Stressing the food? Not anymore! Chop convert

chris-md · Mar 8, 2016

I tried chop when I first started, but for some reason it always became super slimy and wilted upon reheating after freezing. Not sure what I've done differently but I've made two gigantic batches of chop and they are really keeping well when reheated. I just made 34 days worth of chop yesterday (if served once a day, with fruit being dinner. 17 days if fed twice a day) and I must say I'm converted!

Even better is that Parker loves it, for the most part. Here's a pic of him trying to pig out

This has it all:
Barley
Kale
Turnips
Corn
Peas
Green beans
Carrots
Oats
Radish
Cauliflower

To each serving this I'll add an oil (either coconut, flax seed, or red palm tree oil), sprouts, and maybe a top dressing of coconut shavings.

That I've gotten chop to work is really a big load off my back. No more food anxiety for the most part! The food processor has been one of the best purchases I've ever made! The challenge is learning what attachment to use on which food item. Shredder is great for most things like leafy greens and fruits. Stuff he won't eat like carrots and turnips needs to be chopped finer, not matchstick style. So the bottom rotating blender style blade is much more appropriate for these.

Go chop!!

Allee · Mar 8, 2016

Congratulations, Chris and Parker! That first enthusiastic beak full of chop is a grand reward. Especially after they've turned up their beaks at the last fifty batches that just wasn't exactly to their liking.

Food processors and oil to flavor, it's magic.

Doublete · Mar 8, 2016

I'm on my last bag of chop for this batch. I love making a nice yummy chop.

plumsmum2005 · Mar 9, 2016

Hey that looks real good.

Great news Parker is keen too. It's so disappointing when you have high hopes and it's not quite right.
I am having your previous issues at present ie it's too wet.

Are you combining raw and cooked veg in the chop, possibly going more towards raw veggies?

chris-md · Mar 9, 2016

Plumsmum, the only cooked item in there is barley

the rest is raw/frozen veggies. The frozen stuff, since it was all going in the freezer anyways, I just threw into the bowl frozen, mixed the ingredients up, bagged, and refroze.

Christinenc2000 · Mar 9, 2016

Funny you posted this. I was just thinking yesterday I need to try chop again. BB seemed to only like food he hand hold. Not picky on what he eats ( except sweet potato I have to hand feed that lol ) Chop would make it so much easier for me. I actually cut up food every morning and evening.

He has me trained.

DexMom · Mar 9, 2016

Perhaps you'll inspire me to try again. The last batch I made came out OK, not too watery or mushy like my first attempt, but Dexter didn't seem to love it.

chris-md · Mar 9, 2016

Christinenc2000 said:
Funny you posted this. I was just thinking yesterday I need to try chop again. BB seemed to only like food he hand hold. Not picky on what he eats ( except sweet potato I have to hand feed that lol ) Chop would make it so much easier for me. I actually cut up food every morning and evening. He has me trained.

Oof...I tried that for about a week, cutting stuff up everyday. Too fussy for me!

DexMom said:
Perhaps you'll inspire me to try again. The last batch I made came out OK, not too watery or mushy like my first attempt, but Dexter didn't seem to love it.

Parker doesn't really have a choice. Even if he didn't really like it, I made a huge batch that I'm not throwing it out. He'll get it every morning and he'll like it....

DexMom · Mar 9, 2016

Oh, he ate it until it was gone. It wasn't a huge batch, since attempt #1 didn't go well and I had a ton to throw out, my second attempt was a much smaller amount. He just didn't dig in with the obvious piggy gusto I'm used to seeing, so I never made more. I didn't add any oil, I wonder if that would entice him.

chris-md · Mar 9, 2016

A number of members, myself included, find that drizzling melted coconut oil over disliked foods is s good enticement. Since I first started to add coconut oil, I've since incorporated red palm oil (vitamin a) and flax seed oil (omega fatty acids, to help slightly with dry skin during the winter) into various dishes. However, I wasn't aware there's a massive deforestation issue surrounding red Palm oil that's directly endangering orangutans. So after this jar is gone I won't be buying anymore.

I'm finding a little goes a long way. Even a slight drizzle can make the whole thing too oily and Parker avoids those like the plague. We're talking maybe a less than half a teaspoon at most.

plumsmum2005 · Mar 9, 2016

Hi

merci beaucoup, for the photo, the incentive and the help and tips to produce something that looks great (I now just have to fathom how to get pics off iphone and onto here)

. Really pleased that when I offered Plum a dish and he chowed down (Yippee). You just dont know how hard it is feeding him. Thanks again. I will put my offering on soon so stand by!

chris-md said:
Plumsmum, the only cooked item in there is barley the rest is raw/frozen veggies. The frozen stuff, since it was all going in the freezer anyways, I just threw into the bowl frozen, mixed the ingredients up, bagged, and refroze.

Jeepnman · Mar 9, 2016

I made a chop a couple of weeks ago for our bird, Bella. She seems to enjoy it, but we have to get used to the smell. It kind of smells like old trash. I'm not sure if it's the beans or what, but for the first few days, I kept thinking the trash needed to be emptied.

Doublete · Mar 9, 2016

I've noticed the broccoli sometimes gives it that smell. Depends on the combination.

plumsmum2005 · Mar 9, 2016

Jeepnman said:
I made a chop a couple of weeks ago for our bird, Bella. She seems to enjoy it, but we have to get used to the smell. It kind of smells like old trash. I'm not sure if it's the beans or what, but for the first few days, I kept thinking the trash needed to be emptied.

Old trash, really? You could spice it up a little if you are sure it is OK?

Cinnamon and turmeric work OK. Perhaps you have my problem and it's too wet - ie too cooked. Raw ingredients make a dryer chop I have found out today thanks to Chris-md.

Another tip - use scented bin bags

DexMom · Mar 9, 2016

Jeepnman said:
I made a chop a couple of weeks ago for our bird, Bella. She seems to enjoy it, but we have to get used to the smell. It kind of smells like old trash. I'm not sure if it's the beans or what, but for the first few days, I kept thinking the trash needed to be emptied.

It's probably the broccoli, if you have any in there. I learned that the hard way with my first batch. I'll never put broccoli in again.

plumsmum2005 · Mar 9, 2016

DexMom said:
Jeepnman said:

I made a chop a couple of weeks ago for our bird, Bella. She seems to enjoy it, but we have to get used to the smell. It kind of smells like old trash. I'm not sure if it's the beans or what, but for the first few days, I kept thinking the trash needed to be emptied.

Click to expand...

It's probably the broccoli, if you have any in there. I learned that the hard way with my first batch. I'll never put broccoli in again.

If you wizz in the processor raw it's better, goes kind of frothy and IMO not so smelly. Let me know what you think?

Anansi · Mar 10, 2016

Glad to see this chop update, Chris! I remember well your early chop trials, so I love that you've found a way to make it work.

That pic of Parker preparing to dive in is priceless! Look at the excitement in those eyes! Hahaha!

And yes, Chris is so very right about the effects of adding a wee bit of coconut oil (at the time of serving, and to a warmed dish of food). They go after the food with a gust that borders on lust! Hahaha! Not to mention the health benefits as well? Sweet! And I only use around a quarter teaspoon per dish, mixed in thoroughly.

Oh, and Jeepnman? If your chop is smelling like old trash, I'd wager something has gone well left of fresh. I've never encountered a smell like that with my chop.

Granted, I still don't freeze my chop, though. I usually make just enough to last between 2 and 3 days, and refrigerate.

plumsmum2005 · Mar 10, 2016

@chris-md thanks again.

http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-food-recipes-diet/60516-chop-no-stressin.html

Jeepnman · Mar 11, 2016

plumsmum2005 said:
DexMom said:

Jeepnman said:

I made a chop a couple of weeks ago for our bird, Bella. She seems to enjoy it, but we have to get used to the smell. It kind of smells like old trash. I'm not sure if it's the beans or what, but for the first few days, I kept thinking the trash needed to be emptied.

Click to expand...

It's probably the broccoli, if you have any in there. I learned that the hard way with my first batch. I'll never put broccoli in again.

Click to expand...

If you wizz in the processor raw it's better, goes kind of frothy and IMO not so smelly. Let me know what you think?

I cooked the beans and Quinoa for about 15 minutes. What does everyone else do?

plumsmum2005 · Mar 11, 2016

Jeepnman said:
plumsmum2005 said:

DexMom said:

It's probably the broccoli, if you have any in there. I learned that the hard way with my first batch. I'll never put broccoli in again.

Click to expand...

If you wizz in the processor raw it's better, goes kind of frothy and IMO not so smelly. Let me know what you think?

Click to expand...

I cooked the beans and Quinoa for about 15 minutes. What does everyone else do?

@ Jeepnman - My instructions for
Quinoa says rinse first and then 20 min simmer, leave to stand after draining for 10 mins.

Beans (only got Mung which are small in) it says first SOAK for 12 hours, rinse and drain. Cover + fresh water and simmer 30-40 minutes. If soak/cook not done right it can have consequences. Please read the packet.

Stressing the food? Not anymore! Chop convert

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Jolly and Maya training update and blooper reel

Sneezing caused by coconut hull. Just a warning.

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