Birds In A Nest Recipes

BIRDS' NESTS IV

Steps:

• Separate the eggs. Chop the nuts fine.
• Cream together 1 cup softened butter and sugar. Add the yolks, and beat well. Add the flour, and mix well.
• Make small balls out of dough. Roll balls in egg white, and then in the nuts. Place balls on greased cookie sheets, and press center of cookie with thumb. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 8 minutes. Press center of cookie again, bake until lightly browned 4 to 6 minutes. Cool cookies on racks.
• To make frosting, begin by blending the water, shortening, vanilla, and 1/4 cup softened butter or margarine together thoroughly. Slowly add confectioners' sugar, and mix until smooth and creamy. More water may be needed to make desired consistency.

BIRD NESTS

Steps:

• In a large metal bowl over simmering water, melt baking chips; stir until smooth. Reserve 1/2 cup melted chips for decorations; keep warm., Add pretzel sticks to remaining chips; stir to coat evenly. Drop mixture into 24 mounds on waxed paper; shape into bird nests using 2 forks., Dip bottoms of Peeps in reserved chips; place in nests. Attach eggs with remaining chips. Let stand until set.

BIRDS' NESTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 F. Trace 6 circles, each 2 ½-inches across and with at least 2 inches between them using marker on parchment paper, then flip the paper over onto a baking tray.
• Whip the egg whites and cream of tartar first on low speed, then once the whites are foamy increase the speed and slowly pour in the sugar while whipping. Continue to whip until the whites on high speed until they hold a stiff peak when beaters are lifted.
• Fill a piping bag fitted with a large star tip with the meringue and pipe circles within the lines drawn on the parchment, completely filling the circles. Pipe a ring or meringue on top of the outside edge, creating the "nest" effect, spiraling up to about 2-inches above the base.
• Place the meringues into the oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 275 F. Bake the meringues for 45 to 65 minutes (this timing will be impacted by the outdoor temperature and humidity, making the meringues take longer if it is humid or warm out). If you find that the meringues are starting to brown, crack open the oven door and continue to bake. Cool the meringues completely to room temperature on the baking tray, then gently lift to store in an airtight container until ready to serve.
• For assembly, whip the cream to soft peaks and stir in the sugar and vanilla. Place a birds' nest onto each plate, dollop the cream into the centre of the nest and top with berries. Serve immediately.
• The meringues can be baked up to a day in advance, but they should be assembled immediately before serving.

BREAKFAST BIRD'S NEST

Steps:

• Lay bread on the counter or a plate.
• Using a wide topped glass, cut a circle out of the center of the bread.
• Over medium heat, melt 1 tsp butter in a non-stick skillet.
• When heated, lay both pieces of bread (the circle and the piece with the hole) in pan and reduce heat to low-medium.
• When bread is very lightly browned on the bottom, drop 1 tsp butter into the hole.
• When melted, crack the egg over the hole and allow egg to drop into and fill the hole.
• Cook for 1- 2 minutes and then flip the bread with the egg and the bread circle over.
• Cook for about 2- 3 minutes, until bread is lightly browned and egg is set.
• Serve egg with the toasted bread circle for dipping.

LITTLE BIRDS IN A NEST

Steps:

• Pound the meat into sheets about an eighth-inch-thick. Place a slice of prosciutto on each, lay a sage leaf in the center and roll tightly, pressing constantly, tucking in the sides to make compact cylinders roughly three-and-a-half-inches long. Set aside, uncovered.
• Peel the eggplant and cut the flesh into large julienned strips - about the size of big french fries. Set aside.
• Cut the zucchini into julienned strips slightly smaller than the eggplant. Set aside.
• Put two tablespoons of the oil in a large, nonreactive saucepan over medium-high heat and heat until it almost smokes. Add the julienned eggplant, zucchini and salt, stirring well. Continue to cook, stirring often, until the eggplant is thoroughly soft and the zucchini barely translucent, about 15 minutes. The mixture may stick at first but will loosen as cooking proceeds. Remove the vegetables with a slotted spoon and keep them covered in a warm place. Reduce the heat to low.
• If necessary, add just enough additional oil to the pan to film the bottom. Add the garlic and orange zest and cook, stirring, for three minutes. Stir in the orange juice and tomatoes and simmer over medium heat for about 12 minutes, or until the sauce is thick.
• After the sauce has cooked five minutes, warm four large serving plates. Put the remaining tablespoon of oil in a wide, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. When it shimmers, add the butter. Put in the beef rolls seam side down and cook until they are seared. Turn with tongs and continue cooking, shaking the pan, for about five minutes, or just until meat is nicely browned. Interior should remain pink. Remove the rolls, keeping them warm.
• Pour the vermouth into the skillet and boil, stirring to get up all browned bits, until reduced to about two tablespoons. Stir in the tomato sauce and any juices collected under the vegetables.
• Spread the sauce evenly over the plates. Make nests of the mixed vegetables and arrange two beef rolls on each. Serve at once.

BIRD NESTS

Steps:

• Use a 6 or 12 cup muffin tin depending on desired size of nests. We made only 6 nest with this recipe so we could overlap the top and give an "edge" for our bird to sit on.
• Heat butter and marshmallows over medium heat.
• Stir till melted.
• Add noodles and stir till completely coated.
• Spray muffin tin then hands with cooking spray.
• Place mixture into muffin cups and shape with hands to form "nests".
• Refrigerate.
• Approximately 30 minutes later, gently remove nests from muffin tin and perch a Peep on the side. (It helps if the nest is still a bit sticky, this will "glue" the peep on.).
• Place nests on a tray and put back in the fridge till completely set.
• Fill with candy eggs.

BIRD'S NEST BREAKFAST CUPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease 24 muffin cups.
• Mix hash brown potatoes, salt, black pepper, olive oil, and 2/3 cup shredded Cheddar cheese in a bowl. Divide mixture between prepared muffin cups and use your fingers to shape potato mixture into nests with hollows in the middle.
• Bake in the preheated oven until hash browns are browned on the edges and cheese has melted, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove hash brown nests.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Whisk eggs and water in a bowl until thoroughly combined; season with salt and black pepper. Pour equal amount of egg mixture into each nest; sprinkle with bacon crumbles and 1 teaspoon Cheddar cheese.
• Bake in the oven until eggs are set, 13 to 16 minutes. Let cool in pans and remove by sliding a knife between potato crust and muffin cup.