Shapes for the Birds

I have been making birdfood wreaths all summer, and recently decided to get the kids involved.  It is an easy five minute recipe with things that I usually have on hand, and the kids can get involved by pressing them into cookie cutters to make shapes.  Here is what you will need:

4 cups wild bird food
1/2 cup warm tap water
3 TB light corn syrup
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
3/4 cup flour
nonstick cooking spray
Wire whisk, large bowl, large wooden spoon
*If making a wreath, a bundt pan
*If making shapes, about 10-12 cookie cutters, and three disposable drinking straws, wax paper, and twine to hang them later.

First, in a large mixing bowl, whisk together the tap water and gelatin until the gelatin is roughly dissolved.  It doesn't have to be perfect, and will not dissolve into a "clear" state- that is ok.  Then whisk in corn syrup and flour.  It will be sort of like a thick glue consistency.  If you would like to make a wreath, spray the nonstick spray into a bundt pan, making sure to evenly coat the whole surface.  If you are making shapes, spray the inside surfaces of all of the cookie cutters.  Drop the four cups of birdfood into the gluey mixture and stir with the wooden spoon.  Make sure to really mix all the components through well- you will notice that all of the birdseed will look sticky when it is ready- no un-sticky seeds here!
Next, if you are making a wreath- easy peasy- pour the mixture into the (sprayed) bundt pan and press it down firmly.  If you are doing shapes as I had my kiddos do, lay two sheets of wax paper down on your surface (ours was the countertop).  Lay out your cookie cutters, and spoon large chunks of the birdfood glop into the shapes.  I sprayed the back sides of some spoons and let them press away.  They could also use their hands, but my oldest hates to get dirty (I know, totally weird) and also it sticks to anything not sprayed.  Try to fill up the cutters so that when they are all pressed, the top of the mixture is even and flat with the top of the cutters.
Once they are full and pressed down, cut the drinking straws into fourths, and insert them into the mold wherever you might want to place the hole to hang them.  No need to remove them at this point, just press them in, all the way to the bottom. 

Let these sit overnight.  In the morning push them out of the forms and onto a paper towel to dry further for a few more hours.  Also push the straw all the way through and then back out to create the hole to hang them. 

Once they are really hard, you are done.  String and hang!  A fun activity for the kids, and then they love to watch them get eaten.  On our example, I strung three together, but you can also hang them individually.  If doing a wreath, use a wide ribbon or strip of fabric to tie it up.