Merlin & Mikeys' Majikical Treat Bars

My sweeties enjoy these treats. We have a Greenwing Macaw and a Congo African Grey. Instead of using crushed egg shells, go to the beach, get some seashells, rinse and dry them well. Place in a freezer baggie, crush them finely with a hammer. You can make all veggies, all fruit, all nut or any combinations of each, whatever your Parrots love. Prep time doesn't include 4 hour freeze time, 1 hour cool time for baking pan method nor 20 minutes to wrap. Serving size depends on cut of bars or muffin method. Muffin method will make many more.

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 72
• Yields: 1 pan

Ingredients

• 2  boxes  Jiffy cornbread mix, prepared as directed (or your favourite cornbread recipe)

• any mix or combination of

• 1⁄4-1⁄2 cup  fresh, frozen or leftover  vegetables (no salted veggies - NO !... onions, tomatoes, avocados)
• 1⁄4-1⁄2 cup  fresh fruit or 1⁄4-1⁄2 cup  frozen fruit, chopped (ie apples, oranges, bananas, pineapple, cherries, seedless grapes, coconut, dates, figs, raisins, cr) or 1⁄4-1⁄2 cup  canned  fruit cocktail, drained and rinsed well,paper towel dry
• 1⁄4-1⁄2 cup  raw unsalted peanuts or 1⁄4-1⁄2 cup walnuts or 1⁄4-1⁄2 cup pistachios, shelled and chopped
• 1  hardboiled egg, chopped,finely crush the egg shell and add to mixture
• 1⁄2 cup cooked pasta
• 1⁄4 cup  low salt cheese or 1⁄4 cup  no salt cheese, chopped,grated or shredded

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Prepare cornbread as directed.
3. Mix into the batter any combinations/ amounts listed or your Parrots favourites Using paper lined mini muffins tins or a greased 13 x 9 baking pan.
4. Spoon in muffins tins/ pour batter into pan.
5. Bake 10- 25 minutes- depending on pan method used, until golden.
6. Cool on wire racks.
7. *Bakingpan- cut into small bars and remove from pan.
8. On 2 baking sheets, place cooled bars or muffin cups in the freezer for 4 hours or until frozen.
9. Wrap each bar in freezer wrap or foil, place frozen bars or toss muffin cups into plastic freezer bags.
10. Remove and defrost any treat to be given.