I’m baaaaack! Yes, it’s been a while as life has been happening here at the 365 homestead, and work has had to take a backseat.
In between newsletters, Kurt and I made a 26 hour drive to AND from Winston-Salem in just 41 hours. Why, you ask? Because Kurt bought me a leather love seat to replace our 27 year old couch – STILL in really good condition, believe it or not, and decided that instead of waiting for it to be delivered that we’d drive down and pick it up ourselves. Yeah, probably not the best idea since we saw quite a few idiot drivers, a trailer truck literally run a car off into the breakdown lane and avoided a car chase outside of NYC.
The above picture is of ​Camel City BBQ​ located in Winston-Salem, NC. If you live within driving distance (haha, no not within 13 hours) or are ever traveling through the area, I can’t recommend this place enough. It was some of THE best BBQ I have ever had after Jack Stack’s in Kansas City, MO. I seriously could have eaten my weight of the vinegar red slaw. The hush puppies were amazing, loved the pulled pork, and their BBQ sauce was so, so good.

Hugs,

New Recipes This Week:

From ​Easy Recipes From Home​

Enjoy a warm loaf of this homemade ​Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread​ any time of the year! Who says pumpkin is only for fall? Make a batch of this delightful bread whenever you are craving the warm spices of pumpkin bread.

This recipe for ​Tequila Sunrise Margaritas​ combines two classic cocktails into one delicious drink. Enjoy the fresh and fruity flavors of a Tequila Sunrise cocktail with the sharp citrus notes of a regular margarita.

From ​365 Days of Baking and More​

This ​Apple Crumble Danish​ recipe will convince everyone you’ve spent hours in the kitchen when really it’s hardly any work at all! Made with flaky puff pastry, a spiced apple filling, and a delightful crumb topping, these danishes are the perfect sweet breakfast or dessert you can enjoy anytime!

This hearty ​Yellow Squash Casserole​ is a comforting side dish full of fresh and savory flavor. Tender and sweet, yellow squash joins with garlic, onions, fresh herbs, and plenty of cheesy filling to make the perfect casserole you can serve with any main dish. Make this creamy, cheesy casserole for your family tonight!

Skip the grocery store, ditch the store-bought barbecue sauce, and take your BBQ game to the next level with ​Homemade BBQ Sauce​! This recipe combines sweet brown sugar, tangy notes from vinegar and Worcestershire sauce, and the perfect balance of spices and vegetables to create a bold flavor.

​Chicken Barbecue​ is the perfect meal for those warm summer nights when you don’t want to heat up your kitchen! Grill juicy chicken smothered in a homemade barbecue sauce, serve it up with salad or veggies, and enjoy a quick and easy meal!

This one-pan ​Sauteed Squash​ is a quick and easy side dish that’s full of flavor! Slice up some squash from your garden, add an onion and some fresh herbs and seasonings, and you’ve got the perfect summer recipe the whole family will enjoy!

These ​Pumpkin Muffins​ are a perfect addition to your Fall breakfast menu. Made with soy milk and vegetable oil, these pumpkin spice muffins are a great way to incorporate soy into your daily diet and are SO moist and full of fresh pumpkin flavor!

Are you looking for a tasty, filling snack that’s easy to make? Try some chewy dried ​Dates and Peanut Butter​ for a snack that’s full of fiber and flavor!

This ​Air Fryer Whole Chicken​ is by far the juiciest chicken I have ever made! This tender chicken is rubbed with fresh herbs and infused with lemon and garlic for a flavorful main dish that’s ready in about an hour!

These ​No-Bake Energy Bites​ are made with oats, almonds, flax seed, honey, dried cranberries, and almond butter, giving you a great pick me up! They’re perfect for an after-school snack or to keep you going strong during a workout!

Inspired by the classic flavors of stuffed bell peppers, this ​Stuffed Pepper Soup​ is a thick, hearty soup with tender pieces of onion, bell peppers, tomatoes, ground beef, and soft rice.

Make these sweet and savory 3-ingredient ​Grape Jelly Meatballs​ for your next get-together! With only a few simple ingredients and hardly any prep, these meatballs are the perfect appetizer for a holiday party, tailgates, and game day gatherings!

You can make the most mouthwatering and flavorful ​Cornflake Chicken​ right in the comfort of your own kitchen! This crispy and delicious dish is sure to please even the pickiest eaters, and it’s surprisingly easy to prepare.

If you love Snickerdoodles, you’re going to seriously love how easy these ​Snickerdoodle Bars​ are. They’ve got the same great flavor as your favorite cookies, but take half the effort.

Back-to-School Recipes To Enjoy:

• ​Easy Ham Salad​ – chopped ham, mayo, mustard, pickle relish and a touch of Sriracha will make this sandwich fixing a new back-to-school favorite.
• ​Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies​ – that all-time favorite oatmeal cookie made even better and sweeter with the addition of butterscotch chips.
• ​Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn,​ the perfect movie night snack, after-school snack or anytime snack. You’ll fall in love with this popcorn tossed with ghee and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. Once you reach in, you won’t be able to stop going back!
• This easy ​Chicken Nachos Recipe​ makes the perfect quick dinner or game-day appetizer that you’ll want to make again and again.
• ​Cookie Butter Snack Mix​ – It’s a snack you’ll feel good about giving your kids after school and one they’ll enjoy eating!
• These ​Chocolate Coconut Cookies ​are a flour-less cookies made with sweetened condensed milk, unsweetened chocolate, shredded coconut, pecans, and vanilla. These are chewy, chocolatey and delicious, but not too sweet.

Menu Plan This Week:

Sunday: ​Sausage Alfredo Rigatoni​

Monday: ​Tuna Noodle Casserole​

Tuesday: ​Air Fryer Blueberry Hand Pies​

Wednesday: ​Nutella Cruffins​

Thursday: ​Crockpot Queso​

Friday: Date Night

Saturday: ​Crockpot Shredded Chicken Sandwiches​

Favorite Product of the Week:

Ok, I know I’ve encouraged you to get these before, but as I was scooping the ​Meat Sauce​ remnants out of the pot yesterday and into my mouth with a GIR Spoonula, I kept thinking how I’d never be able to do it with just a simple spatula. Nor would I be able to wipe every last drop off the side of the pot with a spoon. That’s why these incredible utensils are the bomb. They’ll make great stocking stuffers for your favorite cook this year, and they come in different sizes and colors, too!

Tip of the Week:

I’ve found the secret to a spotless stainless steel sink! I saw this online and I can’t remember where, but you’re going to need a bottle of Barkeepers Friend and Dawn Powerwash Spray (I like the apple scent). So every night, I clean the sink and drain first with a bit of Barkeepers Friend to remove the surface dirt, then rinse and wipe it all out. I follow that up with a few sprays of the Dawn which removes any greasy residue, scrub and rinse. When I finish, I just stare at it. My heart is so happy because I have never seen a stainless steel sink so shiny and clean. Try it, and let me know what you think!