Community Cookbook Recipes from the Heart of Hollis-1912 to present
Recently, I pulled out my small collection of Hollis community cookbooks and began turning the pages. It was like stepping back in time. These endearing books were created by Hollis community groups as fundraisers and sold at various festivals and Old Home Days celebrations. Each book is a collection of tried-and-true family favorites, potluck specialties, and social hour regulars. The recipes provide a peek into a place and a time like a culinary historical record. Ingredient lists, cooking instructions, and recipe themes all tell part of a larger story about the times in which the recipes were created and give a glimpse into the lives of the home cooks who filled the pages with their favorite recipes.

Butterflied Leg of Lamb
Source: Favorite Herbal Recipes of the Maple Hill Gardeners, 2000
Submitted by: Cay Gregg
Location: page 42
 
1(6lb) leg of lamb, butterflied
½ cup Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon rosemary (dried)
½ teaspoon ginger (dried)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
 
Mix seasonings and spread over lamb. Marinade overnight in refrigerator. Broil for 15 minutes on each side. Makes it well done. Serves 6 to 8.
 
Liz’s Notes:
Cay Gregg was the wife of NH Governor Hugh Gregg and mother to NH Senator Judd Gregg. I met Cay shortly after I moved to Hollis. She always made time to sit with me and chat about my family and what I was up to. Cay was a lovely woman, and I feel privileged to have called her a friend. What a delight it was to discover some of her recipes in the pages of this cookbook. I will forever prepare my butterflied leg of lamb Cay’s way.
 

• I prepared this recipe using a 3 ½ pound butterflied leg of lamb and cut the marinade recipe in half to serve 4.
• To cook, I set my broiler on high and placed the lamb 5 inches below the flame/coil. I prefer my lamb a little pink and cooked “medium” rather than “well done”. I cooked the butterflied lamb for 10-15 minutes on each side. Test the temperature with an instant read thermometer. 145 degrees for medium.
• Let the lamb rest, covered with foil for 5 minutes before slicing.
• Serve with my mint vinaigrette if you like. I love it!

By Joshua McFadden from his book Six Seasons
Serves 2-4 
(depending on the shape of your head of cauliflower and how many “steaks” you serve per person)
 
1 large head cauliflower (1 ½ -1 ¾ pounds)
Extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 ½ cups dried breadcrumbs (or panko breadcrumbs)
1 cup (3 ounces) aged provolone, shredded (grated on large holes of a box grater)
Plus ¼ cup finely grated provolone for dusting (cheddar, mozzarella, or swiss are delicious too)
½ cup chopped pickled sweet hot peppers
1/3 cup chopped mixed pitted olives (kalamata, green)
¼ cup capers
¾ cup lightly packed roughly chopped flat leaf parsley
1 teaspoon lemon zest

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees
2. Trim the bottom of the cauliflower so that it sits firmly on the cutting board. Trim off about ½ inch from two opposite sides (to flatten them), then cut the cauliflower into thick slabs. Use a large spatula when handling the slabs. This will help to keep them from falling apart. Brush both sides of each slab with olive oil and season well with salt and pepper. Chop the trimmings and set aside to use in the topping.
3. Heat a baking pan in the oven for 10 minutes. Preheating the baking pan will help to brown the steaks on the bottom. Heat two if needed to cook the steaks without crowding.
4. Using a spatula, lay the slabs on the preheated pan and return to the oven quickly. Roast the cauliflower until tender, but not falling apart, 18-20 minutes.
5. While the steaks are roasting make the topping by mixing the breadcrumbs, shredded provolone, pickled peppers, olives capers, parsley lemon zest, and chopped cauliflower trimmings. Moisten with 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil, just to help the filling hold together. Taste the filling and season well. You should want to eat it all!
6. Take out the baking pan again and distribute the topping among all the slabs, pressing the make a thick layer. Return the pan to the oven and roast until the topping is lightly browned and starting to crisp, 10-15 minutes. 
7. Using your spatula, transfer the slabs to plates and top with a dusting of finely grated provolone.

 
Alternatives:
 
Variation to the above filling: (omitting the pickled peppers, olive, and capers) instead use 1 cup roughly chopped fresh mushrooms-cremini, portabella, button, ½ cup roasted red peppers, roughly chopped, 1/3 cup black beans, drained and rinsed. Follow the recipe as above.

Protein option: Place topping on slabs of fried tofu

Herb options: 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, ¼ cup chopped fresh basil, 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
 
How can you use this topping? 
 Stuffing for peppers, zucchini
Topping for roasted portabella mushrooms, spaghetti squash, pasta

​Serves 4
2 (8 rib) lamb racks-about 1 3/4 pounds each 
¾ cup avocado
¼ cup rice vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
½ cup loosely packed chopped mint
½ cup loosely packed flat-leaf parsley
Kosher salt
Pepper, freshly ground
 
Let the lamb rest at room temperature while you are preheating the oven. 
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. 
Pat the lamb racks dry with a paper towel. 
To “french” the racks, you will remove the layer of fat that rests on the top side of the rib bones. Using a boning knife, slice across the layer of fat as high or low as you like above the ribs. Pull the layer of fat off. You may need to slide your knife under it to release it. Remove the strips of meat between the rib bones by cutting along the inner edges of the bones until you reach the crosscut you made previously. Cut any sinew or remaining meat as close to the bone as possible for a clean appearance. 
Cut each rack in half. Sprinkle the lamb with salt and pepper. 
Heat a large, ovenproof sauté pan or cast-iron pan. When hot, place the seasoned lamb racks in the pan with the rib side up. Sear the meat for 3 minutes or until browned. Turn the racks over and place the pan into the preheated oven. If you do not have an oven proof pan, place the lamb racks onto a baking pan. Cook for 15 minutes for rare or 20 minutes for medium rare. Remove the lamb from the oven and allow to rest, tented with a piece of tin foil, for 5-10 minutes before cutting. 
Cut into individual chops and serve with the vinaigrette drizzled over the chops.
 
Mint Vinaigrette
Makes 1 cup
 
To prepare the vinaigrette, combine the oil, vinegar, and sugar in a blender with the chopped herbs and pulse until the ingredients are pureed. 
Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Serves 6-8
 
2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 2-inch cubes (leave the peels on)
2 pounds ground beef, pork, lamb, or combination
1 tablespoon fresh thyme or 2 teaspoons dried
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1 large onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, chopped
1 carrot, grated
2.5 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup stock (vegetable, beef, or chicken)
2 cups peas, frozen and thawed
1/3 cup butter
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
salt and pepper

1. In a 4-quart sauce pot, cover the potatoes with water, plus 1 teaspoon salt and boil until they are tender when pierced with a fork, about 15 minutes. 
2. While the potatoes are cooking, heat a large sauté pan over medium heat with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the ground beef, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Brown the ground beef breaking it up a bit as you are cooking it. I like to use a 10-inch cast iron pan and then use it to bake the pie in after. You can  use any oven-proof pan.
3. Remove the cooked ground beef to a bowl and set aside. Return the pan to the stove and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan. Add the vegetables and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
4. Add the cooked and seasoned ground beef back into the pan and stir in the tomato paste and stock. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook uncovered for 15-20 minutes. 
5. When the potatoes cooked, drain well and put the potatoes back into the pot with the butter and mash. Stir in the thawed peas, 2/3 cup of the cheese, and the parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 
6. Spoon the meat mixture into a deep-dish pie pan or a large baking dish. Cover with the potato and pea mixture and sprinkle the remaining 1/3 cup of cheese over the top.
7. Bake for another 30 minutes or until heated through and the potatoes are lightly browned.

Variations:

• Curried Cottage Pie, instead of adding herbs, add 1 tablespoon curry powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, and 1 teaspoon ground coriander to the ground beef while it is cooking.
• Substitute the potatoes with mashed rutabaga, celery root (celeriac), or cauliflower. These are lower carb alternatives for potatoes.

Serves 6-8
 
3-pound boneless pork roast or pork loin (not pork tenderloin)
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 10-ounce package frozen spinach, thawed 
1 16-ounce jar roasted red pepper, drained
8 ounces feta, crumbled
½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
Salt and ground pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil, avocado oil, pork fat, or coconut oil
Butcher’s twine
 
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
 

1. Butterfly the pork loin to a thickness of ½ inch so that it looks like a tri-fold brochure.  Lay the butterflied loin with the fat side facing down. Spread the minced garlic on the surface of the pork. 
2. To prepare the filling, squeeze the thawed spinach of excess water and place into a large bowl. Roughly chop the drained roasted peppers and add to the spinach. Add the crumbled feta, chopped parsley, and oil. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon ground pepper. Evenly combine all the stuffing ingredients. Spoon the mixture onto the pork loin and cover the entire surface of the loin.
3. Carefully roll the loin towards the end that has the fat facing down so that the fat is exposed when complete.
4. Cut 5 pieces of twine 18-inches long. Tie the stuffed loin with twine so that the loin is firmly held together.  
5. In a small bowl combine the chopped rosemary with 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of ground pepper. Coat the loin with the seasoning and press into the meat.
6. In a large ovenproof sauté pan, heat 2 Tbs of olive oil until hot, but not smoking. Place the stuffed pork loin into the pan fat side down and sear until browned.  Turn the pork over and place the pan into preheat oven and cook until a meat thermometer reads 140 degrees, or about 40-45 minutes.  Remove the loin from the oven tent with foil and allow to rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving. 

Notes:

• How to butterfly a pork loin roast – with the fat side of the roast up, use a long sharp boning or serrated knife and cut horizontally lengthwise into the roast. Do not cut through, stop cutting about 1/2 to 1 inch short of the edge. Open the roast like a book.

Recipe by Joshua McFadden Six Seasons A New Way with Vegetables
 
Serves 4
1/2 pound Yukon gold potatoes, cut into 1 inch cubes
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 red bell peppers
1 bunch scallions
4 ounces prosciutto
6 eggs
1/2 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese, seasoned lightly with salt and pepper and stirred until creamy

1. Put the potatoes in a 4 qt pan and just cover with water and add salt until it tastes like the sea. Bring to a boil and cook until they are tender but not mushy, 10-15 minutes. Drain
2. Heat the oven to 400 degrees (this is to finish the frittata. Most of the cooking will happen on the stove top) or you can use the broiler instead. If using the broiler preheat at the same time you add the eggs to the pan.
3. Heat the butter in a 10-inch skillet (non-stick if you have one, with an oven proof handle) over medium high heat. Swirl the melted butter to cover the bottom of the pan and up the sides.
4. Add the peppers, scallions, and prosciutto, season lightly with salt and pepper, and cook until fragrant and the peppers ae softening but not browning, 5-7 minutes. Add the potatoes to the top.
5. Crack the eggs into a large bowl, add 1 teaspoon salt, many twists of pepper, and the Parmigiano. Whisk until the eggs are nicely blended. Pour the eggs over the ingredients in the skillet, scraping everything out of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
6. Reduce the heat to medium and let the eggs sit for about 2 minutes. Then carefully slip the spatula around the edges of the eggs, releasing them from the pan, allowing more liquid egg to flow underneath. Let the new layer of egg set up a bit and then repeat the process.
7. After most of the liquid egg has cooked, but the top is still runny dollop the ricotta over the top of the frittata in 8 blobs.
8. Transfer the pan to the oven and finish cooking the frittata all the way through, about 5 minutes. It should puff up a bit and brown. If finishing under the broiler, place the pan at least 5 inches away from the heat source. Keep an eye on the frittata and remove once it browns.
9. Let the frittata sit in the pan for a couple of minutes, then run the spatula or small knife around the edge of the frittata and as far under the center as you can. Serve it from the pan or gently slide it onto a serving platter. Serve warm or cold the next day.

Recipe by Julia Turshen Small Victories The entire book is filled with easy, delicious recipes. I love her "small victories". They will give you so many different ways to use her recipes.
​
4 scallion stalks, white and pale green parts only
1 tsp toasted sesame oil
1 tsp rice wine vinegar
1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 16-oz jar cabbage kimchi, including juice
3 tbsp avocado oil
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
salt
4 cups day-old cooked white rice
1 tbsp soy sauce, plus more as needed

1. Julienne scallion into 2″ matchsticks. Combine with sesame oil, vinegar, sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.
2. Drain kimchi, retaining juice. Chop finely and set aside. In a large wok over medium-high heat, heat up oil. Add onions and garlic and cook until translucent, around 5 minutes. Turn heat to high and add kimchi. Cook for another 5 minutes until the edges become crispy and kimchi begins to stick to the pan.
3. Add chilled rice into the wok, and as it heats up, use wooden spatula to break up the chunks. Combine thoroughly. Add in reserved kimchi juice and mix until thoroughly red-orange in color. Turn off heat and drizzle over soy sauce. Taste and adjust as preferred.
4. Transfer fried rice to a bowl, top with scallion salad.

I love Kate McDermott's recipes. Easy, delicious, and soul warming. This recipe is from her best selling book "The Art of the Pie". Check out her website, enjoy the recipes, and buy her pie cookbooks!

 Serves 6-8
 
1.5 pounds ground beef
2 teaspoons thyme (dry is just fine---or 1 tablespoon fresh leaves)
1/4 teaspoon allspice
2 gratings nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 teaspoon ground pepper
2 medium yellow onions, peeled and chopped small
5 cloves garlic, peeled and diced
2 large carrots, grated
2.5 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup stock (vegetable, beef, or chicken)
2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut in quarters
1/3 cup butter
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 teaspoon thyme
salt and pepper

1. Heat up a big frying pan over medium high heat and add the meat and seasonings and cook until the meat no longer looks pink. You can break it up a bit as you are cooking it.
2. Add the vegetables and cook for 5-7 minutes longer.
3. Stir in the tomato paste and stir and cook for a few minutes more.
4. Add the stock, reduce the heat, and simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes.
5. In another pot, cover the potatoes with water, plus 1 teaspoon salt and boil until they are tender about 20 minutes. Drain well and put them back into the pot with the butter and 2/3 cup of the cheese, and thyme. Mash until smooth. Add salt and pepper to your taste.
6. Spoon the meat mixture into a deep-dish pie pan or a large baking dish. Cover with the potato mixture and sprinkle the remaining 1/3 cup of cheese over the top. Bake for 30 minutes.

 
Alternatives:

• Replace the potatoes with lower carb substitutes like rutabaga, celery root (celeriac), or cauliflower. Cook as you do the potatoes.
• Replace the ground beef with ground pork, lamb, turkey or chicken.
• Herbs-rosemary, sage, or dill. Add to the cooked meat and taste. Add more if needed.
• Spices: instead of allspice and nutmeg try 1 tablespoon of one of these seasonings: curry powder, Southwest seasoning, Moroccan seasoning.

1 (24-ounce) bone-in ribeye steak, 2-inch-thick, at room temperature
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon canola oil
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cloves garlic, smashed
3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 sprigs fresh rosemary

1. Using paper towels, pat both sides of the steak dry; season generously with 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
2. Heat a medium cast iron skillet over medium high heat until very hot, about 1-2 minutes; add canola oil.
3. Place the steak in the middle of the skillet and cook, turning every 2-3 minutes, until a dark crust has formed on both sides, about 12-14 minutes.
4. Reduce heat to medium low. Push steak to one side of the skillet; add butter, garlic, thyme and rosemary to opposite side of the skillet, tilting the skillet towards the butter and cooking until butter is foaming, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
5. Working carefully, spoon butter over steak for 1-2 minutes, turning over once, until it reaches an internal temperature of 120 degrees F for medium rare, or until desired doneness. Let rest 15 minutes before slicing.
6. Serve immediately.

A quick video on the butter basting to finish the steak. 

Serves 4 

½ pound angel hair pasta 
1 pound Andouille-style sausage (or other spicy, cured sausage), sliced 1/4 inch thick
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, slice thin
3 garlic cloves, sliced thinly
1 24-ounce bottled tomato sauce (or 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes and 1 6-ounce can tomato paste) 
½ tsp red pepper flakes
1 pound 26-30 sized raw shrimp, shelled and deveined 
½ cup fresh flat-leafed parsley, chopped
Kosher salt ground pepper to taste
Parmegiano Reggiano, freshly grated

1. To cook the pasta, bring a large sauté pan filled halfway with water to a boil with 1 teaspoon of kosher salt. Add the pasta to the boiling water, stirring occasionally, and cook until the pasta is al dente, about 6-8 minutes. You will see that the pasta will absorb most of the water and the water will become cloudy with the starch from the pasta. Plan to use some of the leftover water to add to your sauce if you like.

1. While the pasta is cooking, heat a large sauté pan with the oil over medium-high heat.  When the oil is hot, add the sausage, onion, and garlic slices.  Cook stirring occasionally until the sausage is lightly browned and the onions have softened, about 5 minutes.
   
   
2. Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and red-pepper flakes. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. 

 

1. Add the shrimp and continue to cook, covered, just until the shrimp are opaque, about 4 minutes. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce with ½ to 1 cup of the reserved pasta water if a thinner sauce is desired. Cook for 1 minute to allow the pasta to absorb the flavorful sauce. Turn off the heat and add the parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot with parmesan cheese on the side.

 
Variations:

• For a low carb version, serve with cooked spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles instead of pasta
• Cook sliced mushrooms with the sausage and onions.
• Add black olives (kalamata or oil cured) and/or capers with the diced tomatoes
• Add canned artichoke hearts with the diced tomatoes

Serves 2-4
Southwest Seasoning
Makes ¼ cup
2 tablespoons smoked paprika (I get mine at HomeGoods). You can use sweet paprika instead, but it will not have a smokey flavor-still delicious though!
½  tsp chipotle power or ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder or granulated garlic
1 ½ teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons salt

Fajitas
1 ½ pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts (or tenders), cut into 1 inch slices
2 large peppers, red, yellow, or combination, cut into ½ inch thick slices
1 large red onion, peeled, cut in half from top to bottom, each half cut into ½ inch wedges
2-3 tablespoons Southwest seasoning
2 teaspoons olive oil
½ cup cilantro, chopped
1 lime, cut into 1/4s
8 corn or flour tortillas

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. 
2. Combine the Southwest seasoning ingredients in a small container and set aside. 
3. Place the chicken pieces, peppers, and onions into a large bowl. Sprinkle with 2-3 tablespoons of the seasoning and the olive oil. Toss to coat the chicken and vegetables with the seasoning. 
4. Place the seasoned chicken and vegetables onto a sheet pan and spread out into one layer -do not over crowd.  If you need another sheet pan, place them in the oven on separate racks with plenty of space between. Place the pan into the oven and cook for 12 minutes or until the chicken is firm to the touch and the peppers and onions have softened.
5. If you would like to add more browning, place the pan under the broiler (set on high) and cook (with the door open) until browned, 3-5 minutes more.
6. Warm the tortillas (covered) in the microwave for 1 minute.
7. Serve hot with lime wedges. 

 
Add Liz’s Southwest Coleslaw to create an amazing meal! 

​4 ounces butter, unsalted, grass fed
1 ½ lbs (about 1/2 a head) head Savoy cabbage or green cabbage-shredded 
1 teaspoon dried thyme or 2 teaspoons fresh
8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced                 
1 pound ground beef
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup assorted greens-baby spinach, flat-leafed parsley, baby arugula-chopped
1 lemon, zested and juiced
½ cup heavy cream
Kosher salt and pepper to taste

1. Melt 4 ounces of butter in a large sauté pan over a medium- high heat.  Add the slice garlic, ground beef, and pepper flakes. You can put the ground beef into the pan a break it apart as it cooks or place it in the pan in large pieces and cook without breaking up. Cook the meat until it is browned and the garlic is fragrant, about 5 minutes. 
   
   
2. Add the shredded cabbage and thyme. Lower the heat to medium-low, cover and cook until the cabbage is wilted but still bright green, 3-5 minutes. 
   
   
3. Add the chopped herbs, lemon zest and juice, and the heavy cream. Toss the ingredients gently to coat. Simmer for 3 minutes to heat through. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.

 
Additions:
10oz frozen spinach, thawed and pressed to remove excess water
Shrimp. Add raw shrimp with the cabbage to cook.
Replace ground beef with 1 lb sausage meat. 

2 Tbs oil (peanut oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil)
1 large carrot, peeled, sliced thin
1 medium yellow onion, sliced thin
1/2 lb broccoli, cut into florets w/stems
1 large pepper-red, yellow, or orange, sliced
1/4 lb snow peas, whole or cut in half
​3 scallions, chopped-green and white parts
Fresh cilantro (a handful with stems), chopped or flat leafed parsley- if you do not like cilantro

Optional protein additions: 
1 pound chicken breast or sirloin tips, cut into 1-inch pieces
or
½ pound extra firm tofu, drained, pressed between paper towels, and cut into ½ inch cubes

1. Prepare hot and spicy stir fry sauce (recipe below) and set aside.
2. Add 2 tbs of oil to a large fry pan and heat pan over high heat until oil is shimmering.  If cooking chicken or beef, add to hot oil and toss until cooked through. Remove from pan. 
3. Add more oil if needed and add sliced onions and carrots, cook over high heat, stirring until crisp-tender, 3 to 5 minutes.  
4. Add broccoli and peppers with 1/4 cup water, cover, and steam over high heat for about 2 minutes; uncover.
5. Add snow peas (and tofu, cooked beef, or cooked chicken if using) and cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, 30-60 seconds.
6. Pour 1 cup stir fry sauce over cooked vegetables. Add more if you like.  Add chopped scallions and cilantro. Serve immediately.
   
   
   

Hot and Spicy Stir Fry Sauce
Martin Yan (prepare before class)
Makes 2 cups
​
2/3 cups Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup chicken or vegetable broth
3 tablespoons sugar
½ tsp white or black pepper
1 ½ tablespoon chili garlic sauce or 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 ½ tablespoons minced garlic
1 ½ tablespoons minced ginger
2 tablespoons cornstarch
​1/4 cup water

1. Combine the rice wine, soy sauce, broth, sugar, pepper, and garlic sauce in a bowl. Set aside. Combine the cornstarch and 1/4 cup water in a small bowl and stir. Set aside.
2. Heat a saucepan with the cooking oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger and cook stirring for about 20 seconds. 
3. Add the soy sauce mixture and bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes.  
4. Stir up the cornstarch mixture and add to the hot sauce while stirring and cook until thickened. Store sauce in refrigerator for up to 3 weeks or freeze.

Serves 2-4
2 Tbs olive oil
Kosher salt and black pepper
1-2 cups cherry tomatoes
1 small red onion cut into ¼ inch thick wedges
2 garlic cloves, chopped
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper 
1 lemon cut into ¼ inch thick rounds
1-2 lbs salmon
1-2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 
2-4 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped or 1 tablespoon dried
½ lb green beans, stems removed
2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (about ½ cup)

1. Heat the oven to 425 degrees. 
2. Brush a sheet pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Place the tomatoes, onion, green beans, garlic, and salt and pepper in a large bowl and toss gently to season everything evenly. 
3. Place the salmon, onto the center of the sheet pan. Spread the salmon with the Dijon mustard using the back of a spoon. Sprinkle with the dill. 
4. Place the seasoned vegetables around the salmon in a single layer. Place the sheet pan in the in the oven and cook for 15 minutes. Add the green beans to the pan and continue cooking for and additional 5 minutes or until the salmon is cooked through. The thickest part of the salmon should be firm with a little “give” when pressed with your finger.
5. Remove the pan from the oven. Sprinkle on the crumbled feta and serve right from the pan!

Variations: Adjust your protein cooking time as needed. Thin pork chops-boneless or bone-in, sirloin tips, swordfish fillets, chicken breast, boneless chicken thighs. Fennel bulb, red peppers, asparagus, broccoli, or cauliflower florets. 

This is an easy and delicious Instant Pot recipe. My favorite Instant Pot recipes are from Urvashi Pitre. Here website is twosleevers.com. Go there and you will find many more great recipes.

4-6 servings
2 pounds chicken thighs boneless, skinless cut into bite sizes
1.5 tablespoons ground cumin
1.5 tablespoons chile powder (NOT cayenne)
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons oil- olive, coconut, or avocado
14 ounces diced canned tomatoes
5 ounces can tomato paste
1 small onion chopped
3 cloves garlic
2 ounces canned/pickled jalapenos
 

1. Turn your Instant Pot or Pressure cooker onto Sauté.
2. While it heats, coat the chicken with the cumin, chile, and salt.
3. Pour the oil into the pressure cooker once it is hot, add the coated chicken pieces.
4. You are doing this step to get the spices to "bloom" a little bit to get their full flavor. So cook it for 4-5 minutes, and you should be good to go.
5. Add everything else into the pressure cooker and close.
6. Cook at high pressure for 15 minutes, and allow it to release pressure naturally for 10 minutes. Release all remaining pressure.
7. Use two forks to shred the chicken a bit more if you're serving as tacos, or eat over rice.

Serves 4
 
Give your chicken a major flavor boost by stuffing pieces of Parmigiano Reggiano into the meat before searing. While the chicken is cooking, prepare this quick, flavorful tomato sauce with fresh, sweet cherry tomatoes and slowly sauteed garlic. Finish it off with a handful of fresh basil and a swirl of creamy butter and you will be in heaven!
 
 
4 boneless chicken breasts (about ⅓ pound each)
2 ounces Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 pints cherry tomatoes, sliced in half from top to bottom. 
10 thinly sliced garlic cloves
½ cup thinly sliced basil leaves
1 pinch crushed red pepper
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
Kosher salt 
Pepper, freshly ground

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cover a baking pan with foil. 
2. Cut the Parmesan into 32 ¼ -inch pieces and set aside. Pat each chicken breast dry with a paper towel. Make 8 small, shallow slits into the top side of each chicken breast. Gently insert a piece of Parmesan into each slit. Season each piece of chicken with salt and pepper. 
3. Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. When the pan is hot, place the chicken breasts in the pan, top side down. Sear the chicken until the breast lifts easily from the pan and is browned, about 5 minutes. Remove the chicken breasts from the pan and place them on the baking pan with the seared side facing up. Finish cooking in the oven for 15 minutes or until the flesh is firm, yet has a little “give” when pressed. Remove the chicken from the oven and let it sit covered for 5 minutes before slicing.
4. While the chicken is cooking, prepare the tomato sauce using the same pan you seared the chicken in. Place the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and garlic in the pan and turn the heat to medium low. Cook the garlic slowly until lightly browned, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add the cherry tomatoes, crushed red pepper, and basil. Raise the heat to medium high and cook until the tomatoes break down and become saucy, about 10 minutes. To finish the sauce, turn off the heat and slowly stir in the cold butter 1 tablespoon at a time. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve with sliced chicken. 

Variations
 
Basil Tomato Corn Sauce     
The addition of fresh corn kernels to the cherry tomato sauce above creates a colorful and delicious complement to seafood, chicken, or pasta. Prepare the sauce as above. When the tomatoes begin to break down, add ½ cup of water and the kernels cut from two fresh ears of corn. Bring to a simmer and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and finish the sauce with cold butter as above.   
 
Southwest Mussels with Tomato Corn Sauce     
Prepare the Basil Tomato Corn Sauce without the basil. Add 1 teaspoon ground cumin with the tomatoes and 2 pounds of cleaned mussels with the corn kernels. Finish the sauce with butter and a handful of fresh, chopped cilantro. Serve with pasta or polenta.

Recipe by Urvashi Pitre twosleevers.com


For the Marinade
2 teaspoons Herbes de Provence or dried tarragon
2 tablespoon Olive oil
1 tablespoon prepared Dijon Mustard
1 tablespoon Bragg Organic Apple Cider 
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Pepper
1 tablespoon minced Garlic
1 pound chicken thighs boneless, skinless
 
For Cooking
2 tablespoons Butter
8 cloves chopped Garlic
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup Cream
 

1. Mix all the ingredients for the marinade, using a wire whisk to emulsify the oil and vinegar together.
2. Add in chicken thighs and allow it to marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes. If you need to marinate for longer, put in the refrigerator.
3. When you are ready to cook, turn your Instant Pot to Sauté and when it is hot, add the butter and allow it to melt. Add chopped garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
4. Add in the chicken leaving behind as much of the marinade as you can. Do not discard the marinade. 
5. Cook the chicken thighs so that they can lightly brown on one side, 3-5 minutes. Add the marinade and 1/4 cup water. 
6. Close the instant pot and set it to cook at High Pressure for 5 minutes. Allow it to release pressure naturally for 10 minutes, and then release all remaining pressure.  
7. Remove the chicken on to a plate and add 1/4 cup cream into the pot, mixing well with the liquid in the pot. 
8. As soon as the sauce thickens, pour it onto the chicken thighs and serve.

​Serves 2
2 Tbs olive oil
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 pint cherry tomatoes, whole
1 small red onion cut into ¼ inch thick wedges
1 pound asparagus spears, trimmed and cut into 3-inch sections 
4 garlic cloves, smashed
1 lemon cut into ¼ inch thick rounds
1 1/2 lbs sword fish-1 inch thick steaks
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (about ½ cup)
2 Tbs fresh herbs-dill, basil, parsley, or mint)

1. Heat the oven to 425 degrees. 
2. Place the tomatoes, onion, asparagus, garlic, and lemon, on the sheet pan. Toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a few pinches of salt and pepper. Spread out the vegetables in a single layer onto the pan. Place the sword fish in the middle. Drizzle the fish with a little olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the pan in the oven closest to the heat source and cook for 15 minutes.
3. Remove the pan from the oven. Drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with crumbled feta and fresh chopped herbs. Serve right from the pan!

Variations: Adjust your protein cooking time as needed. Thin pork chops-boneless or bone-in, sirloin tips, salmon fillets, chicken breads, boneless chicken thighs. Fennel bulb, red peppers, green beans, broccoli, or cauliflower florets. 

Adapted From: Marcella Hazan's cookbook "Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking" 

​Serves 6
Anchovy Sauce
 
6 Tbs butter3 tsp garlic chopped course
*4 flat anchovy fillets, chopped very, very fine
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
 
Chicken 
2 eggs
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded or cut to scaloppine*
1 ½ cups of fine, dry, unflavored breadcrumbs spread on a plate.
2 Tbs butter
2 Tbs olive oil
Salt 
 
Sauce
1.  Put the butter and garlic in a small saucepan and turn on the heat to medium.  Cook the garlic until it becomes colored a pale gold, then turn the heat down to very low, and put in the chopped anchovies. Cook, stirring the anchovies and mashing them against the sides of the pan, until they begin to dissolve into a paste.  Add the chopped parsley, stir and cook for about 20 seconds, then remove from heat and set aside.
 
Chicken

1. Lightly beat the eggs in a deep dish, using a fork or a whisk.
2. Lightly salt each piece of chicken.  Dip each piece of chicken in the egg, coating both sides and letting excess egg flow back into the plate as you pull the chicken away. 
3. Place each piece into the breadcrumbs and press the chicken firmly against the crumbs, using the palm of your hand.  Your palm should come away dry, which means the crumbs are adhering to the meat.
4. Put the butter and oil into a large fry pan and turn on the heat to medium high.  When the butter foam begins to subside, place the chicken pieces in.  Cook until a dark golden crust forms on one side, then turn them and do the other side, altogether about 5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken. 
5. Add the anchovy sauce to the pan and turn the chicken to coat. Transfer to a warm platter.  erve promptly. 

 
*To make Scaloppine (two methods)
 
In this recipe, the chicken must be pounded flat and thin so they will cook evenly.  Note that you should not mash the chicken by bringing the pounder down hard against the breast.  What you want to do is to stretch out the meat, thus thinning and evening it.  Bring the pounder down on the slice so that it meets it flat, not on an edge, and as it comes down on the meat, slide it, on one continuous motion, from the center out word.  Repeat the operation, stretching the slice in all direction until it is evenly thin throughout.
You may also choose to cut the breast in half by butterflying the breast.  Once it is opened, separate the top half from the bottom half creating two pieces of chicken.

*Anchovies-I like to use anchovy paste in a tube instead of the fillets to save some work. If using the paste, use 2 tablespoons.

Serves 8-10
1  6-7 pound bone-in/skin-on turkey breast
4 Tbs unsalted butter, softened
2 Tbs chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 Tbs chopped fresh thyme, 1 tsp dried
Salt and freshly ground pepper 
Let the turkey stand at room temperature for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

1. Preheat an oven to 425°F. 
2. Mix butter, 1/2 tsp salt, and ¼ tsp pepper in medium bowl with the chopped herbs until thoroughly combined.
3. Carefully separate turkey skin from meat over breast; avoid breaking skin. 
4. Work the butter mixture under skin on both sides of breast and rub skin of turkey to evenly distribute butter over breast. 
5. Spray a V-rack with nonstick cooking spray and set inside large roasting pan. Place turkey in rack with skin side facing up; pour 1 cup of water into roasting pan. Roast turkey for 30 minutes. 
6. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Continue to roast turkey until thickest part of breast registers 160 degrees on instant-read thermometer, about 1 hour longer. 
7. Transfer turkey to carving board, cover with foil, let rest for 20 minutes or up to one hour. Carve and serve.

Serves 2 
​
Meatballs:
1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork or sausage meat
2 large eggs
​1/2 cup parsley, chopped
1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
4 cloves garlic, minced or 1 teaspoon dried garlic

Vegetables:
3 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
Kosher salt and black pepper 8 ounces portobello mushrooms, sliced
2 medium tomatoes, each cut into 6 wedges
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (about ½ cup)
2 Tbs parsley, chopped

1. To prepare the meatballs, place the meatball ingredients in a bowl and combine. Divide into eight meatballs-about 4 ounces each. 
2. Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Cover a sheet pan with parchment paper.
3. In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, garlic clove, mushrooms, and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and toss all together. Place onto the sheet pan in one layer. Place the meatballs on top. Cook in the oven for 20 minutes.
4. Sprinkle the feta over the meatballs and vegetables. Serve hot.

Variations: Adjust your protein cooking time as needed.
Try: Thin pork chops-boneless or bone-in, chicken thighs, or sirloin tips.
Red pepper, fennel bulb, leeks, sliced red or yellow onion (cut into 1/2 inch wedges). 
Serving ideas: Serve as is or serve over pasta, baked polenta, or spaghetti squash.

This instant pot recipe is from one of my favorite recipe authors. Explore Urvashi Pitri's website twosleevers.com and cookbooks to find recipes that are easy and always delicious. 
 
Serves 4
1 14- ounce can diced tomatoes
5-6 cloves garlic
1-2 teaspoons minced ginger
1 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon ground cumin
*1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs (or use breast, bone-in, or whatever works for you. If frozen, add 1-2 minutes to total time)
To finish
4 ounces butter cut into cubes (use coconut oil if dairy free)
4 ounces heavy cream (use full-fat coconut milk if dairy free)
1 teaspoon garam masala
1/4-1/2 cup chopped cilantro

1. Place all ingredients into an Instant Pot in the order listed, EXCEPT for the butter, cream and 1 teaspoon of the garam masala, mixing the sauce well before you place the chicken on top of the sauce. If it's frozen, push it into the sauce a bit so it defrosts better
2. Close the cooker and set for 10 mins on high, and let it release pressure naturally for 10 minutes. After that, release all remaining pressure. 
3. Open up the pot and remove the chicken carefully and set aside.
4. Blend together all the ingredients, preferably using an immersion blender
5. Let the sauce cool just before adding the cut up butter, cream, cilantro, and garam masala and stir until well incorporated. Adding the butter and cream into the boiling sauce will make your sauce very thin. If that happens, just put it in the fridge for a little and let it thicken up. It should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
6. Take out half the sauce and freeze for later or store in the fridge for 2-3 days
7. Add the chicken back in and heat through. Break it up into smaller pieces if you need but don't shred it.
8. Serve over rice, or zucchini noodles
   meld together and there you go. Add some fresh cilantro on top.

 
*double the amount of chicken if you want because there is plenty of sauce for a double batch! 

Adapted from NYTimes recipe: Sheet-Pan Sausages and Brussels sprouts with Honey Mustard

​Serves 4
1 pound fresh sausage, such as sweet or hot Italian, or bratwurst
1 pound brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved lengthwise
1 large apple that will stay firm in cooking-Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, Cortland-cut into 1 ½ inch cubes-leave the skin on
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
Kosher salt and black pepper
4 teaspoons honey
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1. Heat oven to 450 degrees, and place a sheet pan in the oven. Score the sausages in a few places on both sides, making sure not to cut all the way through. Transfer to a large bowl with the brussels sprouts, apples and 2 tablespoons olive oil, and stir until coated. (If the mixture seems dry, add a little more oil.) Season with salt and pepper.
2. Spread the mixture in an even layer on the heated baking sheet, and arrange the vegetables cut-sides down. Roast 15 minutes, until the brussels sprouts and apples start to soften. (The sausages will not be cooked through yet.)
3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together the honey, mustard.
4. Drizzle the honey mustard over the sausages and vegetables, and toss or shake to coat. Flip the sausages. Roast until the sausages are cooked through and the apples and Brussels sprouts are tender, another 10 minutes or so. Season to taste with salt and pepper

Alternatives: Boneless chicken thighs, thick fish fillet (salmon, swordfish, tuna, scrod), boneless pork chop, pork tenderloin. If using any of these alternatives, drizzle with olive oil and season w/salt and pepper before cooking.

Additions: Red onion, cut into wedges, cauliflower florets, butternut or delicata squash cubes or slices, sweet potato slices.

Serves 2

1 1/3 lb fresh swordfish (1 to 1 1/2 inch thick)
Kosher salt
Freshly ground pepper
Olive oil spray

1. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. 
2. Season the swordfish with salt and pepper.
3. Spray the air fryer basket and both sides of the swordfish with cooking spray.
4. Cook the swordfish for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through to assure even cooking. To check if the fish is cooked, press the center of the fillet. It should be firm, but with a little bit of "give". 

Notes: 
You can prepare the swordfish in a conventional oven-preheat to 400 degrees. Cook for 8-10 minutes.

I prepared this delicious, easy, and quick meal for my class "15-Minute Meals". For that class I added 1/2 of a yellow onion and 1/2 of a large delicata squash. No need to peel this squash which is a real time saver. Both additions were perfect!

Serve 4
12 oz smoked sausage, sliced into 2 inch pieces-Kielbasa or other precooked sausage is fine
kale-6-8 large leaves, spines removed, leaves ripped into large pieces
½  cup water
salt and pepper
 
Place all ingredients into an 8-quart stock pot over medium high heat. Cover and cook for 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Divide between 2 plates and serve.

​Alternatives: Green cabbage or any other hardy green can be used instead of kale. 
You can add additional vegetables such as sliced onions, garlic, small butternut squash cubes to pot. Choose vegetables that won't overcook in 8 minutes.