Pages

Thursday, February 13, 2014

DIY Heart Bird-Feeders ♥

Grapevine Suet


Carolina Chickadee ~ Tufted Titmouse

Downy Woodpecker ~ White-breasted Nuthatch


Prepare the basic suet recipe (allow it to cool) and coat it to one side of the wreath. Refrigerate for 30 minutes then push it onto the other side of the wreath. Wear gloves - it's messy...

2 cups lard  ~ You can render your own suet from beef fat (it's an all day process), but I prefer purchasing lard, which is pork fat.
2 cups chunky peanut butter
Melt the lard and peanut butter together, then add:
6 cups cornmeal
1 cup flour
8 cups birdseed







Or - you can simply use heart shaped candy or cupcake molds to make miniature  suet feeders!

Tufted Titmouse

Or  ...  spread peanut butter on a grapevine and press in birdseed.

White-breasted Nuthatch

Birdseed

Carolina Chickadee

Male House Finch
Makes 2 wreaths or several ornaments.

3/4 cup flour
1 cup warm water
6 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 package unflavored gelatin
8 cups bird food (such as seeds, peanuts, berries, dried fruits)
2 heart cake pans or other molds
Nonstick cooking spray
Wire - bend into a heart shape...

Stir the gelatin into the water and heat over medium heat until dissolved. Whisk in the corn syrup and cornstarch. Stir well until there are no more lumps. It will make a thick gooey paste. Add the birdseed and stir until all the seeds are coated. Place the  1/2 the mixture equally divided into two greased heart cake pans. Add the heart-shaped wire - then add the remaining mixture.Using a greased metal spoon, press the seed mixture into the pans (be sure to press the mixture down firmly until it’s well packed and even). Place the pans in the refrigerator until set then carefully remove them from the molds by turning them upside down onto a cookie sheet. Let the wreaths dry over night (turning them occasionally so that they dry throughout).


Happy Valentine's Day from 
Rebecca's Bird Gardens