05/23/2026
Slow cookers were simmering during last week’s Rock the Crock session here at Heritage Ave. in Portsmouth – led by Emily Gaddis who manages Gather’s food repurposing kitchen at UNH!
About 30 seniors joined Emily for an afternoon of cooking, learning, and connection. Together, they prepared a bright lemon-herb chicken in the slow cooker and even picked up a new kitchen tip: how to make rice in the oven!
After the demonstration, attendees sat down together to enjoy the recipe they had just learned to make — lemon-herb chicken served with seasonal asparagus and rice, followed by spice cake with brown sugar frosting for dessert. The gathering offered a chance not only to share a nourishing meal, but also to connect with one another, swap ideas, and talk about how they’ll use these new tips and recipes at home.
Each guest left with a copy of the recipe and a Market Basket gift card. New participants also received a miniature slow cooker and a binder to start building their own recipe collection.
About Rock the Crock 🥘
Rock the Crock is an interactive cooking demonstration that teaches participants how to make delicious, nutritious meals in a miniature crock pot.
This award-winning collaboration between Gather, Portsmouth Housing, and the Portsmouth NH Senior Activity Center is about more than cooking. It empowers older adults with the tools and knowledge to eat well, stretch their grocery budgets, and feel confident in the kitchen. Just as importantly, it creates space for connection - bringing people together to share meals, conversation, and community.
