PETSGALORE for pets and more

Gourmet Bird Food Balls

2 pounds ground suet
2 cups peanut butter
1/3 cup molasses
1/4 cup bacon grease
1 pound regular oatmeal
1 cup cornmeal
Bird feed with sunflower seeds

Have the butcher grind the suet.

Place suet in a pan and melt over medium heat. Strain into a large bowl. Add peanut butter, molasses, bacon grease, oatmeal and corn meal. Add enough seeds until mixture can be rolled into balls. Roll into two-inch balls and coat with bird feed while warm. Chill.

Place outside for the birds. If using as a gift, wrap individual balls in plastic wrap and tie with a ribbon. Attach a label indicating it is for the birds.

Yields 24 two-inch balls

Hummingbird and Oriole Nectar

2 cups water
1/2 cup granulated sugar

Boil water, then stir in sugar. Return to boiling, then cool, uncovered. Store in the refrigerator. WARNING: Stick to the 4 parts water to 1 part sugar proportion, as more sugar may be harmful to the birds. Use white table sugar only. Honey can encourage a lethal fungus. Artificial sweeteners have no nutrients and cause tumors.

DO NOT add red food coloring. All feeders have red on them somewhere to attract birds. Hang feeders in the shade. Wash your feeder every time you replace the syrup. A bottle brush is handy. Unused sugar water will ferment and get cloudy. It will stay fresh in an outdoor feeder about 1 1/2 weeks in the winter, but will ferment much faster in summer.

Suet Bird Cakes

1 pound lard
1 cup chunky peanut butter
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup oats
1 cup wild bird seed mix
1 cup sunflower seeds

Melt the lard and peanut butter together; stir in the remaining ingredients, and then let the mixture set overnight in the refrigerator.

Shape as desired.