I make: Pine Cone Seed Balls....

It's quite easy, but can be messy.

Ingredients.

*Pure Honey *Seed Mix of your choice (smaller works better) *Egg Whites *Pine Cones of your choice *Corn Meal (optional) *Cotton String to hang with
Prepare pine cones (heating in oven) Boil the honey for 3 - 5 minutes over lower heat. This is important to kill any bacteria that may be present in non-pasteurized honey and also evaporates a bit of excess liquid. In a big tray or large cookie pan, have the seed mix and corn meal if you are using it. Corn meal does help to hold it all together a bit better. Pour the honey over the seeds and mix well. Let it cool enough so you can handle it with your fingers. Tie a string onto the fat end of the pine cones (you may want to do this as the honey is boiling) Roll the pine cone in the honey/seed mix. Use your fingers to stuff it right into the cone. Squeeze it all in with your hand. Quickly roll the seed covered cone in a bowl of beaten egg whites, just to coat it. Place on cookie sheet that has been covered with tin foil. You have to move fairly quickly or the seed mix will start to harden. If it does, zap it in the microwave to soften again. Place cookie sheet (with pine cones) in a very slow oven 175 degrees F. for approx 4 hours. Turn them over after a couple of hours. DO NOT try to speed it up with a hotter oven. You will regret it. Let them cook and then store in brown paper bag. Yes, they can be kept in the freezer.
BTW, please don't use cones from a Cedar Tree.

I also just make little balls
My birds go nutz for them....
Thank goodness we have a cottage up north were pine cones are plentiful

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Okay, Denise. Clarify this for me. I thought honey was bad for birds. The thing is, I know you know your stuff, so I am not questioning you - I'm trying to learn. I just hear so many conflicting stories about honey. I do see that you have placed asterisks around PURE HONEY. Is that were the controversy lies? If so, why?

PS - thanks for the recipe!

I am sorry Kathie, I missed this...
I think the controversary is over the processed honey... I am not sure...
I have been told by many people that pure honey is good for your birds,
but boiling it kills the bacteria that may be in it..I know there are a lot of bird recipes out there that has honey in it..
Also I don't give this as a daily diet.. just as a treat, every now and then... This recipe makes a lot... so I freeze it. Give me one more thing in that freezer to pick from when feeding my birds...
Hope this helps...

sure does - thanks!