Yummy for the Tummy

by Kathleen Slowik
(Jordan, N.Y. U.S.A.)

This recipe is easy to remember! It is almost all 1-cup measure to save time, or you can use your imagination.


3 cups shortening
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup chunky peanut butter
1 cup wild bird food
1 cup cornmeal (yellow preferred)
1 cup sunflower seed hearts
1 cup raisins
1 cup or less of leftover
Small amount of cracked corn
Nuts that are not too fresh (maybe leftover from last Christmas)
or chopped dried fruit (also leftovers) can be a savings

We just put all the ingredients that we will be using in a large bowl and mix well; all the ingredients listed need not be used. (Such as the nuts or dried fruit.)

The mixture can be placed in muffin tins to harden a little.

The cakes can then be placed on branches or shrubs near windows so you can watch your results--and watch the fun.

We recommend that you use as many ingredients as possible, for the health of the birds. The birds will eat everything that is put out.

You can make this a family activity, and include the children. They can coat pinecones that have fallen out of the trees around your house. You can even take a butter knife and spread it on the bark of the trees. The woodpeckers and nuthatches love this.

The shortening gives the birds energy they dearly need during cold weather.