Blueberry and Mint Mini Cheesecakes

Ingredients

• 16 Vanilla Wafers
• 1 tbsp. butter, melted
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. lemon zest
• 1 tbs. mint, minced
• 1 egg, large
• 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup blueberry jam
• 1 1/4 cup blueberries, whole divided

Instructions

1. Process vanilla wafers in food processor until finely crumbled, add butter, and blend.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
3. Line standard muffin tin with liners.
4. Place 2 tsps. of cookie mixture in base of each cup.
5. Bake for 8 minutes or until crisp.
6. Remove from oven and cool.
7. Combine cheese, sugar, lemon zest, mint, and 1/4 cup of blueberries in the bowl of the food processor and pulse until just combined.
8. Add the egg and lemon juice and pulse again to bring together.
9. Divide the batter into muffin tins and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until puffed and set.
10. Remove from the oven and cool on a rack. Refrigerate after cool and chill until firm.
11. Heat jam in the microwave for about 20 seconds and stir in the rest of the blueberries.
12. Spoon the blueberry mixture on the top of the cooled cheesecakes. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Growing Mint in a Pot

• Mint is a vigorous grower year round in our area, but protect it from a hard freeze.
• Choose a pot that will provide excellent drainage and that you can easily move.
• Put broken ceramic shards in the pot’s bottom to keep the draining hole clear.
• Place the pot where there is plenty of sunlight and ready access to water.
• When to water? A reliable old-fashioned way to check for potting soil that is too dry or too wet:
  • Sharpen a classic Number 2 Pencil and push it down as far as possible into the pot. If any bits of soil cling to the pencil when you pull it out of the pot, Do Not Water! There’s moisture down there! Thanks to our old friend Seth!!!
• Use an excellent growing medium such as Arbor Gate Organic Soil Complete and fertilize periodically with Arbor Gate Organic Food Complete.
• Cut well-developed leaves often for cooking and to promote continual growth.