Birdie Recipes

Corn, Beans, n Rice

I make this in bulk and freeze in zip locks.

Two cups rice , cooked

3 cups red beans cooked

one bag frozen fresh corn steamed.

add all together and serve warm.

I know it sounds too simple , but they love it and it is very good for them.

 Birdie Breads

1 & 1/2 c. self rising corn meal

1/2 c. mixed vegtables frozen

1/4 c. collards chopped

1/4 c. broccoli

1 lg. jar sweet potatoes ( baby food ) or equivalent in sweet potatoes

1/3 c. wheatgerm

2 eggs shell included

1/4 c. seed ( shelled organic sun flower or tiel )

1 TBSP honey

1/2 c. water

1/2 c. milk

 add as necessary to get consistancy of cornbread ( about like pancake batter )

Blend all the vegetable together in food processor , and add to corn meal and egg mixture

Pour into 10 - 12 in cast iron skillet or 8x10 baking pan

Bake approx. 55 minutes or until center is done.

Do not use canned vegetable , only fresh or frozen.

Birdie Bread Muffins

 1 box jiffy corn bread mix

2 eggs

1/3 c/ milk

2 c. mixed vegetable

Bake in muffin pan until done

 Apple Pumpkin Muffins:

1 package Harvest Bird Bread
1 package Just Apples
(Or if you prefer, substitute one large fall fresh apple chopped into small pieces
1 16 ounce can 100% pure pumpkin
2 large eggs
1 cup water
1/2 extra cup water (optional)
2 tablespoons olive oil or Red Palm Oil

In large mixing bowl pour the package of Momma's Harvest Bird Bread. Add the 2 eggs and oil and stir.

Add can of pumpkin to mixture and mix well.

Chop up the Just apples into small pieces. We use our food processor for just a few seconds. You just need to cut apples into smaller pieces so they are distributed through the muffins more evenly.

Add apple pieces to mixture and stir well.

Add water to mix until mixture is blended well. Although the pumpkin will add some moisture to the mixture, the apples will soak up moisture to rehydrate them. Add enough water to make a cupcake-batter consistency. (The thicker the mixture, the longer it will need to bake).

Pour mixture into mini muffin or cupcake pans and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 25 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Oven temperatures can vary so be sure muffins are done.
apple pumpkin harvest muffins
Thoroughly cool muffins before serving to your bird.

Cooked muffins can be placed into freezer bags and removed daily for a fun treat each day until gone.

Use fall or Halloween cupcake/muffin paper baking cup holders to add extra fun for your bird. Hand your bird the complete muffin and watch him or her peel away the muffin paper and relish the yummy fall muffin inside.

 birdie fruit n rice

2 cups prepared Soak & Simmer Bean Mixture (see below)
2 cups cooked brown rice
1 pound fresh finely chopped carrots (use food processor for easy chopping)
fresh fruit such as apple

Preparation time approximately 25 minutes

Follow directions on the Birdeez package for preparation and set aside. Prepare cooked rice and set aside. Peel carrots and cut off ends, then finely chop carrots and place into large bowl. A food processor makes chopping very quick and easy.

Add cooked bean mixture, cooked brown rice, to the freshly chopped carrots in the large mixing bowl and stir well. Then divide into small plastic storage containers for the week and refrigerate.

Each day stir into the prepared mixture a fresh fruit such as chopped up apple dices or other available fruit. Serve warmed up in microwave (be sure to test for hot spots), or serve chilled from the refrigerator. This mixture makes approxdimately 8 cups of food and will feed approximately a week's worth of food to a large flock of birds. Recipe can be halved if you only have one or a few birds to feed.

Birdie Salad

I like layering my salad to help keep it fresher for longer. I start on the bottom of a large plastic container with some chopped greens such as spinach or collard greens. I vary the greens each time I make a salad up so experiement and see which greens your bird likes best. Some good greens to try are spinach, chard, parsley, dandelion, kale, or collard greens.
For my next layer of foods I add two of the following chopped up foods: zucchini and another summer squash, red or green bell peppers, fresh hot peppers, fresh green beans or peas, cucumber, or celery.

Next comes a layer of finely chopped carrots or sweet potatoes for some vitamin A.
A food processor makes chopping carrots or sweet potatoes much easier.

An optional layer is a cooked bean miture. The beans will make your salad higher in protein which may be good for some birds, and not necessary for others.

Next I add some chopped fruits such as apples, a few grapes, and at least one fruit such as oranages for the acid that helps to keep the salad fresh longer.

Then I cover the top of the salad with fozen mixed vegetables right from the bag and cover with a lid and place immediately into the refrigerator.

Each morning I scoop out a serving size bowl of the salad straight from the container without mixing the original salad up. I then mix up the salad in the smaller serving bowl and it's ready to serve. It takes a while to cup and chop all the vegetables and fruit up when you make the salad, but it is one of my birds' favorite foods. You can also add some cooked pasta or cooked rice to the smaller servings for a change during the week. The salad keeps well in the refriferator for several days.

Bird Slaw
1 small head of cabbage
1 pound fresh carrots
1 large bunch of fresh broccoli heads with partial stems
4 summer squash with the ends cut off
1 large green or red bell pepper
1 apple chopped (removed apples seeds)
Apple Cider Vinegar (see below)
Remove outer leaves of cabbage and thoroughly rinse all fresh foods to remove any contaminants.

Cut cabbage into sections and finely chop. A food processor helps make this an easy task. Layer cabbage in large plastic container. I use a sheet cake container upside down so that the bottom becomes the lid, and it holds this slaw perfectly.
Next chop broccoli and spread evenly over the cabbage.
Then finely chop the carrots and spread evenly over the broccoli.
Next chop squash and layer on top of the broccoli.
Finely chop the peppers and layer next.
When finished layering the slaw, add 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar sprinkled over the top of the slaw.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.

To serve, take a large serving spoon and scoop out ever how much you need to feed your flock, and place into a bowl. Stir mixture thoroughly and add a fresh chopped apple to the mixture.

This birdie slaw can be fed to all birds, from finches and canaries to the large macaws. A great recipe for adding Vitamin A and calcium to your bird's diet. A great favorite.

Harrisons Original Bird Bread mix

2 eggs
1 tablespoon Sunshine Factor or Olive Oil
1 Pint fresh blueberries, rinsed and drained
About 1-1/2 cups of Cauliflower florets (similar sized pieces) rinsed and drained and stems cut very short
2 cups of shredded carrots

Spread shredded carrots over top of cake as if they were icing, and with fingers gently press extra carrots into the sides of the cake. Then place cauliflower pieces around the cake for decoration tucking any short stems inside the shredded carrot or the cake. Add more of the remaining blueberries in any design you wish on top of the cake.    Birdie Breads - n -  Muffins Recipes
 

Birdie Bread
2 boxes Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
4 eggs
1/4 cup milk
3 tbs. oil
1 cup raisins
1 cup diced apple
1 cup grated carrots
1 cup grated zucchini

Pre heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix first 4 ingredients together in large bowl. Add next 4 ingredients and mix well. Grease and flour 2 bread pans. Bake at 400 for 35 mins. Variations: You can substitute any fruit or veggie such as: blueberries, cranberries, bananas, broccoli, squash, caulflower, green beans, raspberries, spinach, nuts, pineapple, etc. You can also use other muffin mixes such as the oatmeal, bran, etc.  You can freeze any leftover bread or prepare it in advance and freeze for future use. Serve warm.

Apple-Cheese Muffins
Ingredients: 2 cups whole wheat flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup butter, softened, 1/3 cup sugar, 2 eggsalso scrape cuttle into mix to substitute eggs shell. 1/2 cup chopped apple, 1/2 cup shredded carrot. Directions: Mix the first five ingredients together. Wash the eggs, then blenderize the eggs with the cuttle. Add butter, sugar, apple, and carrot to the eggs and blenderize briefly to mix. Stir together with the dry ingredients until just combined. Spoon into greased muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, or until springy to the touch. 

Banana Nut Muffins
Ingredients: 2 cups whole wheat flour, 2/3 cup sugar, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/4
tsp salt, 1/4 cup cheddar cheese, 3/4 cup chopped bananas, 1/2 cup nuts, finely chopped, 2 eggs with scraped cuttle 1/2 cup vegetable oil.
Directions: Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Wash the eggs thoroughly, blenderize including the cuttle add the oil, and mix well. Add the eggs and oil to the dry ingredients. Spoon into greased muffin cups. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in a 375 degree oven, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Birdie Bread
2 6 oz jars baby food sweet potatoes
2 jars baby food tropical fruit
1-1 1/2 cups pellets or 4 tbss hand feeding formula
3 eggs sgrape in cuttle to substitute for egg shell
 Mix eggs and baby foodand cuttle (calcium source). Mix in remaining ingredients. Put in paper cupcakes or muffin tins- 4 tsps each. Microwave 1-2 mins until firm. Or bake in toaster oven at 400 degrees for 15 minutes till firm. Makes 12 servings. Serve warm, but not too hot.

Bird Bread For Eclectus
2 cups yellow corn meal
1 cup whole wheat flour
l cup currants or raisins
1 cup nuts (pine, almond, walnut, pecan)
1 cup shelled sunflower seeds
1 twenty-nine ounce can of solid pack pumpkin
1 thirty-two ounce bottle of papaya nectar
one half cup of sunflower or safflower oil
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 Tbs baking powder

Combine ingredients in a large bowl. Add enough water or juice to make a pourable batter. Use two large well-greased baking pans. Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes or until done. Cool and slice. Can be frozen. This recipe makes a "heavy" bread, not as light as you would prepare for yourself, but the birds love it! Notice that it contains very little baking powder, (some baking powders contain aluminum) no added sugar or other sweenteners, and no added salt.

Birdie Birthday Cake
1 box Carrot Cake mix
1 can Fruit Cocktail (reserve juice)
1 can Cut Sweet Potatos (reserve juice)
1/3 cup scraped cuttlebone
1/2 cup Flaked Coconut
1/2 cup Raisons

Use the juice from the Fruit Cocktail and Sweet Potatos for the liquid called for in the cake mix. To the liquid I add 4 eggs (box mixes usually need 3, I add the extra one for the protien), mix in all liquids to this including vitamins if you use liquid.To the dry mix I add the scraped cuttlebone and dry vitamins. Mix well then add the sweet potatos and mix with mixer again to chop the Sweet Potatos into smaller pieces. Stir in the Coconut, raisons, and Fruit Cocktail. I cook it in a pound cake pan or a 9 X 13 either one works, cook till done. While still warm I ice with thin layer of peanut butter and sprinkle with coconut. Can be frozen in slices and served as needed.

Birdie Bread for dieting birds
8 cups total of mixed grains and whole flours (wheat,buckwheat,oats,spelt,barley,quinoa etc.) which include 1/2 cup of
either soy or chick peas flour for protein or 1/2 cup of corn meal (to make it less fattening)
2 tbs baking powder
2 cups approx. of whole boiled mixed grains
Approx 8 large carrots
1 large red pepper or 2 small ones
1 or 2 papayas, depending on the size - (I add the whole seeds)
1 or 2 slices of melon
2 eggs - I include the egg shells when I have the time to clean them well first
1 or 2 cups unsalted pumpkin seeds

The boiled whole grains are in addition to the 8 cups. I mix the grains,and boil them for 15 minutes in 2 parts water. After I turn the flame off,  let them sit in the covered pan for another 15 minutes or more to absorb all the water.

The quantities can vary, this recipe gives an idea of the proportions to follow, but if the dough is too soft or too dry it can be adjusted with either more flour or fresh foods.
Grind the fresh foods in the food processor, mix them with the eggs and then mix everything together. Bake it in 2 rectangular pans at 350 for about 40-45 minutes.

If calories are not an issue one could add a variety of other foods like bananas, sesame seeds, crushed nuts,raisins passion fruit, prikly pears, etc. Sweet potatoes would be a very good addition 

Basic Birdie Bread
2 boxes Jiffy corn muffin mix
3 tbss baking powder
1 tsp Spirulina
2 eggs & shells (puree in blender)
4 jars baby food (carrots, sweet potatoes, a fruit, chicken/turkey with rice, noodles, or vegetables)
3/4 cup peanut butter
2 cups baby cereal (buy lowest percent of iron)
1-1/2 cups shredded/chopped veggies (usually carrots or broccoli). Almost any of the baby foods can be used but choose those with a high Vitamin A content.

Warning - the batter will be hard to mix! Mix wet & dry ingredients separately. Combine wet & dry ingredients along with shredded/chopped veggies. Spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray & bake about 30 minutes in a 400 degree preheated oven. Cool on rack, cut into squares & freeze in 3 day batches.

Optional Additions: chopped nuts, toasted soybean bits, shredded low fat cheese, dried fruit (small pieces), shaved cuttlebone, toasted sunflower kernels, pureed bananas, pureed beans (reduce baby foods by one jar ), peeled, pureed fresh mango, papaya or kiwi (reduce number of jars of baby food).

Birdie Bars
2 cups cornmeal
2 cups flour
8tsp baking powder
4 eggs w/shells
1 1/2 cups applesauce
2 cups apple juice
4 tbs peanut butter
2 cups seed
2 cups mixed veggies
1 can fruit cocktail

Mix and pour in greased 9x12 pan and bake at 350 for 40-45 min. Cut in bars, cool and serve.

 Chachi's Muffins
1/2 cup Whole wheat flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup Harrisons Mash or Lifetime diet fine
2 Tbs baking powder
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup hulled organic sesame seed
1 egg (you can sterilize the shells and crush them in too)
1/4 cup grated carrot
1/2 cup orange juice (fresh) may need to add a touch more for consistency

Combine dry ingredients. Mix well, add wet ingredients. Mix well and spoon into small birdy size muffin tins (use spray like Pam to avoid sticking). If you used the small tins you should get approx 2 dozen little muffins just the perfect size for snacking on

High Protein or High Vitamin A Bread

6 Oz. breeder pellets
2 cups cooked beans (kidney, lentils, garbanzo, pinto, etc)
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup reg. flour
3 eggs plus scraped cuttle
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup raw carrots, chopped in blender
1/2 cup shelled sunflower seeds
1/2 cup veg. oil

Cover pellets with hot water to soften. Mash. Add all dry ingredients to pellets. Blend well. Puree beans, eggs, and carrots in food processor or blender. Stir into dry ingred. to make a thick batter. Add water as needed. Bake at 350 degrees 45-50 minutes.  bake these in the miniature muffins pans so.  Freeze in baggies.

Vegetable-rich Bread: Substitute equal amounts of maintainence pellets and cooked veggies. Carrots, brocculi, yams, squash instead of the beans. Prepare as above.

Birdie Bread
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1/2 cup each whole wheat flour and rye flour
- 1/4 cup each Cream of Rice cereal, Malt-O-Meal, grits, and rolled oats
- 4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 3 jars baby food - squash, sweet potatoes & applesauce
- 1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1 large carrot chopped
- 1 cup chopped broccoli stems & crowns
- 2 eggs with shells
- 1 cup puffed brown rice cereal
- water as necessary

Put carrot & broccoli in food processor for 30 seconds. Eggs & shells should also be processed in the food processor until shells are ground. Mix all ingredients and add water to make mixture spreading consistency. Spread in greased 10x13 pan, and bake at 400 for 30 minutes.

Krazy Kornbread
All you need is a box of cornbread mix and 1 cup of frozen mixed veggies. Use whatever your bird likes the best. Prepare the cornbread recipe as directed, adding the still frozen veggies to the mix. Spoon mixture into plain ice cream cups/ Place each filled cup into a cupcake tin - each tin will hold 3 cones. This recipe makes about 36-40.

Bake according to package directions, but watch carefully after about 10-15 minutes. Store in freezer and pop in toaster oven to heat before serving to restore crispyness. Be cautious not to serve too hot however!

Southern Cornbread
2 cups yellow corn meal, 1 cup self-rising flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 tbsp sugar, 2 tbsp Spirulina, 2 raw eggs, 2 chopped boiled eggs, 1 pkg frozen sweet peas or broccoli and grated carrot.

Mix all ingredients including egg shells. Pour into greased baking pan and put in preheated 450 degree oven for about 20 minutes. Cool completely and cut in small squares and freeze. Just take'm out when you need'm.

Macaw Bake
Ingredients: 3 eggs with shell, 1/4 lb. fried hamburger, 2 cups cooked beans (see bean mix below), 1 6oz jar baby food, 3/4 cup honey or course brown sugar, 3/4 cup peanut butter, 1/4 cup powdered soy milk, 1 cup corn meal, 3/4 cup shredded carrots, 2 cups oatmeal or wheat flakes, 1/2 cup oat or wheat bran, 2 tbls. wheat germ oil. I also add some Spiralinea(sp) if I have it.

Directions: Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix everything together and divide into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, or until top of bread is light brown.

Bean Mix - Red Beans, Black-eyed Peas, Great Northerns, Lima Beans, Kidney Beans, Pinto Beans, Soybeans equal to the total amount of mixed beans. Soak for 24 hrs, bring to a boil with a little salt and let sit for a couple of hours. Drain and rinse.

Mexican Veggie Corn Muffins
Take 2 packages of mexican style cornbread/muffin mix, add a drained can of mixed vegtables, put in muffin tins and bake till done. Cut in half and freeze in baggies and pull out a half everyday for the following day so it is thawed for lunch.

Birdie Bread
1 box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
Dump into blender:
1 egg with Scraped cuttle bone
1 carrot washed
1 hunk of sweet potato microwaved 30 sec to tenderize
2 bottles banana baby food
1 handful mustard leaves washed (from the veggie garden)

Substitutes: Vegetable list - 1 stalk of broccoli, handful of washed dandelion greens, handful green beans or peas. Liquids - A piece of banana and 1/3 cup of milk or a nutritious fruit juice can replace the baby food.

Optional: Add spices - 1/2 tsp chili or 1/4 tsp cayenne or 1/4 tsp cinnamon.

Blenderize above and add to corn muffin mix. Mix. Bake as package directs (400 degrees) in greased (corn oil) muffin pan. Must be the slightly green color that is so appealing.

Nutty Birdy Bread
1 box jiffy corn muffin mix
1 egg
1/2 cup of milk
1 apple (peeled, cored , and chopped up good)
1/2 cup quick oats
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 tbs peanut butter
1/2 cup of your birds favorite pellet(s) chopped.

Mix all ingredients together and spread in a 9" X 13" lightly greased pan (I use crisco spray). Bake at 350 for 25-35 minutes. Check with toothpick. Cool completely, cut into 2" squares, serve cool. Saves great in fridge!! Even the picky ones LOVE this stuff!!!

Quick'n Easy Birdy Bread
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup corn meal
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp sugar or honey
2 eggs
3 tbs vegetable oil or palm oil (for African species)
1C milk or buttermilk

Mix the above ingredients and add any of the following: cooked sweet potatoes, squash shredded or chopped, grated carrot, pulverized egg shells, blueberries, peanut butter, walnuts, or anything that your bird likes. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes in a 13x9 pan.

Birdy Muffin
These birdy muffins have been eaten greedily by all birdys of people I suggested them to. Supplement them with your imagination

4 cups boiled and mashed pumpkin or canned pumpkin
2 cups cream of wheat (uncooked)
2 cups grits(uncooked)
1 cups oatmeal(uncooked)
1/2 cups applesauce
1 egg (shell too)
2 tbs baking powder
2 tbs cinnamon
1/2 cups raisins
1/2 cups sugar
1 tbs veg oil

Adjust consistency with applesauce, water, or grits. Spoon into cupcake paper lined muffin tins and bake 20-35 minutes at 400 degrees. I also use Jiffy muffin mix in place of c.o.w. and grits. Sesame seeds are high in calcium. I don't use much sesame seed and if I use it I omit oil from that batch.

Luvin Muffins
2 boxes Jiffy corn muffin mix
1 can cream style corn
2 eggs
2 cups mixed steamed, or boiled carrots, broccoli, cauliflour, onion, any thing else you want to add
2 cups grated cheese (cheddar)
1 cup raisons
1/2 cup any kind of nuts
Optional-- 1 Tbs rasberry jam or honey
2 hard boiled eggs, mashed

Mix everything together, spray muffin pan with Pam or wipe with oil. Drop 1 Tbs per cup. Also good for dogs or cats, they love them.you can also split the recipe and add the rasberry jam to only half of the batter. Bake according to muffin mix direction's. Can be frozen. Will keep in refirigator for up to a week.

another- Birdie Bread Recipe

2 Cups finely ground pellets
1 Very ripe banana
1/3 Cup wheat germ oil
1/3 Cup vegetable oil
6 Large eggs
2 Heaping tbss of canned pumpkin
1 Heaping tbs of applesauce
1 Cup of mixed vegetables
1 Cup of cooked or canned pinto beans
1 Cup boiled brown rice
2 Cups corn meal
4 tbs baking powder
1 tsp Spirulina

Mix the first five ingredients in a food processor until you have a fine blend. Add the next two ingredients and continue to process. Pour entire mixture into a large bowl and add the vegetables, beans, rice, corn meal and baking powder, spirulina and stir. The mix should be the consistency of cornbread. If it's too dry, add the liquid from the pinto beans. If there isn't enough liquid add water. When you have the desired consistency pour into a 13x9 inch baking pan.

Bake the bread at 325 degrees for about 40 minutes or until done. To test your bread insert a toothpick in the middle of the pan. If it comes out clean the bread is ready. Make several pans at once so you can freeze the loaves and use them as needed. Sprinkle vitamins on the bread and crumble it before serving. Good vitamins to sprinkle are: Wheat Grass powder!

corn bread treat

2 boxes Jiffy Corn Bread Mix.
1 tbs of calcium powder or cuttle scrapings
2 eggs
1 jar each baby food Sweet Potato, Green Beans
1 cup crushed pellets
1 large carrot
1/2 cup fresh raw broccoli ground in cusinart
1/3 cup mixed nuts (no peanuts) and dry fruit, also pulverized in cusinart.

Mix Jiffy, nuts, fruit, pellets, egg  calcium or cuttle scrapings- powder together. Add eggs and other stuff, mix well with wooden spoon. Spray a large baking dish with Pam. Mixture will be lumpy and sticky. If it is too thick add a little fruit juice or applesauce. Spread to about 3/4 " thick and bake until golden and knife comes out clean when inserted in center (about 20 minutes to 1/2 hour).

Cut into squares while still hot. When cool, freeze squares in serving portions in plastic sandwich bags. I defrost small sections overnight and then warm it in microwave for 6 seconds.

B's Birdie Bread
- 4 cornbread mixes
- 1 package frozen collard/kale/broccoli (or fresh)
- 4 eggs
- About 1/2 cup to 1 cup low fat, plain organic yogurt
- About 1 - 1/2 cups cooked  golden squash, sweet potato or pumpkin
- 1 cup pellets
Blend Yogurt/eggs/greens, substitute for liquid called for. Mix all ingredients, bake about 45 mins at 400 degrees. I use 4 packages of cornbread mix (size of Jiffy but I try to get them at the healthfood store so they don't contain sugar, and have less salt.
 take fresh or frozen  greens, kale, chard, bok choi tops, broccoli, dandelion or whatever I can find  that is green and high in vitamin A. I put it through the blender with a little yogurt (plain, organic, lowfat) and substitute this for the liquid called for in the recipe. blend in the eggs and all, called for by the recipe.
steam yellow winter squash, pumpkin, or sweet potato, until very soft. In the absolute worst case I will use a can of pumpkin, but be sure not to get pie mix. Just plain pumpkin. I stir in 1 package frozen, 1 can or the equivalent fresh cooked.

 stir in a cup\ of whatever pellets I have to spare, and some bright colored fresh or dried fruit (cranberries, raspberries, blue berries); just enough to catch their attention. Sometimes, I will throw in a few nuts. Pieces are about 1 inch square.
you can also leave out the squash/sweet potato/pumpkin and add chopped red and green sweet peppers, a little garlic chopped, and some hot peppers or dried pepper flakes. Also add about a quarter to half a cup cheddar in small chunks.