Protein Balls

This comes from Kay Lynn Larsen.

1 c dry oatmeal
1/2 - 3/4 c coconut
1/2 c peanut butter
1/4 - 1/3 c ground flax seed
1/4 c honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
(optional) 1/4 - 1/2 c mini chocolate chips

Mix together by hand and form into balls.

Portuguese Sweet Bread

My daughter calls this "Sacrament Bread," probably because it is the bread I make whenever I'm asked to bring bread for the sacrament. Whatever you call it, it's delicious and a family favorite. The recipe comes from The Bread Machine cookbook. I've added a few simple directions for handmade bread.

NOTE: You'll need to play around with the amount of flour, depending on your altitude. The recipe calls for just 3 cups flour for a full batch, but that's never enough. Also, this loaf rises quite a bit.

Ingredients

For one large loaf (or one regular loaf and one small loaf):

2 1/2 teaspoons (1 package) yeast

3 1/2 cups flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup sugar

2 tablespoons butter

2 eggs

1 cup milk

For one regular-size loaf:

1 1/2 teaspoons yeast

2 cups flour (may need more)

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons sugar

1 1/3 tablespoons butter

1 1/3 eggs (? who adds 1/3 of an egg?)

2/3 cup milk

Directions

1. Mix 3 cups of flour (if you are making a full batch) and yeast in a bowl. (NOTE: Don't add all the flour at once.)
2. Heat milk, butter and sugar until butter starts to melt, and milk is almost (but not quite) hot. (A lot of recipes say to scald the milk, or bring it to boiling, but then you need to cool it down so that it doesn't kill the yeast. Whichever you do, make sure that when you add the milk to the yeast mixture, it's warm but doesn't burn your finger when you touch it.)
3. Add milk mixture, eggs and salt to flour and mix thoroughly. Add as much of remaining flour as you need to so that the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and forms a ball that you can kneed.
4. Kneed for 10 minutes (during which time you'll get a passable arm workout and cuss yourself for not buying a Kitchenaid).
5. Cover and let rise until double. Then shape into loaves (or rolls, if you like) and let rise again.
6. Bake at 400 for 10 minutes and then at 350 for another 15 minutes (small loaf) or 18 minutes (regular loaf). (NOTE: You'll have to play around with baking times a bit, depending on your oven and the size of the loaf. Also, if you are making rolls, just bake them at 375 for 10-15 minutes, depending on the size of the rolls.)

Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli

1. Put 1/2 cup hot water in Instant Pot.
2. Add broccoli/cauliflower (in steamer basket or on trivet rack).
3. Close lid and set to Seal.
4. Press Manual and set minutes to 0.
5. When the Instant Pot beeps (indicating pressure has built), quick release the pressure manually.

Instant Pot Pork Chops with Gravy

Another Instant Pot win! Super tender pork chops, yummy gravy.

Ingredients

olive oil

pork chops (boneless or bone in)

salt

pepper

garlic powder

1 cup beef broth

1 tablespoon soy sauce

2 tablespoons corn starch

1/4 cup cream or milk

Directions

1. Turn Instant Pot on Sauté setting. Season pork chops with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Sear  pork chops on both sides. Remove from pot.
2. Use 1/4 cup of the beef broth to deglaze the pot. Return pork chops to pot. Add remaining beef broth and soy sauce.
3. Set pot to Sealing. Push Manual and set for 8 minutes. When pressure cooking is finished, allow to natural release for 10 minutes.
4. Remove chops to serving plate. Turn pot on Sauté setting. Whisk corn starch and milk/cream together. Then whisk into broth to make gravy.

Instant Pot Beef Roast

Ingredients

2-3 pound beef roast

olive oil

Carrots

Beef broth

Worcestershire

Flour or cornstarch for gravy

Rub:

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon thyme

Directions

1.  Cut the roast into 4 pieces. This allows you to cook the roast much more quickly. Trim away extra fat.
2. Turn the Instant Pot on sauté setting. When the pan registers hot, add olive oil.  Mix rub ingredients together and rub into the roast pieces. Brown the roast pieces on all sides.
3. Transfer seared beef to a plate and deglaze the pan with some of the beef broth (or red wine, if you prefer). Add the beef back to the pot. 
4. Place carrots (baby carrots or big carrots cut into 2-3" pieces) on top of the roast. Add two cups of beef broth and a few shakes of Worcestershire sauce.
5.  Place the lid on the Instant Pot, and make sure the dial is set to Sealing. Press Manual and adjust timing to 35. 
6. When pressure cooking is complete, let natural release for 10 minutes before venting and removing the cover.
7. Remove the beef and carrots to a serving bowl. Make gravy directly in the pot and serve with mashed potatoes.

Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings

One of my early Instant Pot recipes, and I love it! Beats the crockpot version hands down. The original recipe comes from simplyhappyfoodie.com. I've modified a bit.

Ingredients

2 tsp Olive Oil
1 Tbsp Butter
1 1/2 lbs Chicken Thighs, and/or Breasts, cut in slightly larger than bite sized pieces
1 Bay Leaf
1 tsp Salt (more to taste)
1/2 tsp Pepper
1/4 tsp Poultry Seasoning
4 sprigs Fresh Thyme, 2 tsp leaves (or 1/2 tsp dried)
1 4" sprig Fresh Rosemary, 2 tsp leaves, stripped off and minced (or 1 tsp dried & crushed)
1/2 tsp Sage, dried
1 small Onion, diced
1 cup Carrots, chopped (about 2 or 3 carrots)
1 cup Celery, chopped (2 stalks)
3 large cloves Garlic, pressed or minced (about 1 Tbsp)
1 large Potato, chopped
4 cups Chicken Broth, low sodium

Dumplings 
I just used one recipe of homemade biscuits:

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/3 cup tablespoon vegetable oil

2/3 cups milk

Directions

1. Prepare the biscuits. I generally roll them a bit thinner than usual, probably about 1/2 inch.
2. Turn the pressure cooker on to the Sauté setting. When the pot is hot, add the olive oil and the butter. Then add the chicken in one layer and let cook a few minutes on one side. Then stir and cook a few more minutes, until there is just a bit of pink still visible.
3. Meanwhile, in a skillet on the stove, sauté the onion and garlic. Add the carrots. 
4. Add the bay leaf, salt, pepper, poultry seasoning, thyme, rosemary, and sage. Cook for a minute to let the spices bloom.
5. Deglaze the skillet by adding a cup of chicken broth and stirring.
6. Add vegetable/broth mixture to the chicken and stir in the potatoes.
7. Add the dumplings on top.
8. Place the lid on the pot and lock in place. Turn the steam release knob to the sealing position.
9. Cancel the Sauté function. Press the Pressure Cook/Manual button (or dial) and then the + or - button (or dial) to select 7 minutes.
10. When the cooking cycle has finished, do a Controlled Quick Release of the steam/pressure. Start by using a wooden spoon or other long handled utensil to turn the steam release knob towards Venting, and start letting the steam out gradually. Do this several times, and back off if any of the sauce starts to spew out with the steam. Then open it all the way when you feel certain only steam will be coming out. It will take a couple of minutes to fully vent.

Classic Macaroni Salad

This comes from Ruth Wallace. Serves 5.

Ingredients

8 ounces elbow macaroni (about 1 3/4 cups)
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 cup chopped green or red bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped onion

Directions

1. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water until completely cool.
2. Combine mayo, vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Stir in macaroni, celery, bell pepper and onion. Serve chilled or at room temperature.