you can make suet without meat fats by using vegetable shortening or oils or using peanut butter which contains lots of vegetable fat. mix in bird seed or cornmeal or flour to thicken and you can add nuts or raisens or fruit bits. and many birds like sweet suet with syrup or corn syrup which contains sugars and fats. in nature birds eat lots of seeds from plants or grasses and grains such as corn or milo or wheat which are high calorie. birds use tremendous amounts of energy in cold weather and can get the energy from grains and seeds and plant parts but fats are just a higher source and make it faster and easier for the birds to get the fats and sugars and proteins they need.

My grandparents were very old when I was very young so didn't have much of a relationship with them. But There were no mean people in my family. I wanted to comment on being lonely in a care home. You need to look at another side of it. If I need a care home, barring a stroke I will put myself there when I can no longer care for myself. I am a loner by choice now and will be alone in a care home...BUT that does not mean "lonely". I am not a joiner will not join in activities such as crafts. I would attend if speakers were invited or if there were musicals. People will look at me and say "poor lonely old woman", what they won't know is that I will prefer to be a lone and I will not be lonely. The only thing I would need is someone I trust to see that I am cared for properly.

I've made the following recipe for Chicken and Dumplings a couple dozen times in my Le Creuset dutch oven and it turns out fabulous. Don't skip the sherry! Your family will adore you! Be careful of the salt if you don't use low sodium. I use Swanson's low sodium. Also, I never have to add the extra two teaspoons of oil in step one for the second batch of thighs because there is enough fat in the pan. Here is the video if you'd like to watch,...it's from Cook's Illustrated America's test kitchen: http://www.americastestkitchentv.com/cookstv/preview/default.asp?req=1&station=mainChannel&video=s6/chickenanddumplings Don't use low-fat or fat-free milk in this recipe. Start the dumpling dough only when you're ready to top the stew with the dumplings. INGREDIENTS Stew 5 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs 4 teaspoons vegetable oil 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick) 4 carrots , peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick 2 ribs celery , sliced 1/4 inch thick 1 large onion , minced 6 tablespoon unbleached all-purpose flour 1/4 cup dry sherry 4 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth 1/4 cup whole milk 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves 2 bay leaves 1 cup frozen green peas 3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves Dumplings 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon table salt 1 cup whole milk 3 tablespoons reserved chicken fat (or unsalted butter) INSTRUCTIONS 1. For the Stew: Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, then season with salt and pepper. Heat 2 teaspoons of the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add half of the chicken and cook until golden on both sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and remove the browned skin. Pour off the chicken fat and reserve. Return the pot to medium-high heat and repeat with the remaining 2 teaspoons oil and the remaining chicken. Pour off and reserve any chicken fat. 2. Add the butter to the Dutch oven and melt over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, celery, onion, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook until softened, about 7 minutes. Stir in the flour. Whisk in the sherry, scraping up any browned bits. Stir in the broth, milk, thyme, and bay leaves. Nestle the chicken, with any accumulated juices, into the pot. Cover and simmer until the chicken is fully cooked and tender, about 1 hour. 3. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board. Discard the bay leaves. Allow the sauce to settle for a few minutes, then skim the fat from the surface using a wide spoon. Shred the chicken, discarding the bones, then return it to the stew. 4. For the Dumplings: Stir the flour, baking powder, and salt together. Microwave the milk and fat in a microwave-safe bowl on high until just warm (do not over-heat), about 1 minute. Stir the warmed milk mixture into the flour mixture with a wooden spoon until incorporated and smooth. 5. Return the stew to a simmer, stir in the peas and parsley, and season with salt and pepper. Following the photos below, drop golf-ball-sized dumplings over the top of the stew, about 1/4 inch apart (you should have about 18 dumplings). Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the dumplings have doubled in size, 15 to 18 minutes. Serve. TECHNIQUE Getting it Right: Adding the Dumplings 1. Gather a golf-ball-sized portion of the dumpling batter onto a soup spoon, then push the dumpling onto the stew using a second spoon. 2. Cover the stew with the dumplings, leaving about 1/4 inch between each. 3. When fully cooked, the dumplings will have doubled in size.

I hear wine is good for ya ;) Dry champagne and dark, simi sweet chocolate slivers really go together very well, did you know that? A gorgeous combo! Cute, am printing it out *LOL*