Fids Favorite Recipes

[fidsandfrats]

Hi All,

I work full-time so I don't have time to chop and cook every day. What are some of your fids favorite recipes that can be cooked, frozen and thawed as needed? Keep in mind that I am only cooking for 2 fids.

Bring those recipes on - the more the merrier - lol

Karen

[Deanna]

Hi Karen! I went down to the Vitamin Cottage (don't know how widespread their stores are--they offer a wide variety of organic foods).

For my mush (which varies each time I make it) I bought about 1-2 cups each of about 11 or more different (uncooked) whole grains. At home, I have a larger Tupperware type container and mix all the grains thoroughly. You can decide to add cinnamon into the dry grains or wait to mix it in while it cooks. Because I am well adept at burning and scorching grains, I tend to cook them in the microwave instead. I cook up about 1 cup dried at a time. You can do that or cook more. To save and serve later, simply spoon the mush into ice cube containers and wrap with freezer wrap. When you want to serve it, you take out the proper amount of cubes, thaw by whatever method you like the best and serve (cooled of course for the safety of the bird).

My beans, peas and lentils I do the same exact way. This last time, I think I bought about 15 different varieties at Vitamin Cottage. I tend to just slightly undercook my bean/lentils, my parrots tend to like handling them better rather than if they are mushy. You can freeze individual portions in ice cubes as well.

I buy only organic products. You can also get some beans/lentils that are prepared and canned--I like to make my own, though. If canned, make sure they have no salt added and definitely organic.

Bon apetite! :rotflmao:

[Shirley]

We keep it simple:

Thaw out frozen veggies: corn and peas (in summer, fresh corn on the cob, give them "wagon wheels" of slices of corn on the cob

grated carrots (or chopped)

We use a veggie chopper

fresh squash sliced and put in the chopper.

We make a "butter tub" of large chopped chunks and thawed veggies, put it in the fridge and give it to the large birds every other day or daily, whatever works.

We make the same of tiny chopped with the "tiny setting" on the chopper, and give that to the cockatiel and smaller sized birds.

It lasts about 5 days in the fridge.

I never cook for the birds -- but they get baked sweet potato once in awhile.

I don't feed pasta - they love it and get it when we have spaghetti. They get all those carbs in their pellets, corn, etc.

Their foundation diet is their pellets, and then once or twice a week they get Hookbill Legume by Goldenfeast - they love that, and it's a complete diet. Nuts, grains, seeds.

We feed apple on occasion.

[fidsandfrats]

Hi Karen! I went down to the Vitamin Cottage (don't know how widespread their stores are--they offer a wide variety of organic foods).

For my mush (which varies each time I make it) I bought about 1-2 cups each of about 11 or more different (uncooked) whole grains. At home, I have a larger Tupperware type container and mix all the grains thoroughly. You can decide to add cinnamon into the dry grains or wait to mix it in while it cooks. Because I am well adept at burning and scorching grains, I tend to cook them in the microwave instead. I cook up about 1 cup dried at a time. You can do that or cook more. To save and serve later, simply spoon the mush into ice cube containers and wrap with freezer wrap. When you want to serve it, you take out the proper amount of cubes, thaw by whatever method you like the best and serve (cooled of course for the safety of the bird).

My beans, peas and lentils I do the same exact way. This last time, I think I bought about 15 different varieties at Vitamin Cottage. I tend to just slightly undercook my bean/lentils, my parrots tend to like handling them better rather than if they are mushy. You can freeze individual portions in ice cubes as well.

I buy only organic products. You can also get some beans/lentils that are prepared and canned--I like to make my own, though. If canned, make sure they have no salt added and definitely organic.

Bon apetite! :rotflmao:

Hi Deanna,

I wish there was a place like that here. We have Whole Foods or Central Market. The problem is when I buy let's say leafy green, I have to buy so much of it there is no way I could use it eat it before it goes bad. That's my biggest problem.

[fidsandfrats]

We keep it simple:

Thaw out frozen veggies: corn and peas (in summer, fresh corn on the cob, give them "wagon wheels" of slices of corn on the cob

grated carrots (or chopped)

We use a veggie chopper

fresh squash sliced and put in the chopper.

We make a "butter tub" of large chopped chunks and thawed veggies, put it in the fridge and give it to the large birds every other day or daily, whatever works.

We make the same of tiny chopped with the "tiny setting" on the chopper, and give that to the cockatiel and smaller sized birds.

It lasts about 5 days in the fridge.

I never cook for the birds -- but they get baked sweet potato once in awhile.

I don't feed pasta - they love it and get it when we have spaghetti. They get all those carbs in their pellets, corn, etc.

Their foundation diet is their pellets, and then once or twice a week they get Hookbill Legume by Goldenfeast - they love that, and it's a complete diet. Nuts, grains, seeds.

We feed apple on occasion.


Hi Shirley,

You chop everything up at once not as you need?

[Shirley]

Yes.... about 5-6 days' worth at a time. If I had to do this on a day-to-day basis, they'd rarely get veggies!

I got the food chopper brand and idea from watching The Gabriel Foundation people prepare veggies for their flock at AAV... quite quick and manageable!

[tropiclegirl]

I do pretty much like Shirley, i chop varieties of veggies in a chopper and put it in a container in the fridge twice a week. I cook up stuff like, wild rice, lentils, quinoa, barley, varieties of beakapetite, split peas, beans etc. I put this in muffin pans, freeze and put in freezer bags. This way when i want to mix in lets say some beans with there mix for the week, i just unthaw a serving and mix it in. This way im not always having to cook.

Also with different fruits that i get like the big stuff such as watermelon, canteloupe, honey dew, papaya etc. I either chop in cubes or i use a tiny scooper thing and freeze in freezer bags. I sometimes give this as a "frozen treat" and they love it. This way, the fruit does'nt go to waste because they are not going to eat a whole watermelon or a canteloupe. Plus i don't give them fruit every single day because of the sugar.

[fidsandfrats]

I do pretty much like Shirley, i chop varieties of veggies in a chopper and put it in a container in the fridge twice a week. I cook up stuff like, wild rice, lentils, quinoa, barley, varieties of beakapetite, split peas, beans etc. I put this in muffin pans, freeze and put in freezer bags. This way when i want to mix in lets say some beans with there mix for the week, i just unthaw a serving and mix it in. This way im not always having to cook.

Also with different fruits that i get like the big stuff such as watermelon, canteloupe, honey dew, papaya etc. I either chop in cubes or i use a tiny scooper thing and freeze in freezer bags. I sometimes give this as a "frozen treat" and they love it. This way, the fruit does'nt go to waste because they are not going to eat a whole watermelon or a canteloupe. Plus i don't give them fruit every single day because of the sugar.

Great! Thanks

[fidsandfrats]

Yes.... about 5-6 days' worth at a time. If I had to do this on a day-to-day basis, they'd rarely get veggies!

I got the food chopper brand and idea from watching The Gabriel Foundation people prepare veggies for their flock at AAV... quite quick and manageable!


Hi Shirley,

I would love to watch that! Is there someplace on the internet I can go to see that?

I'll have to give that a try.

[Sue]

We only have 2 birds so it's not a big issue.

Some of mines faves
Noodles, only take 3 mins.

I mash cooked potatoes, sweet potatoes and any left over veggies, add a tiny bit of cheese and roll into a sausage shape.
I do the same with cooked red lentils.

Hard boiled eggs keep in the fridge for a few days.

[Shirley]

I saw them at AAV (Assoc. Avian Veterinarians) last year - the food chopper they used there was from Linens n Things - This is the one:
HERE (https://www.chopwizard.com/?source=gg&camp=chop&grp=name&term=chop%20wizard&&s_kwcid=chop%20wizard|736961059&gclid=COPB3L3JzpICFRsMIgod8EzIBQ)
This comes on with audio... just warning...

They use a HUGE version at their rescue/adoption facility in Colorado, but used this one at the conference for the 20 or so parrots they brought.

They got it at Linens n Things, and that's where I found ours.

[Shirley]

Also, I've tried to get ours to eat red palm oil -- it's a really good thing to give them... and they pretty much turn their beaks up at it. I've mixed it in, you name it...

[fidsandfrats]

We only have 2 birds so it's not a big issue.

Some of mines faves
Noodles, only take 3 mins.

I mash cooked potatoes, sweet potatoes and any left over veggies, add a tiny bit of cheese and roll into a sausage shape.
I do the same with cooked red lentils.

Hard boiled eggs keep in the fridge for a few days.

Hi Sue, You mash everything together? What is the consistency - creamy, lumpy, is the pasta mashed too? Do you serve it to them in the sausage shape? Are they big on shapes is that why?

Thanks.

[fidsandfrats]

Also, I've tried to get ours to eat red palm oil -- it's a really good thing to give them... and they pretty much turn their beaks up at it. I've mixed it in, you name it...

Hi Shirley,

I just ordered some RPO which should be here any day. Some birds go crazy and some hate it I guess. I heard that if you cook with it it depletes all the goodness. Any truth that you shouldn't cook with it?

[fidsandfrats]

I saw them at AAV (Assoc. Avian Veterinarians) last year - the food chopper they used there was from Linens n Things - This is the one:
HERE (https://www.chopwizard.com/?source=gg&camp=chop&grp=name&term=chop%20wizard&&s_kwcid=chop%20wizard|736961059&gclid=COPB3L3JzpICFRsMIgod8EzIBQ)
This comes on with audio... just warning...

They use a HUGE version at their rescue/adoption facility in Colorado, but used this one at the conference for the 20 or so parrots they brought.

They got it at Linens n Things, and that's where I found ours.


There is a Linens n Things on my way home. I may have to make a stop!
Thanks again.

[Shirley]

Ours is in a little blue bottle and should be kept somewhat cool. You have to warm it up a bit to get it out of the bottle. It makes their food "oily". It tastes awful, like tasteless oil imo. I've never ever heard of cooking with it.

[tropiclegirl]

That chopper is awesome!! Im running out today to get one. That is great for the larger size pieces. I use an electric chopper that makes it smaller.http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.lssproducts.com/images/large/421030.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.lssproducts.com/product/4064/measuring-cutting-helpers&h=249&w=350&sz=10&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=kKQPStCZrgLgdM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=120&prev=/images%3Fq%3Delectric%2Bfood%2Bchopper%26um%3D1%26 hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN

[Shirley]

You'll love it! Don't "force it down" on large things or the plastic might break.

[CocosMomma]

Hi All,

I work full-time so I don't have time to chop and cook every day. What are some of your fids favorite recipes that can be cooked, frozen and thawed as needed? Keep in mind that I am only cooking for 2 fids.

Bring those recipes on - the more the merrier - lol

Karen

Coco likes bananas, in any way, shape or form. One way I make good use of my bananas is to slice them up when they are perfectly ripe for serving, place them on a cookie sheet, freeze. Then after frozen, I put in regular freezer container. She can then have a slice or two of thawed banana whenever she wants... she actually likes it before it is completely thawed, but that is a personal preference of hers.. it is still on the cool, but not icy or warm side. It's nice and gooey and mushy (drain off excess water if there is any)... she just seems to love it that way. Once the slices are frozen, they won't stick together in the freezer container.

[fidsandfrats]

That chopper is awesome!! Im running out today to get one. That is great for the larger size pieces. I use an electric chopper that makes it smaller.http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.lssproducts.com/images/large/421030.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.lssproducts.com/product/4064/measuring-cutting-helpers&h=249&w=350&sz=10&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=kKQPStCZrgLgdM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=120&prev=/images%3Fq%3Delectric%2Bfood%2Bchopper%26um%3D1%26 hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN

I have both a large and small food processor. The small one kinda looks like yours.

[fidsandfrats]

Coco likes bananas, in any way, shape or form. One way I make good use of my bananas is to slice them up when they are perfectly ripe for serving, place them on a cookie sheet, freeze. Then after frozen, I put in regular freezer container. She can then have a slice or two of thawed banana whenever she wants... she actually likes it before it is completely thawed, but that is a personal preference of hers.. it is still on the cool, but not icy or warm side. It's nice and gooey and mushy (drain off excess water if there is any)... she just seems to love it that way. Once the slices are frozen, they won't stick together in the freezer container.

Great idea! Thanks

[Shirley]

Steve's making veggies tonight. I'll post pics.

[Sue]

Hi Sue, You mash everything together? What is the consistency - creamy, lumpy, is the pasta mashed too? Do you serve it to them in the sausage shape? Are they big on shapes is that why?

Thanks.

Yes mash together, if it's too gooey, I put it on kitchen roll so it's rollable, is that a word:funny:
Maybe I misled a bit about shapes, I put in small sausage shapes for Toto, M2 who holds food in his foot . Shape is irrelavant to Ollie, tiel. Just saves me feeding Toto off a spoon which can be time consuming.

[tropiclegirl]

I saw them at AAV (Assoc. Avian Veterinarians) last year - the food chopper they used there was from Linens n Things - This is the one:
HERE (https://www.chopwizard.com/?source=gg&camp=chop&grp=name&term=chop%20wizard&&s_kwcid=chop%20wizard%7C736961059&gclid=COPB3L3JzpICFRsMIgod8EzIBQ)
This comes on with audio... just warning...

They use a HUGE version at their rescue/adoption facility in Colorado, but used this one at the conference for the 20 or so parrots they brought.

They got it at Linens n Things, and that's where I found ours.

I had to go to Meijers today to grocery shop for us and the birdies and guess what they had there!!!! I bought that cool little gadget and i LOVE it! I made the birds mix for the rest of the week. I had so much fun using it. I get exited over this little kind of stuff!! :dance: Thanks so much Shirley :thanx::beerchug:

[Shirley]

you're welcome, Tina!

Here is how we do corn on the cob, and we cut only what we will feed that evening.

The squash is next to the corn -- we cut rings, then put the rings on the chopper and cut it up for the birds.

The bottom two images: Small birds and large birds: carrots and squash are what's cut small and large. The corn and peas is the same. Sweet corn and white shoepeg corn.

He made enough tonight to last 'til next weekend. (9 or 10 days)

http://shirleymorgan.com/misc/veggies.jpg

[Shirley]

We feed fresh string beans (green beans from the vine) unchopped for the Senegal on up in size, and chopped for the little birds. We just hand them a greenbean or two.

[tropiclegirl]

I normally cook my squash. Does it have to be cooked? Same with zuchinni? The big squashes like acorn and sphegetti i bake.

[Shirley]

Nope, raw! :)

[CocosMomma]

I got a mini chopper (called a 'Quick Chop') at bed bath and beyond for $5 for days when I don't want to drag out the bigger chopper (and with not having a lot of birds like some, this is easy)... it will chop anything... nuts, etc. It has a little coaster thingee that goes on the bottom that you chop the stuff into, or you can put it on the counter or a chopping board... either way. Very fast, quick clean up too, for smaller fid-families. Each time you chop-down, the blades move a slight turn , and you can control if you want to rough chop or mince.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee216/rc766/PICT0390.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee216/rc766/PICT0391.jpg

[tropiclegirl]

Oh that is good news Shirley, thanks.

Look at that tiny little chopper Robin, is that for Budgies? :rotflmao:

[tootiehead]

Could I get this in a cookbook form? It wouldn't be so easy to print all this out and have it handy in my kitchen. I had no idea you could freeze fruit! Also didn't know you could fix up the veggies and keep them in the fridge for 5 days. We need a bird recipe book. Anybody want to make one of those for all of us?

[Shirley]

I have one, but it's too much trouble... too much baking and such. I'd rather have a sensible birdie cookbook. Troy hosted a cooking show on TV... he's a terrific chef/cook/chemist in the kitchen... we'd love to make a comical DVD of cooking for the birds with Troy doing all the silly stuff in the kitchen with the birds hanging around him, and cuts to Dr. Cook explaining the nutritional importance of the various ingredients, etc.

[fidsandfrats]

I think "think" that I figured out that Dozy don't like her veggies put in the food processor! I have a chopper similar to Robins. I went home last night and used my chopper rather than the food processor and she actually at some veggies. I chopped up zuchinni, carrots, sweet potato, yellow squash, and jalapeno pepper. I mix the veggies with a mix of rice, egg and cheese I had frozen. Oh! I also sprinkled some ground up pellets in the mix-he he he. Her beak was covered! Keep your fingers crossed. I'll do so more experimenting this weekend. This is encouraging and I hope I'm not speaking too soon.

Thanks for the idea!!!

[CocosMomma]

Coco, like Dozy, is discerning with regard to size and shape. Additionally, if I have a new veggie I want her to try or one she seems to be ignoring... I lightly dip it in some applesauce and that usually gets her much more interested in tasting it!:thumbup: Sometimes, a bowl of veggies tossed in a light all natural-no sugar "applesauce dressing" fits the bill quite nicely!!!

[fidsandfrats]

Coco, like Dozy, is discerning with regard to size and shape. Additionally, if I have a new veggie I want her to try or one she seems to be ignoring... I lightly dip it in some applesauce and that usually gets her much more interested in tasting it!:thumbup: Sometimes, a bowl of veggies tossed in a light all natural-no sugar "applesauce dressing" fits the bill quite nicely!!!

I'll have to remember that. Thank you!

[SadennaAndFlock]

I toss a variety of veggies in my food chopper and grind them down into small pieces but since I have a big flock I don't worry about freezing anything I make just the right amount for the days feeding..but I don't see why you couldn't not freeze the ground up veggies into daily portions and freeze..

this is how I do my veggies both frozen thawed and fresh mixed together

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/sadenna/Misc2/veggies.png


It should not be a problem to freeze this into several days portions..

[tropiclegirl]

Oh i also sqweeze a little bit of orange juice or lemon into my mixes that i keep for the 3-5 day period in the fridge. Or sometimes i just chop up the orange and mix it in. This helps to prevent any bacteria and keeps the food fresh :)

[Redtailslave]

We often make mashed potatoes (we're vegetarians, so I like to make extra), and heat up a little bit around dinner time. I serve them with steamed veggies (broccoli, corn, carrots, peas, green beans, etc). Other times, I do the same with rice and even pasta dishes. For breakfast, I usually cook steel-cut oats (with blueberries), but because they have to be cooked on the stove-top, it takes a little longer... But you could use instant oatmeal, mash in a banana and trow in some apple cubes or raisins. And don't forget the birdie breads - My friend makes two loafs, freezes them in slices, thaws as needed and microwaves the bread with a little water, so it turns into a mash. I believe she uses a corn muffin mix, and throws eggs and veggies in a blender, then bakes the whole thing! Easy ;)

I attached a photo of some snacks. Sorry for the picture quality, we had just gotten our brat... those were the experimental days - lol!