Pinecone Suet Cakes

2005.12.01

Here's a great way to draw birds to the yard during the winter season. They'll appreciate the extra nutrition, too.

Materials

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 pound lard
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup oats
• 1 cup wild birdseed mix
• 1 cup unsalted/non-roasted sunflower seeds

Directions

1. In a large pan, melt the lard and peanut butter together, and then stir in the remaining ingredients.
2. Let the mixture cool overnight.
3. Tie a string around the top of an open pinecone. You can get one of these from the trees at our entrance on Huckleberry Way.
4. Then spread the suet mix over the cone with a butter knife or spoon, working it into the recesses. Hang on a tree branch or on the eave of your house, preferably within sight of a window so that you can bird watch.

Happy birds will be flocking around your house in no time!