edible birds nest

i don't remember if my mom used to make these.  but anytime spring creeps up or easter is here, this delightful little treat reminds me of my youth.

it defines my childhood just as much as chicken scampi and night crabbing down in pre-snookie seaside heights.

to make these darling little confections, you'll need:

-2 and a 1/2 c. chow mein noodles

-11 ounces chocolate chips

-1/2 cup toasted coconut...optional, because i forgot to add them.  whooops!
(if you don't have toasted coconut on hand, lay a thin layer of sweetened coconut on a cookie sheet at 300 degrees for 20 minutes.  shake the pan every 5 minutes).

-jelly beans or cadbury mini eggs

in a 2 quart size, microwavable bowl melt the chocolate chips at 30 second intervals.

(that glass of wine in the background is kicking my butt right now).

stir.

repeat until melted.  usually after the third try, it's done.

add chow mein noodles.

stir into chocolate, gently.

using 2 forks (or whatever you feel like using), carefully place mounds onto wax paper or slipmat lined cookie sheet.

with your hands...or your child's....form into little nests.

lick your fingers clean...ish.

chill in fridge until set.

have your little helper....or hubby...place jelly beans into nests.

if you are more of a peanut butter person than a chocolate person, which is hard to believe that such a person exists...give the peanut butter nests a try instead.  hershey make peanut butter/chocolate chip bags.

butterscotch is the flavor i remember as a child.  except there was also a 1/2 c. of peanut butter added.  you may want to add a bit more chow mein noodles.

i can't imagine what it would taste like with those andes mint chips.  but, hey...if that is what you love...go for it!

white chocolate would look cute, too.

for many of my pictures, i love to use natural light.  thankfully, our balcony provides perfect light.  until i can buy one of those lights for food photography...most of my pictures are taken outside.

chicken nugget and his red-headed side-kick are kept inside. for many, many reasons.  the bag of rotted pumpkin from last halloween is reason number one.

my kids are as thick as thieves

they eventually let me back in.  so nice of them to do so.

anyhow...

if you're having guests and family over for easter, why not make some of these super easy and inexpensive birds nests. make them as favors or part of the table setting.

each batch made about 7-8 nests.  

$3 for the chocolate chips

$2 for the chow mein noodles

i'm sure you already have jelly beans in your house.

ten minutes and they're done.  can't go wrong.

hope you give them a shot.  as always, thank you for stopping by:)

jill