Chop?

[mrgoogls]

I want to start making some chop for cooper. I think it will for one, give him a more balanced diet, and also make him a bit less picky. I just have no clue how to make it. all I know is it is a big variety of chopped up food :) haha. what is a recipe for it? and how do you store it? just in general how do you make it?

[josiesmom]

I don't really have a recipe but here's what I've done:

Cooked whole wheat pasta
Cooked brown rice
Flax seed
Steamed sweet potato
Steamed carrots
Steamed Brussels sprouts
Steamed squash

Chop/mash all the steamed veggies and then mix all ingredients together. I freeze serving size portions in muffin pans then defrost as needed. Enjoy.

You can use any veggies you want and just steam, mix and freeze. Josie loves it. Good luck.

[Rescued]

This is the recipe that I use, Kinda, things change depending on what I have on hand.

THE LANDING MASH (more or less….)

2.5 cups Kamut
A heaping teaspoon of turmeric
2 cinnamon sticks
1 cups quinoa
1 sweet potato cut into 1/2″ cubes (or other winter squashes)
16 oz package organic mixed veggies (peas, corn, carrots)
16 oz package organic mixed greens (kale, collard, mustard greens)
1 cup pepitas (raw pumpkin seeds)
1 can garbanzo beans, drained
6 oz Eden small vegetable shells, whole grain
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup dried cranberries
(Any dried fruit should be unsulphured, with no processed sugar)

If you don’t have much freezer space, or a small number birds to feed, proportionally reduce these quantities. If you decide to make the recipe using these quantities, then you’ll want to start with a big soup pot.

To start: bring the large pot of water to a boil. Add the Kamut, turmeric and cinnamon. Stir well. When the water starts to boil again, lower the heat to medium. Cook for 15 minutes.

Add the quinoa and sweet potato. Stir well. Cook another 15 minutes.

Turn off the heat. Drain or add some cold water. You don’t want the Kamut to cook much more, birds really enjoy it slightly crunchy.

When the grains are drained and a bit cooled, put these in a super-sized mixing bowl, or divide into several if need be. Add the remaining ingredients (frozen vegetables, pepitas, garbanzo beans, pasta shells, dried fruit). Stir together. Divide into storage containers. Freeze in 2-3 day portion sizes. As you finish one container, take one out of the freezer to defrost.

This recipe is versatile. Add and subtract other things that your bird may enjoy (e.g. broccoli, coconut, fresh carrots, other grains, walnuts…). If your bird is reluctant to eat a mash, find the ingredient that is their favorite, and put extra amounts to pique their interest. After they are eating it regularly, you can change the proportions to insure that they are eating the variety intended.

Thanks to Leigh Ann Hartsfield for her recipe “Franco’s Favorite Breakfast” in the Nourish to Flourish cookbook. We started with this recipe, and the adoption center birds really enjoyed the addition to their breakfast meal. Then Mary Ault discovered that undercooked Kamut was very appealing to the birds, because they use their hookbills as nature intended, and crack open the grains. The Landing Mash continues to evolve as we add new things or change the proportions. And with spring on it’s way, we will take full advantage of the fruits and veggies of the seasons.

[mrgoogls]

okay thanks! so to store it you just freeze? and then maybe like the night before take it out and let sit to defrost? I want to feed it every day so would that work or does it take longer to thaw?

[josiesmom]

You can probably just put it in the refrigerator the night before. It doesn't take too long to defrost. You will figure out what works for you in no time.

[mrgoogls]

yeah im going on vacation(leaving Saturday yay!) for a week so when I get back ill make it. ill let you know how it works out!

[Blancaej]

Enjoy your vacation! :th_biggrin:

[mrgoogls]

thanks haha. I wish I was taking cooper with me :( I guna miss him haha

[Turquoise]

I pretty much make a variety of whatever veggies I have on hand also. And I do use several different types of frozen veggies added to the fresh. I cook pasta & rice and add it to the cooked veggies when they are finished. I mix all of this together & part of it I add paprika and crushed red pepper for seasoning. Some I add ginger to it for variety. Leyla Belle & Ruby Jewel love anything I cook & put in their bowl. Roscoe & Angel are stubborn and don't always want the cooked food, unless it comes straight from the table. I have tried to fool them with a bowl of bird cooked food to offer instead of the human food which has a bit too much seasoning & butter for them to eat much of. They are not to be fooled easily!:th_hehe:

I also make birdie breads for them & that Roscoe & Angel do like! Sometimes I use only veggies in it sometimes & some I use dried & frozen fruits in it. I have some mixes I need to cook up next week I will be making into fruit bread for them. Ruby Jewel's breeder had her spoiled to eating frozen blueberry waffles warmed for breakfast every day. I do buy the frozen ones for her too, but I also add frozen thawed blueberries to them after I toast the waffles. I break them up in a bowl & mix the thawed blueberries in with the waffle to make them more nutritious. She only gets this a couple of times a week now. Aren't I cruel to the big red girl?:th_LOL: All my feathered kids love these now.