The COVID-19 pandemic has made eating in an everyday occurrence across the country, but for cancer patients who often have unique nutritional needs, at-home meal preparations can be particularly challenging. Fortunately, culinary experts at the OSUCCC – James are here to help with tips and easy-to-prepare recipes that can help cancer patients and caregivers get the most out of their homemade meals and snacks. “In The James Instructional Kitchen, we work with patients, outpatients and caregivers on personalized nutrition education plans,” says chef Stephanie Urrutia, RD, LD, a senior culinary educator at the OSUCCC – James. “We focus on high-protein, high-calorie and easy-to-eat recipes, and provide information tailored to the patients’ diagnoses. Today’s Recipe: Biscuits and Gravy This Biscuits and Gravy recipe is a great way to get more protein and vegetables into a traditionally simple, carbohydrate-heavy meal. The high-protein baking mix focuses on whole grains, simple ingredients and a higher protein content. It is nutritionally dense and pantry-friendly, and the protein factor can be increased with the addition of either dairy or plant-based milk. The black-eyed peas provide fiber, folate and polyphenols, which act as antioxidants and have anti-carcinogenic properties. They are also a great pantry staple — canned or dry — and a nutrient-rich addition to a traditional white gravy. Lean chicken sausage, mashed down lentils or crumbled tofu would also be handy gravy mix-ins. For higher protein content, as well as an increase in nutrients, the biscuits and gravy can be topped with a hard-cooked egg. Eggs supply just a bit of most nutrients, and they are especially high in choline as well as antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, all of which support a healthy immune system! As always, it’s important to remember that safe preparation and handling of foods is the most important factor for food preparation to make sure that you have lowered the risk for introducing foodborne illnesses, bacteria and viruses into your body. Ingredients Biscuits: 1 1/3 cup high protein flour or AP flour 1/2 tsp. sugar 2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 6 tbsp. butter ½ cup fat free milk Gravy: 1 tbsp. butter 1 tbsp. olive oil 2 tbsp. flour 2 ½ cups broth - vegetable, chicken etc. ½ cup beans - black-eyed peas or lentils preferred Pinch of salt Pinch of pepper Pinch onion powder Pinch garlic powder Directions Preheat oven to 450⁰F Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in medium bowl Cut in butter until flour mixture becomes mealy Add in just enough milk to combine When dough comes together, move to a well-floured surface Create a disc out of dough and cut out biscuits lace biscuits on baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes in the oven Let rest 5 minutes before serving with gravy While biscuits cook, make gravy Add butter, oil and flour to a skillet over medium heat When roux is light brown, add in 2 cups broth, whisking while adding broth in Stir to combine, add in beans and lower heat to a simmer Season with salt, ground black pepper, onion and garlic powder to taste, reducing sauce to thicken or adding in more broth to make a thinner gravy Serve gravy hot over fresh biscuits An egg can be added for additional protein