Make clever use out of a Bundt pan by creating a pretty suet-birdseed feeder for your feathered friends.

Tools and Materials

• Suet
• Saucepan or baking dish
• Fine cheesecloth
• Measuring cup
• Fresh cranberries
• 6-cup Bundt pan
• Wild birdseed
• Dried cranberries
• Roasted unsalted peanuts
• Large plastic spoon
• Wide ribbon

Birdseed Wreath How-To

1. Begin by cutting 1 pound of suet into small chunks and rendering in a saucepan (or baking dish in a 375-degree oven) until all the fat has melted.
2. Strain rendered suet through fine cheesecloth, allow it to harden at room temperature, and then melt and strain again. Measure out 1 1/2 cups melted suet and set aside.
3. Place fresh cranberries in bottom of 6-cup Bundt pan in desired pattern (we used three cranberries in every other channel).
4. In a large bowl, thoroughly combine 4 cups wild birdseed and 1 cup each dried cranberries and peanuts.
5. Add melted suet to dry ingredients and thoroughly coat using large plastic spoon or your hands.
6. Once completely combined, fill pan with mixture, being sure to press down firmly as you go.
7. Allow mixture to harden overnight in the refrigerator (or freezer).
8. Once hardened, remove pan from fridge and allow to sit at room temperature for 5 or 10 minutes before unmolding.
9. With wide ribbon, hang wreath outside when temperature is around freezing. Be sure wreath is not in direct sunlight, to avoid melting or spoiling. (Tip: Avoid using twine or rope to tie up wreath as it can pull through and break the side of the wreath.)

Resources

6-cup Anniversary Bundt Pan available from Nordic Ware. Wild birdseed available from your local pet or hardware store. Suet available at your local grocery store or butcher -- if you don’t see it in the meat case, ask your butcher or meat person to order it directly for you.