Fun Winter Treats for the Birds!

Here are two fun recipes to make for the birds that visit your yard! We especially like making the Seed Stars! In a few moments after the cookies are in the trees, birds are already visiting them! We enjoy watching our little friends!

Project #1: Seed Stars for the Birds
The seed stars are for the birds to eat, but they also make a great Christmas gift for any bird lover!
Makes about 18 bird cookies

You'll Need:
1 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 cup of Crisco
2 eggs--with the shells (the egg shells give the birds protein)
1 1/2 cups of bird seed

Instructions:
1. Start by putting the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, and baking powder) into a large bowl. Mix well.
2. Next, break up the Crisco and mix into the dry ingredients.
3. Break the eggs into the dough and throw in the shells in as well. Make sure to break the shells into little pieces. If you're using your hands to mix (which is very fun to do), be very careful, as the shells will be sharp. Add the seeds and mix until all the seeds are coated and the egg had pretty much disappeared. Form the dough into a big ball.
4. Lay a piece of wax paper out on the counter and wrap the dough in it. Put it in the refrigerator for 2-4 hours.
5. When the dough is finished chilling, heat the oven to 325 degrees.
6. Roll the dough out about 3/4 of an inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters and lay it out on a cookie sheet.
7. Use a drinking straw to poke a hole in each cookie. This will be for the string to hang the cookie with.
8. Bake the cookies for 10-20 minutes or until lightly browned.
9. Let the cookies cool, then thread the string through the hole and tie a knot.
10. Now you can string yarn through the holes and hand the cookies on a tree outside for the birds or wrap them as gifts for your bird-lover friends. Enjoy!

Project #2: Yummy Bagel Treats for the Birds
You will need:
-a plain or whole grain bagel that is sliced in half or a pinecone (the bagels/s can be stale, because they are for the birds)
-1-foot piece of string or yarn
-peanut butter (chunky is great, but creamy works well, too)
-shallow dish
-knife
-bird seed
-raisins, dried cranberries, or other dried fruit (optional)

What you do:
1. Tie the string or yard around the bagel slices or pinecone to make a hanger for the treat.
2. Spread a thick layer of peanut butter on each half of the bagel. Or slather the peanut butter onto the pinecone, stuffing as much as possible between the scales.
3. Pour some bird seed onto the shallow dish and dip the pinecone or bagel into it so as much seed as possible sticks to the peanut butter. For an added Christmas treat, press raisins or other dried fruit into the peanut butter, as well.
4. Hang your treat outside and watch the birds have a Christmas feast!

Have a great month of December!
Elizabeth