Healthy Bird Crackers! Homemade and my first time making them.

[lovethatgrey]

From scratch and no specific recipe. They were a BIG with my flock, delicious and nutritious!

 

Here's the list of ingredients I selected in no particular order. I used all organic, however it's not really a must. Whole flax seed, yellow bell pepper, tomatoes, broccoli, celery, butternut squash, sweet potato, sesame seeds, honey, organic coconut oil, fresh chopped chili peppers, kamut flake, cayenne pepper, turmeric, cumin.

 

Here are photos.

Edited November 1, 2013 by lovethatgrey

[BaileysPapa]

Did you bake it? How long? Puree, or chop, or mix in food processor? Sounds good enough to eat myself!

[KimKim]

I am also curious on how you made these.

[judygram]

Yes Adina inquiring minds want the directions to make this tasty concoction, looks yummy.

[lovethatgrey]

I bought an excalibur dehydrator guys. I blended all of the ingredients that I wanted in the food processor and then dehydrated it all to make crackers. These ones have flaxseed, swiss chard stalk, oatgrain, celery, chili peppers, crushed sunflower seeds, coconut oil, honey, cayenne and turmeric. Delicious for US and for the birds.

 

Here are ones that I made yesterday. They turned out perfect and even better than the first ones. I even made crunchy sweet banana chips! No added oils, no sugars, no chemicals, just ripe bananas!

[VStar Mama]

Ooooooo! New kitchen toys! I've had my eye on an Excalibur dehydrator. I look forward to more additions to this thread about the stuff you make with it!

[danmcq]

Mmmm, sounds yummy for Birdy and Human. Now I guess I have a good reason to submit my request to the accounting department (Wife) for a Dehydrator!! Thanks for sharing this.

[KimKim]

I have one! I will try this soon, thanks!

[Muse]

Ooooooo! New kitchen toys! I've had my eye on an Excalibur dehydrator. I look forward to more additions to this thread about the stuff you make with it!

 

I have one, and I love it. I bought it with the birds in mind, of course, but found it useful for MANY things!

[Muse]

Mmmm, sounds yummy for Birdy and Human. Now I guess I have a good reason to submit my request to the accounting department (Wife) for a Dehydrator!! Thanks for sharing this.

 

I have two, a 'store bought' one that you have to rotate the trays, that takes FOREEEEEVER to dry some things, and the Excalibur. I wish I'd have just taken the plunge and bought the Excalibur to begin with. No rotating trays and the food dries SO much faster! I have used it for everything from some really wonderful grow-your-own organic catnip to making tisanes (dried fruits/leaves that make herbal teas) for myself. I adore my Excalibur and would not part with it.

[Muse]

Cranberries (fresh) have been on sale for the holidays, so I bought, cleaned, very thoroughly washed and followed some instructions I found online. They said just pour boiling water over the berries in a bowl. You can sprinkle sugar on them if you want sweetened. I put a small amount (maybe 3/4 to 1 cup for two bags of berries) of turbinado sugar over the berries just before pouring the water. I think you are supposed to use the sugar after the water is drained but I did not want too much sugar to be on the berries. Don't cook the berries (as you would for homemade sauce) as it makes the flesh too soft. Leave them in the water until the skin pops (usually just a few minutes). It made the strangest sizzling, popping noises as I poured the boiling water from the kettle over the berries. Drain thoroughly. Then the article recommended putting them in a single layer on baking trays and putting in the freezer for two hours. I used the dehydrator trays themselves, with a baking tray underneath to catch drips. Then I just pulled the trays out of the freezer and popped them in the dehydrator. Mine are pretty tart before being dehydrated. Mar gave them the thumbs down at that point, but he is the one with a sweet-tooth. I sampled a few today, to see how well dehydrated they were (not enough) but they were tart but very tasty. I imagine they'd be real good in a scone! I got a bag of Harrison's millet and flax bird bread mix, maybe I will toss a few in when I bake it.

[Breezy2013]

I have a dehydrator. Going to start using it to make fruit and veggie treats for the birds and will try those crackers, too.

[Muse]

I have to say a BIG thank you here. I made some 'crackers' with all organics: sweet potato, flax seed (whole and ground), amaranth, tri-color quinoa, sesame seeds, small amount of sunflower seed (de-hulled), red palm oil, coconut palm sugar, cinnamon and chipotle pepper powder. Megan has gone absolutely nuts for these! She sits and nibbles so delicately at them, and enjoys them until they are a fine powder of crumbs.

 

Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I plan to experiment more, especially since I found organic sweet potatoes for $1.99/lb (instead of the way overpriced single shrink-wrapped ones at the grocery).

[micky21]

Thanks for the recipe, maybe now I can stop sharing my breakfast