Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, March 9, 1992                   TAG: 9203090006
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Medium

FOOD FOR OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS

Apple pudding

2 cups rendered suet, bacon fat or lard

3 cups chopped apples, including cores and seeds

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped raisins

3 cups dry crumbs (bread, cake or cookie)

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup peanut butter

In a skillet or saucepan, warm the fat until pourable. Meanwhile, stir together the remaining ingredients.

Gradually add the fat to the fruit mixture until a sample just holds its shape when squeezed.

Press into muffin cups fitted with paper liners, or pack into a loaf pan or square baking pan lined with plastic or foil.

Clean tuna or cat-food cans can also be used (no need for liners). Chill until firm. Yield: About 2\ pounds.

To serve: Hang one or two muffins, without the liners, in a mesh bag, or put in a suet holder. Or tack cans to a post or tree.

To store: Refrigerate, wrapped, up to three days. Freeze up to a month.

This recipe is best for cool or cold weather but is acceptable all year. \ Putting-on-the-Dog suet muffins

1 pound (2 cups) rendered suet

1 can (14 ounces) high-quality canned dog food

In a skillet, heat the suet until pourable; stir in the dog food (hard bubbling will follow). Cooked over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes to get rid of surplus moisture.

Cool until semi-liquid, then stir to distribute the meat bits. Mold as "muffins" or as a loaf. Chill. Yield: 1 1/2 pounds.

To serve: Hang muffins or chunks in mesh bag, or put in a suet holder.

Softened, the mixture is fine for packing into the holes in a log feeder or for filling a milk-carton feeder.

To store: Refrigerate, wrapped, up to a week. Freeze up to two months.

This recipe is best for cool or cold weather. Place in shade if days are warm. - Associated Press