A very special recipe for some very special guests... Recipe
What’s this, you ask? A simple syrup? No. It’s Hummingbird nectar. What prompted me to write this is the discourse that I had this morning with a home improvement store employee that was pushing a Hummingbird nectar product that contained red dye. He then tried to sell the unsuspecting customers the “New and Improved” version that contained VITAMINS… and red dye. That’s even worse!
I have a passion for cooking. I have a deeper passion, however, for little birds. I suspect that I’m not alone. I won’t go into all of the ‘why’s and wherefore’s’ of the detrimental effects of the additives, especially red dye. I’ve worked closely, for several decades, with Cornell University Labs. Suffice it to say, I’ve seen first hand what this stuff does to the little fellows. It’s not pretty.
Ingredients
- 4 c. water
- 1 c. plain white sugar
Directions
- Bring two cups of water to a bare simmer.
- Add the sugar ¼ cup at a time, making sure that it dissolves completely before adding the next batch.
- When all of the sugar has been dissolved, remove from the heat and let cool for 15 minutes.
- Add the remaining cold water and let the solution cool almost completely. Put it into a container and store in the refrigerator.
- Note: If you have city water containing Fluoride and/or heavy amounts of chlorine, heavy metals or any other pollutants, add an extra ¼ cup of water and bring ALL of the water to a rolling boil for 3-5 minutes. Then let cool slightly before adding the sugar. Let it cool almost completely before storing it in the fridge.
- Note: Change the Hummingbird water and scrub the feeders at least every three days, especially if it’s very hot outside. The nectar can ferment and make them sick or even worse, kill them.
- Note: When cleaning the feeders, if you use any type of soap, rinse the feeder with a mild vinegar solution afterwards, then fresh water. That should eliminate any residue left by the soap.
- Be good to each other and enjoy Gods creatures. God bless.
Adding to Planner
Nutrition Facts
| Amount Per Recipe | %DV |
|---|---|
| Recipe Size 1148g | |
| Calories 774 | |
| Calories from Fat 0 | 0% |
| Total Fat 0.0g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 0.0g | 0% |
| Trans Fat 0.0g | |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 38mg | 2% |
| Potassium 4mg | 0% |
| Total Carbs 199.96g | 53% |
| Dietary Fiber 0.0g | 0% |
| Sugars 199.82g | 133% |
| Protein 0.0g | 0% |
