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Healthy Living

Secret Ingredient: Easy to Cook Videos

Connections Area Agency on Aging is happy to present our easy-to-cook series, Secret Ingredient. Please join us every other week as we showcase new nutritious and delicious recipes from our monthly Healthy Living newsletter.

Cheddar Biscuits

1 cup buttermilk*

½ cup or 1 stick butter

2 cups flour

½ tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded.

¼ cup chives

Line 1 sheet pan with parchment and preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Melt butter in microwave.

In large bowl, mix all dry ingredients, add cheese and chives.

Pour melted butter into buttermilk to mix, add to dry ingredients and stir until combined.

Turn onto a floured surface and gently knead for 30 seconds, fold and turn until no longer sticky.

Flatten out with hands to around 2-inch height.

Use biscuit cutter or glass to cut circles out of dough and place on baking sheet.

Bake 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Brush with a bit more melted butter and serve!

*or place 1 Tbsp vinegar in a measuring cup and pour in milk until measures 1 cup.

Tomato Jam

2 pounds tomatoes, cored and rough chopped (don’t peel or seed)

1/3 cup brown sugar

2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

1 tsp ground ginger

¼ tsp ginger

1/8 tsp cloves

1/8-1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Core and rough chop tomatoes and add to cooking pot.

Add remaining ingredients and place on stove on high heat.

Stir often until boils. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes or until thickens.

Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.

Pour into jars.

Keeps well in refrigerator for 10 days or freezes well.

Makes a great gift! Enjoy with feta, goat, or mozzarella cheese on toasted bread or crackers. Many enjoy it as a condiment on a hamburger or hot dog.

Ina Garten’s Mocha Chocolate Chip Ice Box Cake

Don’t even hesitate to give this a try! It is AMAZING! She says it makes grown men weep!

2 cups heavy whipping cream

12 oz mascarpone cheese (or cream cheese but must be softened)

½ cup sugar

¼ cup coffee liquor or ¼ cup more whipped cream

2 Tbsp cocoa powder

1 tsp instant expresso powder

1 tsp vanilla

3 packages Tate’s chocolate chip cookies or other very thin chocolate chip varieties

Semi-sweet &/or white chocolate for shavings and curls for garnish

Prepare a springform pan with parchment lining.

In mixer bowl with whisk attachment, add all ingredients except cookies and chocolate for shavings/curls.

Mix on low speed, then increase speed once combined until stiff peaks form. Don’t overmix.

Place cookies on base of pan, breaking some as needed to fit across the entire base of pan.

Spread around 1/5 of the whipped cream mixture over the cookies to cover, smooth out.

Add another layer of cookies and more cream alternating layers until you reach the very top of the pan.

Smooth off with a spatula. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 6 hours, preferably at least 12 or overnight.

Remove wrap and release spring form rim. Carefully transfer to a plate if desired.

Sprinkle chocolate shavings over and add curls to center. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Enjoy!

Enjoy our Previous Recipes with Videos

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