Category: Recipe

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Quick Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes are a typical Thanksgiving staple- often served sweet with butter and brown sugar, in a pie, or savory with butter. Rich in vitamin A, C, and E, many parrots relish this nutritious treat when served warm. Even small birds like finches and canaries can easily pick away at them when mashed.

If you don’t have the hour or two to bake these, don’t worry! They don’t have to be time-intensive:

1. Thoroughly scrub and rinse the outer skin. Using a fork, poke the outside of the sweet potato 4-5 times.
2. Choose a microwave-safe container with a lid that can fit the whole sweet potato. Put the sweet potato in the container and fill it with 1/2″ layer of water.
3. Place this in the microwave and rest the lid on top to keep in the steam. Microwave for about 3 minutes.
4. Using tongs or other utensil, roll the sweet potato over 180′. Replace the lid and microwave for an additional 2 minutes.

Caution, the water and sweet potato will be very hot! Remove from the microwave and take it out of the container to let cool. You can check for done-ness by inserting a sharp knife, which should go in smoothly. When able to be handled, the skin can easily be peeled away and discarded.

Chop into bite-size chunks to serve, or try offering it mashed!

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Pumpkin Oatmeal Puffs

A fluffy bite-sized puff- flavored for the season! Makes about 20-25 quarter-sized treats.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1 tbsp raw pepitas (roughly chopped)
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 1 egg white
  • 1/8 tsp baking soda
  • *1/8 tsp cinnamon
  • *1/8 tsp ground cloves
  • *1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
  • *(You can substitute these 3 spices for a total of 1/2 tsp of pumpkin pie spice.)

    • Directions:

    1. Preheat the oven to 300 F.
    2. Use a food processor to pulse the rolled oats into a coarse meal.
    3. In a medium bowl, add the oats, sugar, baking soda, and spices and mix briefly.
    4. Add the pumpkin and egg white into the dry ingredients and mix until thoroughly combined.
    5. Spoon the mixture into a ziplock or pastry bag, and snip off a small piece of the corner to pipe the batter onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment or foil. The dots should be rounded, roughly the size of a nickel – quarter.
    6. Bake for 12 minutes, then let cool before serving to your birds!

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    Filled Celery Bites

    An easy, crunchy, sweet treat that can be modified to your bird’s preference!

    Ingredients:

    Stalk of celery
    Filling: Peanut butter, almond butter, cream cheese, etc.
    Topping: Chopped nuts, seeds, puffed cereal, etc.

    Directions:

    1. Wash a stalk of celery and dry it completely. This will help the filling stick.
    2. With the dished side of the celery face-up, spread the filling of your choice into the celery.
    3. Turn the celery over (filling side down) and cut into bite size chunks appropriate for your size bird.
    ***TIP: If you have multiple small birds together, feed the whole stalk to entice them into eating socially.
    4. Prepare the toppings of choice on a plate. Press the celery bites filling-side down into the toppings until they stick.

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    Summer Corn

    Corn is a popular, versatile, summer crop that is great, inexpensive enrichment for all types of birds. It is a grain high in carbohydrates, and offers moderate protein and fiber. Corn is also a source of trace vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc.

    Corn can be offered on the cob, in mixes, fresh or dried kernels, and even offered as a toy, and more!

    It is simple to prepare in the oven: Preheat the oven to 350 F. Place the entire ear of corn- husk and all, onto a cooking sheet and into the oven for approximately 30 minutes. Carefully remove the tray of corn. Once cool, the husks and silks peel off with minimal mess. If your corn is raw but already cleaned of husk and silk, you can boil it submerged in water for about 10 minutes. Remove, then let cool.

    Large and small birds alike can enjoy the corn right off the cob. Many play with the cob once the kernels have all been picked clean.