Fish Food? Why Not Make It Yourself

jalex

Fish Food? Why Not Make It Yourself
By Sally Titford, A.A.S.


RECIPE #1

1 lb. beef heart
4 cups Pablum baby cereal
1 lb. any kind of white fish fillets

Cut heart into quite large strips (1x1x4). No need to remove tissue etc.. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil and add heart. Cook gently for 20 minutes or until meat is firm and thoroughly cooked. Remove meat but do not throw out water. Add two more cups of water to remaining liquid and return to a boil.

Gradually add baby cereal, stirring constantly so that it does not go lumpy. (Add more water if it is necessary. Mixture should be very thick. The more water used, the longer the baking period.) Stir fish into mixture. Continue to cook until the fish is done and the mixture is smooth. While cooking, stir occasionally to prevent any sticking and burning.

Meanwhile, grind the beef heart. Add heart to fish mixture and cook over a low heat, stirring constantly until mixture is very thick and smooth and not runny.

Spread thinly but evenly onto cookie sheets. Bake in a preheated 150º F. oven until completely dry and brittle. (Too high heat will result in burning. The purpose is not to bake, but to dehydrate the food.)

APPROX. COST (depending on how much heart you buy): -
Beef heart $1.19 Cereal $0.55 Fish $2.00
TOTAL COST: - $3.74


RECIPE #2

1 lb. beef liver
2 3/4 cups shrimp or fish meal
5 cups regular (not instant or quick cooking) oatmeal
1 pkg. (or 1 lb. fresh) frozen spinach

Cut liver into large chunks (1x1x4). No need to remove tissue. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil and add liver. Simmer gently until liver is firm, approximately 10 mins. Remove liver and retain water. To remaining water add 4 more cups of water and bring to a boil. Add oatmeal, meal, and spinach. Add more water if it becomes too thick. Cook gently 8-10 mins. longer until oatmeal is cooked, stir occasionally. This is a very, very thick mixture and one needs to watch it does not burn.

Grind liver. Add to cooking mixture and continue to cook over a low heat, stirring constantly. Cook until thick and smooth.

Spread on cookie sheets and bake in at 150º F. until very dry and brittle.


RECIPE #3

1 lb. dry dog food (I used Puppy Chow because it's higher in protein)
2 3/4 cups fish meal
1 egg
2 cups water (or just enough to wet mixture enough to spread)
1 tsp. salt

Grind dog food and mix with meal and salt. Beat egg with water. Add egg mixture to dry mixture. Mix thoroughly adding more water if necessary. Mix until it becomes thick, pasty, but even textured.

Spread on cookie sheet. Bake at 150º F. until dry and brittle.

How To Prepare Into Fish Food

While baking all the above foods you can speed up the baking time if, once it was dry enough to handle, you keep crumbling and mixing it during the baking period.

When the food is dry and brittle and cool enough to handle, place it on a cutting board and smash it down with a rolling pin. After it is smashed smaller, place it all into a colander with fair sized holes. Pressing with your hand, force the food through the holes. Not all of it, just the amount you want for smaller food. This will also help reduce the large pieces that the rolling pin missed. When you feel you have enough saved for your larger fish, take the sieved food and further strain it through an ordinary strainer. The pieces that stay in the strainer will be just the right size for angels, sevrums, etc.. The food that has passed through the strainer is perfect for neons, guppies, etc.. If you find that the larger food is still too moist in the middle, return it to the oven for a short period of time.

Store food in airtight containers and keep in a dry place.
Copyright © 1996 Tapestry Communications & Productions

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