GOOD EATS

No-bake nibbles

It’s summer! Who wants to turn on the oven just so you can enjoy a little dessert?

RECIPES AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY CATHERINE MURRAY

CANNOLI CONES

Prep: 20 minutes | Servings: 12 1¼ cups mini chocolate chips, divided 12 sugar cones 8 ounces whole-milk ricotta 8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature ½ teaspoon vanilla extract ½ cup heavy cream ¾ cup powdered sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon

In a small, microwave-safe bowl that’s wide enough to dip the opening of a cone into, pour ½ cup of the mini chocolate chips. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring after each time, until just melted. Dip each cone in melted chocolate. Stand the cones upright in tall drinking glasses to let the chocolate solidify. If ricotta is watery, drain through cheesecloth, squeezing out excess liquid. In a large bowl with a mixer, beat cream cheese, ricotta, and vanilla extract. Gradually add heavy cream and beat until light and fluffy. Slowly incorporate powdered sugar and cinnamon until smooth. Fold in ½ cup of mini chocolate chips. Transfer mixture into a piping bag and pipe into cones. Top with remaining mini chocolate chips.

Per serving: 399 calories, 23 grams fat (14 grams saturated fat), 70 milligrams cholesterol, 225 milligrams sodium, 36 grams total carbohydrates, 0 grams fiber, 12 grams protein.

Prep: 30 minutes | Servings: 6 TOPPING ¾ cup sliced almonds 2/3 cup flour ¼ cup sugar ¼ cup packed brown sugar ¼ teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon salt 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted ½ teaspoon vanilla extract ½ cup oats

FILLING 2 pounds sweet cherries (fresh or frozen) 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ½ teaspoon almond extract ½ cup sugar ½ teaspoon salt 2 to 3 tablespoons cornstarch

Note: This dessert can also be made over a campfire! To make the topping: Finely chop ¼ cup of the sliced almonds. In a medium bowl, mix the chopped almonds, flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in melted butter and vanilla until the mixture easily crumbles. Mix in oats and remaining almonds. In a medium cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, toast almond/butter mixture, stirring regularly to keep from burning. Once golden and crisp (about 5 minutes), transfer back to bowl and set aside. To make the filling: Wipe off skillet and put back on stove. Add cherries, lemon juice, vanilla, and almond extract. Cook over medium-high heat until cherries are warmed. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine sugar, salt, and cornstarch (2 tablespoons for fresh cherries, 3 for frozen). Add sugar mixture to cherries and continue stirring regularly until cherry juice thickens to a nice syrup consistency, about 10 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes, then spread almond topping evenly over cherries. Garnish with whipped cream if desired and serve.

Per serving: 552 calories, 18 grams fat (8 grams saturated fat), 31 milligrams cholesterol, 403 grams sodium, 94 grams total carbohydrates, 3.5 grams fiber, 5.5 grams protein. UNICORN BARK

Prep: 25 minutes | Chill: 1 hour | Servings: 20 12 ounces bright pink candy melts 6 ounces turquoise candy melts 6 ounces lavender candy melts ¼ cup pastel sprinkles 6 ounces white candy melts Notes: The candy melts should be vanilla flavored. Candy will lose its consistency and may not re-solidify if overheated or liquid is added (such as food coloring or milk.) Get creative with the theme of your bark, like red, white, and blue melts for the Fourth of July, superhero bark, peppermint bark, rainbow bark, s’mores bark … the options are endless! Place parchment paper onto a baking sheet and set aside. Pour each color of candy melts into a separate microwave safe bowl and microwave according to package directions. Using a large spoon or spatula, drop a dollop of melted white candy on each corner of the parchment paper and one in the center. With a clean spoon, intersperse dollops of the remaining colors in between the white. Use a flat icing spatula to slowly draw lines through all the colors, blending to create a marbling effect. Drizzle any leftover melted candy across the top. While it’s still tacky, garnish with sprinkles, then let cool at room temperature for 10 minutes. Cover loosely with parchment and place in freezer for 1 hour. Break or cut into pieces of bark. Store in a sealed container.

Per serving: 210 calories, 12 grams fat (11 grams saturated fat), 35 milligrams sodium, 0 grams cholesterol, 27 grams total carbohydrates, 0 grams fiber, 0 grams protein.

THE VALUE OF ELECTRICITY

We always work to keep our costs down while providing you with safe, reliable electricity. Your cooperative is in a strong financial position.

No rate increase in 2021!

During our annual meeting in April, I was happy to announce there will be no residential distribution rate increase in 2021. We make every effort to minimize costs and have not increased distribution rates since 2017. That’s four years of stability and value. While we’re not increasing distribution rates, wholesale power prices from Buckeye Power, our generation and transmission co-op, are increasing due to rising transmission costs. While the distribution portion of your bill is the only part influenced by the cooperative’s operating costs, generation and transmission costs are shown on your bill because these are essential steps in delivering electricity to your home. There are three main steps to deliver electricity to our members. First, electricity is generated, or created, at power plants. Then, transmission lines deliver electricity to our 16 substations. The transmission system is like a toll road — we must pay to use it. These costs are projected to increase and will impact future rates. Finally, electricity is distributed from our substations to homes and businesses. Butler Rural Electric Cooperative is only responsible for this final step. Our rates are kept at the lowest level to cover costs because we’re a not-forprofit cooperative. We will work to keep the distribution portion of your bill as low as we can.

Your co-op is controlled locally

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative is governed by a local board of trustees. Board members, like myself, are co-op members just like you. We pay the same electric rates as you and live in your community. Board members regulate the cooperative’s rates and represent all members. Unlike some businesses that charge customers special rates or create individual deals, residential co-op members are all charged the same rate for electricity. Our rates are cost-based, with no added profit margin for outside investors. Board members and employees work hard to provide the best value we can for the modern conveniences of electricity. Compared to price increases of common expenses like education, medical care, and groceries, it’s easy to see electricity is a good value. This year, the cooperative’s employees will work to maintain our facilities, increase efficiency, and improve reliability — all without raising rates — while planning to retire capital credits in November. These are perks of co-op membership that customers of investor-owned utilities don’t have. Tom McQuiston PRESIDENT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

ANNUAL MEETING highlights

Thanks to members and guests who joined our annual meeting on April 29. David Evans, secretary and treasurer of the board of trustees, led viewers in prayer, and Member Services Representative Andy Denny led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Bridging the digital divide

The meeting was led by Board of Trustees President Tom McQuiston, who spoke about our partnership with Cincinnati Bell to deliver high-speed Fioptics internet to members and our substations. 1,656 more members have access to fiber internet because of this project. We will continue to look for ways to make fiber available to the 2,850 members who still don’t have reliable internet access. Bringing fiber to our 16 substations and other equipment improves our supervisory control and data acquisition, or SCADA, performance. Our employees use SCADA to monitor and control equipment remotely. Fiber has improved our response time when performing tasks like remote automatic switching, which allows employees to switch which substation members receive power from to reduce outage times and perform routine maintenance. Save energy and money

This winter was the coldest one in our area since 2015, explained McQuiston. February’s cold snap increased energy use for many as heating systems worked hard to keep homes warm. The increase in electric use led to many people receiving high bills, which can be surprising and distressing.

Here’s how you can control your energy use and save money:

> Use our free SmartHub app to track and compare energy use over time and against weather data. > Sign up for budget billing to keep bills predictable and manageable. This free option averages electric use over a 12-month period to avoid big fluctuations in monthly bills. Visit butlerrural.coop > My Account >

Billing Options or call us at 513-867-4400 to sign up. > Schedule an energy audit! Our trained, professional employees can visit your home to help improve its efficiency, comfort, and safety. Call our office to schedule yours. > Let us know if you’re struggling to pay your bill. We can review payment assistance resources and discuss payment options if you need help. Planning for the future

General Manager Tom Wolfenbarger spoke about the cooperative’s updated strategic plan, which identifies key areas of focus so our work matches the co-op’s mission and vision. Employees are working to accomplish goals related to financial soundness, reliability, communication, workforce development, governance, and broadband access.

MISS THE MEETING?

If you missed the live meeting, you can view it on our website, butlerrural.coop > Voting & Annual Meeting > 2021 Annual Meeting.