Birds' Nests

Seeing as it was Easter about two weeks ago, I thought I'd make some Easter-themed recipes.  I'd like to clarify though, that I made these before Easter, I just really suck at posting my blogs on time.

For my first Easter themed recipe I decided to do the traditional / stereotypical Birds' Nests.  They're basically an Easter staple, yet I had not made them before now.  I'm slightly ashamed.  Personally, I don't think they live up to the hype, but they're good enough.  It's probably because I don't actually like Cadbury Eggs (cue gasp - sorry).  They look really good though and are super easy to make, so if you are mildly competent in the kitchen have at it!

Ingredients

6 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips (basically half the bag)

6 ounces of butterscotch chips (again, basically half the bag)

1 cup peanut butter (creamy!)

6 ounces of chow mein noodles (and yet again, basically half the bag)

Mini Cadbury Eggs

Instructions

1.  Generously grease a muffin pan with butter or non-stick spray.  If you don't it'll be a lot harder to get the actual nests out when they are done cooling / being refrigerated.

2.  In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips.  It'd be helpful for later if you use a rather large bowl, as this is what you'll add the chow mein noodles to.  As with all other times melting chocolate chips, do so in thirty second increments, stirring after each one.

3.  While melting the chocolate chips, or before if you want to be super cool, measure out one cup of peanut butter.  When you've completely melted the chocolate and butterscotch chips until the mixture is smooth, add the peanut butter and mix in completely.

4.  Pour about half of the bag of chow mein noodles to the mixture and stir, being sure to completely coat each piece.  I ended up using about three fourths of the bag, and probably could have used it all, because I felt that the chocolate was too thick on the noodles.  It all comes down to personal preference.

5.  Use a large spoon / your fingers to mold the chocolate covered noodles into the muffin cups.  Leave a bit of an indentation in the center of the nests, that's where the eggs will go.

6.  Place the nests in the refrigerator to chill, this should take about an hour.  Keep in mind that when you set them out (if you do) the chocolate will be prone to melting so it's to leave them in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve them.

7.  To remove the nests, use a butter knife to pop them out, applying a very small amount of pressure.  Add the Cadbury Eggs.  I was able to fit one or two, but I also didn't make very large indents for them.  If you don't like Cadbury Eggs (like me) then you could try using jelly beans, but it doesn't have quite the same aesthetic effect.

Enjoy!!