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.

BY PHIL CASKEY, PRESIDENT & CEO

SUPPORTING LOCAL YOUTH

At Consolidated, we believe that children are our future. And that’s not just a catchy line from a Whitney Houston song — youth investment is one of the main ways we show our concern for community, which is one of the principles that guide all cooperatives. Our youngest members give so much to that principle, and in many ways, get a lot from it, too. This year, we awarded $5,700 to five local high school seniors who are continuing their education at a college or university this fall. We’re also extremely proud that our top winner, Mackenzie Collett, went on to win the top statewide scholarship from Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives. Consolidated has given $20,550 to local seniors in the last five years alone. We also usually send two high schoolers to attend the national Electric Cooperative Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, the Youth Tour was suspended in 2020 because of COVID-19, but we anticipate returning to the trip in 2022. The students join about 35 others from Ohio and about 1,700 from co-ops across the nation to learn about government and how electric co-ops have been involved with policymaking since the 1930s. We provide energy education through the Be E3 Smart program, in partnership with the Ohio Energy Project. Consolidated sponsors a middle-school science teacher in our service area every year, providing a unit’s worth of energy curriculum for the teacher and take-home energy efficiency items for the students. And when we’re able to get in the classroom, we offer electrical safety demonstrations and involve our local second-grade classrooms in an annual safety ad drawing contest. We have concern for our communities because we are a foundational part of them. We’re locally owned and locally operated — our employees are your neighbors and friends. I am thankful to work with the most exemplary group — I may be a little biased, but without them, Consolidated would not be as strong as it is today. And our younger community members help build our workforce. Consolidated often recruits interns, and some of them have gone on to become permanent employees. We know that one of the best investments a community can make is in its youth. That’s a long-term investment we will always be committed to. Read more about Consolidated’s scholarships and our 2021 winners on page 22. We are so proud of all our winners and all that they have accomplished during such a difficult school year. Congratulations!

Consolidated awards $5,700 in scholarships to five local students

Consolidated’s Children of Members scholarship program supports our young members in continuing their education and introduces them to the role their electric cooperative plays in their community.

In the past five years alone, Consolidated has awarded more than $27,000 to local students. This year, we’re thrilled that our first-place winner, Mackenzie Collett, also won first place in the statewide electric cooperative scholarship program, for an additional $3,800 toward her college education (read about the statewide winners on page 8).

Congratulations to Mackenzie and all of our 2021 scholarship winners! We wish them the very best!

$500: Savannah Fitzpatrick

Savannah is the daughter of Nicole and Brian Fitzpatrick of Marengo. She’s graduating from Highland High School and has been accepted into Harvard University, with plans to pursue a major in psychology.

$700: Abigail Spangenberg $1,500: Chloe Dawson

Chloe is the daughter of Kellie and Shane Dawson of Ostrander. She’s graduating from Buckeye Valley High School and has been accepted into The Ohio State University, where she plans to study biology and romance languages.

$2,000: Mackenzie Collett

The first-place winner of $2,000 is Mackenzie Collett, the daughter of Ken and Debbie Collett of Delaware. Mackenzie is graduating from Rutherford B. Hayes High School. She has been accepted into The Ohio State University, Miami University, Case Western University, and the University of Indiana. Mackenzie plans to major in political science.

Abigail is the daughter of Lee and Lisa Spangenberg of Sunbury. She’s a senior at Big Walnut High School and has been accepted into The Ohio State University. Abigail will major in biomedical engineering.

$1,000: Clara Janow

SAVE WITH PROPANE PRE-BUY

Clara is the daughter of Amy and Brian Janow of Radnor. She’s a senior at Buckeye Valley High Energy School and has been accepted into The Ohio State University. Efficiency | Tip Clara will pursue studies in of the Month international business and French. Though warmer weather is finally here, the heating season is only a few months away! Plan ahead and beat the cost of energy next winter by enrolling in one of Consolidated’s money-saving programs, propane pre-buy. In past years, co-op members have experienced considerable savings through this program.

Propane pre-buy will be available from Aug. 1 to Sept. 7. Please watch for details in the next issue of Ohio Cooperative Living magazine, on Facebook, and on our website at www.consolidated.coop.

Some manufacturers set water heater thermostats at 140 degrees, but most households usually require them to be set at only 120 degrees. Consider lowering your water heater’s temperature to save energy and slow mineral buildup in 22 the heater and pipes. OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • JUNE 2021