Bake your cockatiels these muffins; wrap and freeze each individually so that you can remove and defrost them over the next few months. This is a good way to get some nutritious ingredients into your birds, at the same time putting a smile on their beaks!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups unprocessed oat bran
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or, a combination of nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger)
1 cup cooked, mashed pumpkin
1/2 cup skim milk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons applesauce

Combine bran, brown sugar, flour, baking powder, and spice in a large bowl; stir well. Make a well in the center of the mixture. Combine pumpkin, milk, eggs, and applesauce; stir well. Add to dry ingredients, stirring until moistened. Spoon into muffin pans coated with margarine or non-aerosol vegetable cooking spray, filling cups 3/4 full. Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove from pans immediately. Yield: 1 dozen. Enjoy one with your tiel!