A friend and fellow blogger called Makeover Momma (wonder if I should have a bird makeover in the blog some day) asked for submissions for our favorite Holiday Recipes! I think she was hoping for fudge and cookies and gingerbread, but of course, mine is a bird food recipe. It's one many birders may be familiar with but the recipe always bears repeating. It's the suet dough recipe that I learned from my favorite bird blogger, Julie Zickefoose. I have adjusted the recipe a bit for the birds in my area and feel free to make adjustments as you see it. The original recipe can be found at the Bird Watchers Digest site.

1 cup melted lard or beef suet
1 cup peanut butter
2 cups quick oats
2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
half cup sunflower hearts (unsalted)
half cup crushed pecans (unsalted)
half cup peanuts (unsalted)

Melt lard and peanut butter together on a low burner. Take off heat, and add remaining ingredients. Spread on a cookie sheet, and allow to cool in the refrigerator until the mixture is just hard enough to cut into pieces. Store in freezer bags and use as needed.

This is a great suet dough to spread into suet logs, spread on the sides of trees, use in the suet sandwich, a tray feeder or offer on a deck rail and dish like Julie does.

Remember, if you purchase items at my Birdchick's OpenSky Store 20% of the profits are donated to the American Birding Association's birding programs for kids. So you're not only getting products that I personally recommend and own (or have given to family and friends), your support helps grow cool birding opportunities for young birders.