN, DRIED FRUIT etc. if you are feeling really generous, even some GRIT if you have it.
A couple or three 'pucks' fit nicely in a suet cage or put a couple in some plastic netting (I'm using the netting that came with a bird seed bell). As I write this a Flicker is on the suet cage out back and a couple of Chickadees are on the one in the front yard.
Kathy
You will need an old muffin tin which you should spray liberally with a cooking spray.
This isn't an 'exact' recipe....so here goes:
render down or melt some plain suet if you can get it, otherwise 1/2 lb of LARD (found in the cooking oil section in grocery stores)
in a large mixing bowl put about a cup of PEANUT BUTTER, pour in the melted suet or lard and stir until the peanut butter is liquid.
add: 1/2 to 1 cup of CORNMEAL, handful or two of PEANUTS, and enough mixed bird seed to make it thick but with still a bit of the liquid lard/peanut butter showing.
ladle into the muffin cups, cool, once it's cool put in the freezer. Once they are frozen you can tap the muffin tin upside down to release the suet pucks. Store in a zip top bag in the freezer until needed.
you can add stuff like SUNFLOWER MEATS, CRACKED CORN, DRIED FRUIT etc. if you are feeling really generous, even some GRIT if you have it.
A couple or three 'pucks' fit nicely in a suet cage or put a couple in some plastic netting (I'm using the netting that came with a bird seed bell). As I write this a Flicker is on the suet cage out back and a couple of Chickadees are on the one in the front yard.
Kathy
