By Chef Saul Bolton

I started cooking for Passover over 24 years ago in the west village. My boss’s mom came into the restaurant kitchen and would teach me her Passover recipes. The wonder. The honor to be given a personal glimpse into a family, a tradition, and a culture. We cooked together for three Passover holidays. It was special.

I drew the following recipes from the past and present; from the freedom, one has not being bound by years of tradition; from the enrichment by my culinary peers and the world we live in; and from the deep respect for the importance of family, culture, and tradition.

MATZO (CHILAQUILES STYLE)

Serves 6

INGREDIENTS

PROCEDURE

  • 1 lb tomatillos, husk removed

  • 1 small white onion, peeled and cut into quarters

  • 1 whole jalapeño, stem removed

  • 4 whole garlic cloves

  • 1 bunch cilantro, washed and shaken to remove excess water (set aside 12 sprigs of cilantro for garnish)

  • 1 ripe hass avocado

  • 1 lime, cut in half for juice

  • Salt and pepper to taste

  • Olive oil

  • 1 packet of salted matzo, broken up into tortilla chip size pieces & toasted in oven until golden brown

  • 8 whole cage free eggs, room temperature

  • ¼ lb queso fresco, crumbled

  1. Heat a sauté pan over high heat. Add tomatillos, onion quarters, jalapeño and garlic in batches. Carefully blister them on all sides until they have a nice char.

  2. To prepare a salsa verde, add the charred ingredients to a blender. Add cilantro stems and blend until everything is well processed. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

  3. In a small bowl, mash the avocado with a fork and season with a squeeze of lime juice, salt and a touch of olive oil. Set aside.

  4. Heat an appropriate sized sauté pan over medium heat. Add 2 tbsp olive oil then carefully add in the salsa verde. Add the matzo chips. Reduce the heat to a simmer and stir until the sauce is evenly distributed.

  5. Add the eggs to the pan, gently stirring as per scrambled eggs. Cook to your liking.

  6. Divide the mixture between six warm plates

  7. To serve, top each mound of eggs with mashed avocado and garnish with a sprinkle of queso fresco, a sprig of cilantro and a squeeze of lime.

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MIX & MATCH BREAKFAST BARS

Shared by Jennifer John, The Sylvia Center

Total Time: 1 Hour

Serving Size: 8 Breakfast Bars

INGREDIENTS

PROCEDURE

  • 2 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats

  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda

  • ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt

  • ¼ cup coconut oil

  • ¼ cup honey

  • ¼ cup sugar

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350° F.
Using parchment paper, line 8-inch square pan with 2-inch overhang

  1. Put 2 cups of the oats in large bowl.

  2. Buzz remaining ½  cup of oats in a blender or small food processor until you get a rough flour. Add to bowl of oats.

  3. Stir in baking soda and salt.

  4. Add in Mix and Match dry ingredients to bowl and stir to combine.

  5. In a small saucepan, gently heat coconut oil, sugar and honey (or Mix and Match variation below) until just melted. Stir until sugars are incorporated. Remove from heat and add vanilla.

  6. Stir liquid mixture into bowl until oat are completed and evenly coated.

  7. Turn bowl into prepared pan and spread evenly. Put a sandwich bag onto hands and press mixture firmly into corners for an even thickness.

  8. Bake 20 minutes until oats are toasted and golden. Cool for 10 minutes, then cut into bars with sharp knife; cleaning knife as necessary. 

  9. Leave bars to cool another 10 minutes, then remove from pan to cool completely.
    Bars will crisp as they cool.

  10. Put into container or wrap individually when completely cool. Store on counter or in refrigerator or freezer. (Pull out 15 minutes to warm up a bit before eating.)

This is a great recipe for adults and children to make together. You can mix and match different ingredients to build a custom recipe from your family or try one of our suggestions below. Best of all, when made with gluten-free oats, this recipe is gluten-free; substituting brown rice syrup for the honey makes it vegan.

Mix And Match Variations

The Basic Bars take well to a variety of add-ins to make them your own families’ favorite breakfast bar. Add in up to a cup of nuts and/or dried fruit. Switch out honey for other liquid sugars, like maple or agave. Change oil to canola, nut oil or a light olive oil for slight differences in texture.

Apricot Pistachio Bars

Add In

  • ½ cup roughly chopped roasted pistachios (salted or unsalted)

  • ½ cup roughly chopped dried apricots

Method

  • Add pistachios and apricots as Mix & Match ingredients in Step 4.

  • Proceed with recipe as written.

Honey Nut Bars

Add In

  • ½ cup roughly chopped roasted peanuts (salted or unsalted) 

  • 2 tablespoons peanut butter power

  • Additional tablespoon of honey for topping

Method

  • Add peanuts and peanut butter powder as Mix & Match ingredients in Step 4.

  • Proceed with recipe as written until Step 7.

  • After mixture is pressed into pan, drizzle the additional honey evenly on the top.

  • Then proceed as directed.

Double Chocolate Pepita Bars

Add In

  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder

  • ½ cup pepitas (green pumpkin seeds)

  • 2 tablespoons chia seeds

  • ¼ cup dark chocolate chips

Substitute

  • ¼ cup walnut oil (for coconut oil)

  • ¼ cup maple syrup (for honey)

Method

  • Add cocoa powder, pepitas, and chia seeds as Mix and Match ingredients in Step 4.

  • In Step 5, use walnut oil and maple syrup with sugar. Melt and proceed as directed.

  • In Step 8, when bars are pulled from the oven, sprinkle dark chocolate chips evenly across bars. Let cool 10 minutes.

  • Spread melted chocolate evenly across bars.

  • Let cool for 5 minutes.

  • Cut bars with sharp knife while in pan.

  • Then pop into the refrigerator for another 10 minutes to cool completely and harden chocolate.

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BREAKFAST IN BED STINKS: TRY COOKING TOGETHER ON MOTHER’S DAY!

by Jennifer John, The Sylvia Center

I’m not sure where the idea of “breakfast in bed” started. Perhaps in some imagined past where all the servants in Downtown Abbey got up at 5 am to make sure the Mrs. had her poached eggs before getting dressed for the day.

The one time I managed to get my breakfast served to me in bed it was really hard to enjoy it while balancing the tray precariously on my lap. Then I spilled the orange juice onto my comforter. It was not relaxing. The toast got cold.

So, let’s dispense with this idea for Mother’s Day. Maybe your family can pull it off, but I don’t even want to ask my husband and 6-year-old daughter to try this year. This Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 13th) why not make breakfast together as a family?

Through our programs at The Sylvia Center, we encourage families to cook together. Young people who are involved with meal preparation at home are more likely to eat a larger variety of healthful foods. We also know that making food at home is way more affordable. And when kids are in the kitchen, they are reinforcing learning from many different areas — literacy, math, science, and more.

Getting in the kitchen with your kids can be a lot of fun. It is an opportunity to do something together and build your relationship. You can share your favorite tastes and textures with each other, tell family food stories, and make something that feeds your heart and bellies.

However, cooking with children can be challenging. Kids who are just starting out need a lot of help staying on task and staying safe. Older kids may want mom or dad completely out of the way. And getting dinner on the table on a weeknight is often hectic as it is; it may not the best time to experiment in the kitchen.

I believe the best time to start cooking with kids is on a lazy Sunday morning. Hopefully, everyone is well-rested and you have a few hours to work together before your afternoon activities. The Sylvia Center has some tips for making the time with your children in the kitchen more joyful by simply adding a little more planning into your meal prep.

The Sylvia Center Tips For Cooking With Your Kids:

  1. Adjust for Age: Planning ahead can set everyone up for success. Be sure to select a recipe with a difficulty level and length appropriate for the age of your children. For younger kids, recipes that involve mostly measuring, mixing and baking are good choices. Older children can learn how to hold a knife safely to chop ingredients. Save the sauteing and frying for young people who have demonstrated they can be trusted to follow directions and be safe. Keep it simple at first, then introduce new ingredients and recipes as they build their skills.

  2. Keep It Low-Key: Spills happen. Your own attitude is what will make or break it with your kids. Remember the point is to have fun so they want to do it again. Your child won’t have fun if you’re tense about spilled flour or yelling about their fingers in the honey. Keep it light and keep it moving. You can prep all of your ingredients before your young child even enters the kitchen. I know I get annoyed trying to locate the cinnamon in the back of the cabinet, so I do it before I invite my daughter into the kitchen.

  3. Creative Control: I like to cook recipes where my daughter gets to choose some of the ingredients to her taste, like an omelette or our Mix and Match Breakfast Bars. It is a good way to tempt them to try new foods or express their preferences. You are collaborating with your child, so this is not your Julia Child moment. Let them make it their own with your help.

  4. Learning Connections: Cooking together is a great way to reinforce some of the concepts they are learning in school. Younger children can practice fine motor skills and doing things in sequence. First graders can reinforce emerging reading and math skills. Those measuring cups are great ways to talk about fractions. Older kids can help make shopping lists, explain why the salt and the baking soda are needed for a recipe, or make adjustments to the recipe, like doubling measurements. Again, keep it light. Don’t make it like school. Let your shared curiosity be your guide.

So This Mother’s Day, Get Into The Kitchen With Your Family.

To start off, I suggest trying this Mix and Match Breakfast Bar recipe. It can be adjusted for all skill levels and tastes, and it is quick. You can even eat it in bed if you don’t mind oatmeal crumbs on your sheets.

My daughter and I have been trying out different breakfast bar recipes on Sundays for the last few months. We don’t always get a chance to cook together during the week, so this is our day to be in the kitchen. It also solves a problem. It ensures we’ve got a tasty homemade breakfast all week.

This Mix & Match Bar Recipe is our favorite basic bar recipe. It is crispy, crunchy and a sweet start that will last you until lunch. She loves the Honey Nut Bar variation, and my favorite is the Double Chocolate Pepita Bar. You and your kid can figure out which one you like best. And when you do, please tag us on Instagram or Facebook. We would love to see what you come up with as a family. So, get cooking!

HOT BROWNS LIKE MY MOM'S

Chef Saul Bolton shared his recipe for a Hot Brown — a delicious open-faced turkey sandwich covered in a rich Mornay sauce then broiled. It’s warm and comforting and is an easy brunch to put together for one or many. Our recipe below serves 6, but you can easily modify for two or twenty. If you’re making it for more than 6 people, you can prepare in a large casserole dish for everyone to help themselves family style.

 

Hot Browns Like My Mom’s

Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 6 slices of good whole grain country bread

  • 12 slices thick cut bacon cooked until almost crispy

  • 12 ¼ inch thick slices of big ripe tomatoes

  • 6 cups of Mornay Sauce

  • 12 1/8” slices of roasted turkey breast ( or odd slices and pickings to loosely cover toast)

  • 12 nice basil leaves (just thought would be nice)

  • 2 cups of grated aged Parmesan cheese

Method

  1. Toast the whole grain bread until it’s a dark golden color, then lightly butter them.

  2. Place two slices of bread in an oven proof dish. Layer with sliced turkey, the almost-crisp thick cut bacon, basil, and sliced tomatoes. Be sure to season each layer with salt and pepper.

  3. Spoon Mornay sauce over each sandwich, then sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese.

  4. Broil until golden brown and serve immediately.

EGGS BENEDICT WITH SALMON AND CRAB

Check out this special Eggs Benedict created especially for Mother’s Day. A decadent spin on the already decadent classic, it adds smoked salmon and crab meat in place of the traditional Candian bacon.

EGGS BENEDICT WITH SALMON AND CRAB

SERVES 2

Ingredients:

  • 2 English muffins, split and toasted

  • 4 slices smoked salmon

  • 4 oz jump lump crab meat

  • 4 poached eggs, for serving

  • 3 large egg yolks

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

  • Pinch of cayenne pepper, optional

  • To taste salt

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted

Procedure:

  1. Prepare the Hollandaise: Combine the egg yolks, lemon juice, cayenne and salt in a blender until pale yellow in color, about 30-60 seconds. With the motor running, add the butter in a slow stream until emulsified. Store until needed in a warm spot.

  2. Assemble the dish: Place two English muffin halves on each plate and layer on smoked salmon and crab meat. Gently place a poached egg on top. Drizzle with prepared Hollandaise and serve immediately.

Growing up in an Italian family, we learned to show our love by feeding people. “Here, have another bite” meant I like you. Just filling up an unsuspecting person plate with baked ziti and meatballs meant I really like you, or my favorite is when you have tin pans overflowing with food to go home with meant real love! My Grandmother had an open door policy at her home and always had food on the stove to welcome whoever stopped by. The smell could pull you in from miles away. I don’t remember her anywhere else in her house besides the kitchen, over a large metal sauce pot stirring tomato sauce – yelling at my father to stop eating out of the pot.

I was the lucky one to get my Grandma’s recipe book. It’s a bright yellow photo album with index cards in her writing, falling apart at the seams. It’s truly a piece of history. When I first tried to dive into making one of her legendary meals, I decided to start with one of my childhood favorites, Easter Pie (or Pizza Rustica as she called it). I was confused at first glance. 5lb of flour, 2 dozen eggs . .  who and what was she feeding! As I read down further, the recipe called for a handful of cut prosciutto and the light ham from down the block, 2 baskets of cheese, and a big ball of mozz. To her this was her way of doing one of two things; one: the recipe cards were a quick reminder to her because she made each recipe every year or two: making sure no could every duplicate one of her delicious treats.

After years of taste testing and family gathering, I think we have it pretty close. Nonna’s recipe for Easter Pie!

Nonna's Easter Pie Recipe

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Ingredients:

For the Dough

  • 6 cups all-purpose flour

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • 1 pound chilled salted butter, cut into large pieces

  • 5 large eggs, beaten

For the Filling

  • 1 lb prosciutto, in 1/4-inch dice

  • 1 lb boiled ham, in 1/4-inch dice

  • 1 lb boiled ham, in 1/4-inch dice

  • 8 ounces pepperoni, in 1/4-inch dice

  • 8 ounces soppressata, in 1/4-inch dice

  • 1 lb mozzarella, in 1/4-inch dice

  • 8 ounces provolone, in 1/4-inch dice

  • 2 pounds ricotta

  • 8 ounces grated pecorino Romano

  • 10 large eggs, beaten

  • 1 teaspoon pepper

  • 1 large egg, beaten, for brushing crust

Method:

  1. For the dough: In a large bowl, whisk together 6 cups flour and the salt. Using a pastry cutter, large fork, or two knives, cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add eggs and knead for 1 minute. Add about 1 1/4 cups ice water, a little at a time, to form a cohesive dough. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until it forms a large smooth ball, about 5 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and chill. Let set aside for 30 minutes.

  2. For the filling: Mix the meats, cheeses, the 10 eggs and pepper in a large bowl.

  3. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Divide the dough into two pieces: two-thirds for the bottom crust and one-third for the top. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the larger portion of the dough into a rectangle to line the bottom and sides of a 10 x 15 glass baking dish. Add the filling and smooth it lightly. Brush the edges with a little water. This will act like glue.

  4. Roll out the remaining dough to cover the top of the dish with some overhang. I like to cut a little carrot on the top of the dough while its on the counter, you can just use a fork and poke some holes. Trim off excess dough and crimp the edges to seal. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush top and edges with the beaten egg, then return to the oven until golden brown, another 45 minutes. Let pie cool completely before serving. 

SAVORY SOURDOUGH PANCAKES

Shared by Suzannah Schneider, Sustainability Connector

I was recently gifted a sourdough starter from a friend. I fed it dutifully, but was dismayed to send the gloopy discards into the trash. I started to save the cast-offs of “unfed” starter, and before long I had enough to make a full stack of sourdough pancakes. This NYTimes-based recipe is tangy and salty, and can be dressed up with maple syrup or stuffed with herbs, seasonings, and greens for dinner. I plan on making a batch of tiny rounds for our next party for a new take on blini.

Ingredients:

For the overnight “sponge:”

  • 1 cup sourdough starter, “unfed”

  • 1 cup buttermilk (make vegan buttermilk by adding 1 tablespoon lemon juice to 1 cup nondairy milk)

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1 Tbs light brown sugar

For the batter:

  • 1 large egg or egg replacement (I use 1 Tbs Ground flaxseed whisked with 2.5 Tbs Water)

  • 1/4 cup neutral oil

  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (omit if making a savory pancake)

  • 1/2 tsp salt

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • Optional: chopped dried or fresh herbs, greens, garlic and/or onion, spices…

Method:

  1. Put the sourdough starter in a large bowl and add the buttermilk, flour and sugar, then stir to combine. Cover the bowl and allow it to rest overnight at room temperature.

  2. When you are ready to cook, whisk the egg, melted butter or oil and the vanilla extract together in a small bowl, then add the rested sponge. Add the salt and the baking soda to the batter and mix to combine.

  3. Pour some of the batter onto a preheated greased waffle iron and cook until the waffle is brown and crisp, then repeat. Or use a small ladle to create pancakes on a preheated oiled pan or griddle, flipping them when they are well browned on the bottom. Serve immediately.