Loosely following a recipe found in the book (mainly because I was trying to utilize what I had on hand), I created my own suet-style cakes! If you buy these treats in the store they can range from $1, on sale, to $3+. I made this entire pan for under $3.
On the stove I gently heated some veg shortening until it was liquid and removed it from the burner. I stirred in about a cup of peanut butter until combined. Then I added corn meal, corn flour, and about 3 cups of bird seed until it was the consistency of a thick brownie batter.I sprayed the loaf pan with cooking spray and poured the batter in. I placed it in my garage (which stays just above freezing) for about an hour. I should have stayed out longer but I got inpatient.
The cake easily removed itself from the pan and I made my first 1'' slice. And as you can see it crumbled to pieces! Since it formed back together like cookie dough I figured I didn't let it sit long enough. So it went back out into the garage for the rest of the day. That did the trick. Mostly. I think I am going to have to watch my ratio's on fat/flour more carefully next time to make sure it stays in a solid clump. This loaf pan yielded 8 slices.
I packaged some of the cakes into little gifts! Wrapped in wax paper and twine I added a little hand stamped tag to give as little hostess gifts. They were well received! And, of course, I had to see if the birds preferred my cakes over the store bought kind. And I am happy to report that the birds have eaten through 3 of my homemade cakes while a store bought cake is still in the feeder. Proof that the birds love me more!
