My first attempt making suet cakes with free fat from the butcher
and what I ALREADY had in the kitchen.
Dicing the fat and frying it down took a little work so NEXT TIME
will try Shorting and some different ingredients like the ones listed at bottom of post.
Haven't noticed too many woodpeckers so I'm thinking the mix needs some adjustments.
Like more crushed fruit, i.e., raisins !
..............................My First Mix
..............................Making Suet
*beef suet(dice and melt suet in pot)add enough to keep cakes together
*shortening (instead of real suet-less mess)
.......................Add-your choice
*rolled oats/cornmeal/flour/cracked corn/bread crumbs
(just one or two of these)
*chunky peanut butter
*wild bird seed
*sunflower seeds
*unsalted nuts
*chopped apples
*raisins
*berries
*sugar
Stir and Blend-Pour into Containers-Chill or Freeze
Sounds easy and is !
Cost effective...hmmm ? Haven't figured that out yet.
Wow Patsi, that sounds like a mix that any bird would love. I am surprised that the birds have not flocked to it. (sorry :-) I once made my own tallow by boiling down the fat from around a cow's kidney to make soap, it took all day, never again! HA
ReplyDeleteFrances
Well I think you are great for having a go. It takes a lot of time.....me I am lazy I just buy it but if you tell me it works out cheaper I will think again.......
ReplyDeleteCooking down that fat must have taken you quite a while. Raw suet used to be inexpensive, now it's at least a dollar a pound. I make mine differently. 3 parts cheap peanutbutter to 1 part lard. Then I add lots of cornmeal until the mixture is very thick and stiff. I don't add seed, nuts or raisins. The birds love it because of the peanut butter.
ReplyDeleteCost effective? Probably not;) It does lure the woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees onto my special tree so I can get close up photos.
Kudos to you for cooking for the birds! If I could leave off part 1 and the bird seed in part 2, it would be really tasty granola! :-)
ReplyDeleteCameron
Frances,
ReplyDeleteThe Starlings love it !
Just haven't noticed any woodpeckers yet.
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Cheryl,
We use the store bought one's also which last longer. It's still on the warm side here so the birds really don't need my help.
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Marnie,
I'll try some different mixes. I'll do a side by side taste test,one like yours with peanut butter and one with out it. Have to use the small tube cages otherwise the starlings will finish it all in one day.
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Cameron,
Funny ! Except for the fat it was just stuff we had in the house.
Patsi,
ReplyDeleteGOOD JOB! :-)
I tried this a couple of years ago... it was too smelly and time consuming for me. I wonder why I don't remember that growing up as my mom processed pork fat for lard! Anyway, last year I made it by purchasing processed lard at the grocery store. It works much better, as you only have to melt it. (I just found three cakes stored away from last year in the freezer, so I haven't had to do it this, yet!) yea!
Wow, you are ambitious! I'm surprised you aren't overrun with birds! I put suet out last winter and the starlings were the ones that really went after it.
ReplyDeleteWow, thanks for the recipes and info. I've never made homemade suet either and I love the combinations you put together.
ReplyDeleteShady,
ReplyDeleteHmmm...processed lard? Have to ask about that.
The mix I made seems to be favored by the carolina wrens and nuthatch over the store bought but then again it's in the small tube cages which the big birds find difficult to get at.
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Kylee,
Just trying to make the most out of this winter.
Don't get me started on the starlings ! A few little guys are trying to feed then in comes the bullies!
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Racquel,
Feeding and wathching the birds is sorta new to me and still fun. Making suet...we'll see.
Lard makes a better suet and is cheaper than shortning. Kudos for making your own bird food. They should love it.
ReplyDeleteYummy recipe. Except for the wild bird seed and beef suet, I might beat the birds to the feeder :)
ReplyDeleteThis looks like such a feast for the birds - you'll have all the birds in your neighbourhood in your garden... are you having such cold weather as we are here in Brittany right now? Miranda
ReplyDeleteI started making homemade treats about a month or so ago and it is allot of fun. To me, it seems allot cheaper than the store bought stuff because I am still using the initial ingredients I bought. I keep playing with the recipe to see what works best, but so far the recipe below seems to be a favorite.
ReplyDeleteIf you happen to get Birds & Blooms magazine, there were several user submitted recipes in last months issue.
1 cup cheap peanut butter
1 cup lard or shortening
2 cups yellow cornmeal
2 cups quick oats
1 cup flour
Raising, nuts or sunflower seeds to taste
(based on zick dough recipe)
I've thought about buying prepared suet, I just might try this! Please stop over to my main blog, I have a little something for you!
ReplyDeleteHi Patsi,
ReplyDeleteYou are industrious! It puts me to shame! It's a very nice idea. I'm not sure it's something I would do, as I am kinda lazy:) But, it sounds like something I 'should' try sometime, just for the experience! Now, I have made peanut butter, with cornmeal and raisins and birdseed...but it didn't get as firm as the stuff I buy. I think the lard is what would help harden it. Great job:) Jan
NCMW,
ReplyDeleteMy husband asked about lard at the butcher...the beef fat is what we got. I understand Pork is better.
I'm trying everything!
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Joey,
Who knows...maybe bird seed taste good :)
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Miranda,
Weather is around mid 30's during the day.
Using the small tube cage right now for my homemade suet so the big one's stay away.
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Chad,
Like your recipe. I wonder what the flour does?
Don't get that magazine. Have to google it,sounds interesting.
Just made a different batch today for one regular suet cage and the tube one.
My challenge is...making it difficult for the STARLINGS!
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Kim,
Oh Goodie !
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Jan,
Just made a batch with shortening and already did lard. No difference. I'm sure store bought has all kinds of additives to keep it together.
I think if you get a mix that's like a real stiff cookie dough...that's the best you can do.
The cold weather keeps it from falling apart.