Recipe: Peanut Butter Bird's Nests, Chocolate Egg Nests, Butterscotch Nests

Peanut Butter Bird's Nests
Each batch makes approximately 14 nests

1 bag Reeses peanut butter chips (10 oz. )
1 TBSP. solid shortening (Crisco)
1 large can (5oz.) LaChoy thin chow mein noodles
1 bag pastel colored M&M peanut candy

Melt entire bag of chips and 1 tbsp. of shortening slowly in microwave or in double boiler on stove top. If using microwave, heat full power in intervals of 30 seconds at a time and then less as chips begin to melt. You want
the chips and shortening to be well blended and creamy and hot. DO NOT OVERCOOK!!!

Immediately pour the can of chow mien noodles into the peanut butter mixture and toss lightly to coat noodles.
Avoid crunching noodles. Using a spatula can help. Do this quickly, making sure the noodles are evenly coated.
Drop by spoonfuls onto WAX PAPER and gently form into the shape of a nest, leaving a hollowed area in the center in which you immediately place three M&M peanut candies or jelly beans for the "birds eggs".

CHOCOLATE EGG NESTS

DARK CHOCOLATE CANDY
CHOW MEIN NOODLES
JELLY BEANS

Melt the chocolate and let it cool slightly. Mix the
chow mein noodles into chocolate carefully so not to break them into smaller pieces. When the chocolate is cooled sufficiently to handle, mold this mixture into small bird shaped nests. Before the mixture has time to harden, place the jelly beans or small candy easter eggs in the bowl of the nest. They will stay put when mixture cools. Easy and fun to make.Useyour imagination as to items you could place in the nests.

BUTTERSCOTCH NESTS

6 ounces butterscotch morsels
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 ounce can chow mein noodles
2 cups miniature marshmallows

Melt morsels and marshmallows together. Stir in
peanut butter. Add noodles until thoroughly coated.
Shape into nests with hands. May need to reshape as
cooling. Chill until set. Fill with robin egg malted balls.