Bird Cookies

Emily Again…

 

Yesterday our “eggtivity” was to whip up a little love for the birds in our lives. We live in the North East and I am amazed at the things that live in our backyard. We have woodpeckers, red birds, yellow birds, blue ones… (I’m ashamed to admit that I actually DID take a bird watching Zoology class in college and I used to know the difference between a finch and a swallow. Not so much anymore.) Anyway, the point is we’ve got company out our windows so I have been plotting some kind of bird activity for a while. I didn’t really want to do the pine cone birdseed thing so when I saw this idea I wanted to give it a try.

Alex (19 months) kept walking around calling these “cookies” so we named them “bird cookies”. We got 10 out of this recipe.

“Bird Cookies” (recipe from intimateweddings.com)

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup water

1 envelope unflavored gelatin (2.5 teaspoons)

3 tablespoons corn syrup

4 cups birdseed

Mix everything BUT the birdseed. Add the birdseed and stir well.

(I accidentally just poured it all into the bowl and mixed it up at once. I think it worked fine, but I think it might be best if the gelatin dissolves in the water first… just an idea.)

Pick out your favorite cookie cutters. We used an egg, a bunny, a tulip, and a star. Spray the inside with cooking spray and place on parchment paper. Fill your cookie cutter with the gooey birdseed mixture. Spray your hands with cooking spray (this is really important because that birdseed sticks like crazy.)

Use those little fingers at your disposal to really smash that birdseed in.

These are the cubby fingers of my 19 month old little man.

Make a hole using a straw or a chopstick or a skewer or stick or pencil… anything, really…

Abby is demonstrating here before the birdseed is in, but really you have to do it after you’ve got all the seed in.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can sample the birdseed like my Zack (who won’t even taste spaghetti or alfredo but he WANTS try birdseed… go figure!)

He thought it was about as nasty as spaghetti…

Let the bird cookies dry overnight.

Then add jute or ribbon or string and hang.

As we were making these, Zack said “HEY! We’re being nice to the BIRDS!!!”

This isn’t Mickey Mouse… it’s an upside down bunny head…

And you may have to be creative to get them into the trees…

One tip, put the hole as close to the middle as you can. Though most of them withstood being carried around by my baby, they will break off of the ribbon if the hole is too close to the edge!

Now I just need to go research those birds that will be coming to visit!!