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.

All the credit for this recipe goes to Chungah of www.damndelicious.com. Go to her website. Try her recipes!


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.

​1 pork chops, bone-in about 1 ½-2” thick (3-5 pounds)
2 tablespoons herb/spice rub*. 
1 cup ripe peaches, unpeeled and diced
¼ cup red pepper, seeded and diced small
¼  cup red onion, diced
1 tablespoon jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
3 tablespoons cilantro or mint, chopped
1 tsp. grated lime zest
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
 

1. Remove pork chops from packaging, rinse, and pat dry with paper towels. 
2. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of your favorite seasoning over both sides of the pork chops and rub in well. Place the chops in the basket of your air fryer.
3. Set the air fryer to 400 degrees and cook the pork for 12 minutes, turning the chops over at 6 minutes. Remove the pork from the air fryer and allow to rest for about 5 minutes before serving. 
4. To make the peach salsa, in a bowl, combine the peaches, red pepper, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, lime zest and lime juice and toss gently to mix. Season with salt and pepper. Serve over pork chops.

 
*Rub I used in class=Trader Joe’s BBQ Rub & Seasoning with Coffee & Garlic
 

1 whole chicken (3-5 pounds)
2 tablespoons herb/spice rub*. 

1. Remove chicken from packaging, rinse, and pat dry with paper towels. Be sure to discard neck and giblets from cavity of chicken.
2. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of your favorite seasoning over all sides of the chicken and rub into the skin well. Place the whole chicken breast-side down in the basket of your air fryer.
3. Set the air fryer to 350 degrees and cook the chicken for 30 minutes. Remove the basket and using tongs, turn the chicken over breast side up. Place the basket back into the air fryer and continue cooking for 30 minutes, or until a meat thermometer reaches 165 degrees.
4. Allow chicken to rest for about 10 minutes before serving. 
   
   ​*Rub I used in class=Trader Joe’s BBQ Rub & Seasoning with Coffee & Garlic

4-6 servings
 
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs, about 4-5 ounces each 
2 Tbs olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, or ghee
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 375˚. Pat each chicken breast dry with a paper towel and season each with salt and pepper. Cover a baking pan with foil. 
2. Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add oil.  When the oil is hot but not smoking, place the chicken breasts in with the topside of the breast facing down.  Be sure there is space between each piece (cook in batches if necessary).  
3. Sear the chicken for 3 minutes or until it is golden brown.  When the breast lifts easily from the pan remove the chicken breasts and place them onto the baking pan with the browned side facing up. 
4. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the flesh is firm yet has a little “give” when poked.  Remove the chicken from the oven and allow to sit covered for 5 minutes before slicing.

 
Alternative: Slice the chicken into 1 1/2 inch wide strips, pat dry, season with salt and pepper and sear as above.  The strips can be finished on the stovetop or in the oven. Cook until just firm to the touch, about 3 minutes per side on the stovetop.

You must own "Six Seasons" by Joshua McFadden. This book will open your palate to the wonderful combination of "sweet savory" and to imaginative ways to prepare vegetables in any season. 

Serves 2
​3/4 pound steak tips
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound broccoli, stems trimmed and peeled, stems sliced crosswise into 1/8-inch coins and tops cut into florets
1/3 cup Caper Raisin Vinaigrette (recipe below)
1 cup dried breadcrumbs
 

1. Season the steak well with salt and pepper. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes and up to 1 hour.
2. Heat a heavy medium pan over high heat. Blot off any excess moisture from the surface of the steak, add it to the skillet, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the first side is nicely browned and the steak looks about one-third done.
3. Flip the steak and cook until rare or medium-rare-about 5-8 minutes. Transfer to a plate to rest and tent with foil. Don't wipe out the skillet.
4. Place broccoli florets and coins into the  hot pan, increase the heat to high, add 1/2 cup water, cover, and steam for 3 to 4 minutes. Uncover and cook until the broccoli is tender and the water has evaporated, another 3 to 4 minutes, depending on the size of your florets.
5. Remove the pan from the heat, add 1/3 cup vinaigrette, and toss to combine. Taste and adjust with more vinaigrette, salt, or pepper.
6. Slice the steak across the grain. Arrange the broccoli on a plate or platter, top with the steak and any accumulated juices, sprinkle the breadcrumbs over everything, and serve right away.

Caper-Raisin Vinaigrette
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup golden raisins
3 garlic cloves, peeled
3 tablespoons capers, rinsed and drained
one 2-ounce can anchovy fillets, drained
3/4 cup lightly packed flat-leaf parsley leaves
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
kosher salt

1. Put the vinegar and raisins in a little bowl and let the raisins plump for about 30 minutes.
2. Put the garlic in a food processor and pulse until finely minced, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
3. Add the capers and anchovies and pulse until you have a coarse paste. Add the parsley and pulse until completely chopped, again scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
4. Add the raisins and vinegar and pulse until the mixture is blended but still slightly coarse. Scrape the mixture from the processor into a bowl and whisk in the olive oil to make a slightly chunky dressing. Taste and adjust with salt or more oil, if needed. Store in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.

Serves 2 as an entrée or 4 as an appetizer

4 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3 cloves garlic, chopped
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1-pound shrimp (25-30 count or larger), peeled and deveined
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
grated parmesan cheese for serving
1 lemon cut into wedges for serving
Optional additions: 1 tablespoon capers and/or 1 tablespoon sundried tomatoes, chopped 
       

1. Place the butter, lemon juice, garlic, and red pepper flakes into a 7-inch round baking pan and place into the basket of your air fryer (include optional capers and sundried tomatoes if using). Cook at 350 degrees for 6 minutes. 
   
   
2. Add the shrimp to the melted butter mixture and toss to coat the shrimp. Place the pan back into the air fryer and cook for 5 minutes. 
   
   
3. Remove the pan from the air fryer and sprinkle with the chopped parsley. Toss and serve in the hot pan with artisan bread for dipping and lemon wedges for squeezing. 

Serving options:
2 cups cooked pasta-toss the cooked pasta with the shrimp and butter mixture.
1 cup cooked rice-serve the shrimp and butter mixture over the rice.
2 cups spiralized zucchini cooked in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 4 minutes. Toss gently with shrimp mixture and serve hot.

Southwest Seasoning
¼ cup smoked paprika
1 tsp chipotle power or ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon granulated garlic
1 tablespoon ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons Kosher salt
 
Fish Tacos and Coleslaw
12 small corn tortillas
1 ½ pound tilapia fillets
4 cups red cabbage, thinly sliced
1 small red pepper, thinly sliced
¼ cup red onion, minced
½ cup cilantro, chopped
1 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
2 limes, cut into wedges

1. Preheat the broiler on high and put the cooking rack 5 inches below the flame. Cover a broiler pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.
2. Combine the Southwest seasoning ingredients in a small container and set aside.
   
3. Place the tilapia fillets onto the prepared pan and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the Southwest seasoning. Broil until the fish is cooked through, about 7-12 minutes depending on how thick the fish is.
4. In a large bowl combine the cabbage, red pepper, red onions, and cilantro. Prepare the dressing in a small bowl by mixing the mayonnaise, vinegar, honey, and 2 teaspoons of the Southwest seasoning together. Toss ½ cup of the dressing with the shredded cabbage and vegetables. Add salt and pepper to taste.  Add more dressing if you like.
5. Warm the tortillas (covered) in the microwave for 1 minute.
   
   ​To assemble the tacos, place a piece of fish and some coleslaw onto each tortilla. Serve with lime wedges on the side.

Serves 2-4

1 lb cooked salmon or one 14 ounce can salmon
2 tablespoon mayonnaise
1/3 cup breadcrumbs-unseasoned
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon herb, dill, parsley, chopped
1 stalk scallion, chopped
2 tablespoon oil
2 tablespoon butter
Lemon

1. If using fresh cooked salmon, break up the salmon with a fork. If using canned salmon, drain and reserve liquid from salmon. Leave the bones-they are so soft and will not be noticed in the patties.
   
   
2. In a bowl, combine the salmon, mayonnaise, breadcrumbs, egg, and herbs. If mixture is too dry to form into patties, add reserved liquid from salmon.
   
   
3. Form the mixture into salmon cakes using about 1/3 cup for each.

   
   
4. Place the oil and butter into a large sauté pan and heat over medium high heat. When the butter has melted and starts to bubble, place the salmon cakes in and cook until browned. Turn over and brown on the other side. Serve hot, room temperature, or cold. Serve with a wedge of lemon.