With all this miserable wet weather due – You’ll need a few inside crafts to keep everyone happy. Why not try our Birdy Fat Cakes.
Birds really love fat cakes and at this time of year they are just what they need to give them lots of energy and keep extra warm. But feeding cakes and balls needn’t be shop bought; you can use all sorts of kitchen scraps such as cheese and dry porridge oats and they are really simple to make.
So simple you can get the kids involved. Just mix your scraps with melted lard or suet and set in the fridge overnight. Great to do from Octomber to March and takes just 20 minutes.
Avoid using turkey fat, which doesn’t set like suet or lard and can also coat birds’ feathers, preventing them from being able to fly. It can also spread disease. But don’t use anything too salty either and never use salted peanuts or very salty bacon.
You will need
– Lard or suet 250g block should be fine.
– Large mixing bowl.
– Milk Saucepan.
– Large Spoon.
– String or garden twine.
– Old yoghurt pots or plastic cups, but silicone cupcake cases work best
– Wild bird seed.
– Currants
– Sultanas.
– Porridge oats.
– Bread and cake crumbs.
– Grated cheese and peanuts, apple or carrot.
Method
The best ratio for this recipe is one part fat to two parts dry mixture. Mix all your dry ingredients together in a bowl.
1 Melt some lard or suet in a pan and add the dry mix. Stir well until the fat has all been absorbed and the mixture sticks together.
2 Make a hole in the bottom of a yoghurt pot & thread through a length of string, pack pot with your warm fat mixture. If using paper cases you can still make the hole. With silicone ones best to wait till they are set.
3 Place in the fridge overnight to set, then cut through and peel away the pot. Tie a big knot at one end of the twine to secure the cake.
4 Hang the cake in a tree or shrub and wait for the birds to come and feast.
For other ways in which you can help your local wildlife visit www.rspb.org.uk
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