spiritbird
05-01-2015, 12:01 PM
In my search for ways to prepare sweet potatoes this was given to me and does sound good but a little labor intensive.
one small sweet potato; cut into equal size pieces
nut dust (i will explain how to make this below)
cayenne powder
cinnamon powder
popcorn pieces (unsalted, air-popped)
seeds like milliet
coconut milk if needed
dust from pellets (the bottom of the bag dust from pellets)
your birds favorite treats for the center of the truffle
Boil one small sweet potato in water, cut into equal size pieces, until fork tender. [you could steam the Sweet potato too] Drain the water away, but save a tiny amount of the water for mashing, about a teaspoon. using either potato masher or a fork, mash the sweet potato until all the pieces are mashed evenly. if the mash seems a little too dry, you can add a tiny amount of coconut milk to the mash. chill the mash until completely cold in the refrigerator. the mash should be firm.
prepare the nut dust:
in a blender; put raw, unsalted nuts in the blender container. use you birds favorite nuts; sunflower seeds, walnuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, peanuts, brazil nuts, pistachoes, whatever nuts your bird likes. Chop the nuts first into small pieces, then grind them until just dust. do not make nut butter, so do not over grind them. store in airtight container.
once the mash is completely cold, use a 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1 size teaspoon to make the balls. keep the size of the balls suitable to the size of your bird. 1/8 for little ones (budgies) 1/4 for cockatiel size, you get the picture. roll those balls in your hand, like you roll meatballs, until tightly packed, firm. then roll into nut dust, cinnamon, cayenne, dust from pellets, popcorn pieces until coated evenly. chill again for about 20 minutes. the nut dust, cinnamon, cayenne ones will need a second rolling to coat them. i use the tops from cool whip containers to put the nut dust, cinnamon powder, cayenne powder on, then you have flat firm place to roll the truffle on.
for real treat you can put a center in the truffle too. whatever your bird's favorite snack is such as peanuts, sunflower seeds, a piece of walnut, nutriberry, etc, etc. roll the sweet potato mash around it until firm then chill, then in in the nut-dust, cinnamon, cayenne. these truffles can be kept in the refrigerator for several days. you can also freeze the mashed sweet potato for a month.
here are some pictures of ones that are done:
Cayenne:
[Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]
one small sweet potato; cut into equal size pieces
nut dust (i will explain how to make this below)
cayenne powder
cinnamon powder
popcorn pieces (unsalted, air-popped)
seeds like milliet
coconut milk if needed
dust from pellets (the bottom of the bag dust from pellets)
your birds favorite treats for the center of the truffle
Boil one small sweet potato in water, cut into equal size pieces, until fork tender. [you could steam the Sweet potato too] Drain the water away, but save a tiny amount of the water for mashing, about a teaspoon. using either potato masher or a fork, mash the sweet potato until all the pieces are mashed evenly. if the mash seems a little too dry, you can add a tiny amount of coconut milk to the mash. chill the mash until completely cold in the refrigerator. the mash should be firm.
prepare the nut dust:
in a blender; put raw, unsalted nuts in the blender container. use you birds favorite nuts; sunflower seeds, walnuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, peanuts, brazil nuts, pistachoes, whatever nuts your bird likes. Chop the nuts first into small pieces, then grind them until just dust. do not make nut butter, so do not over grind them. store in airtight container.
once the mash is completely cold, use a 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1 size teaspoon to make the balls. keep the size of the balls suitable to the size of your bird. 1/8 for little ones (budgies) 1/4 for cockatiel size, you get the picture. roll those balls in your hand, like you roll meatballs, until tightly packed, firm. then roll into nut dust, cinnamon, cayenne, dust from pellets, popcorn pieces until coated evenly. chill again for about 20 minutes. the nut dust, cinnamon, cayenne ones will need a second rolling to coat them. i use the tops from cool whip containers to put the nut dust, cinnamon powder, cayenne powder on, then you have flat firm place to roll the truffle on.
for real treat you can put a center in the truffle too. whatever your bird's favorite snack is such as peanuts, sunflower seeds, a piece of walnut, nutriberry, etc, etc. roll the sweet potato mash around it until firm then chill, then in in the nut-dust, cinnamon, cayenne. these truffles can be kept in the refrigerator for several days. you can also freeze the mashed sweet potato for a month.
here are some pictures of ones that are done:
Cayenne:
[Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]