Weekly Wrap-up & Senior Salon Pit Stop #365

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Welcome to Senior Salon Pit Stop #365

Welcome to this week’s Weekly Wrap-up and Blog Link-up.

It’s a new year at the Senior Salon Pit Stop and it’s time to vroom-vroom to all the great posts that everyone is creating all around the the blogosphere! Scroll down to check out my Weekly Wrap-up along with my Featured posts from the previous Pit Stop!

What’s been going on at Homemade on a Weeknight?

I can finally report that the garden beds are all full of plants that are sprouting and growing and thriving. We have some raised beds, some fabric pots, and some plants directly into the ground. We are doing a lot of experimenting this year, as we are in an entirely different climate, elevation and soil type. So we are learning how to navigate different types of plants and methods. I’m not sure that we will have the most bountiful harvest but we will have new knowledge and at least a few tasty veggies to enjoy. Have you ever made a drastic move and had to relearn everything you thought you knew about gardening? Got any types of arid gardening?

What have you been up to this past week?

Just #ICYMI – here is one of the newest posts from last week – Easy Tomatillo Salsa! What will you use it on?

In case you missed it, here are the recipes that I shared to the blog this week:

Have you had a chance to check out the new Facebook group Yum Hungry Hangout & Giggles? It is a place to share your foodie finds, funny facts and in general hangout and get to know each other more through out shared love of food. Please feel free to check it out and maybe join in the fun!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/yumyumhungryhangoutandgiggles/

By joining the Senior Salon Pit Stop, you signify permission (EsmeSalon privacy policy) to share your posts and images here and receive an email reminder when our next Senior Salon Pit Stop is LIVE.

Show off your feature by adding the “I was featured at the Senior Salon Pit Stop” image to your post. Use this code:

You may also be featured on EsmeSalon as part of the Top featured posts.

These posts caught my eye last week! Please check back each week to see if your post is one of the ones that got a feature!

Crispy Chicken Salad shared by Organized Island

Cucumber Dill Salad shared by Recipe Idea Shop

Strawberry Tiramisu shared by The Copper Table

Peach Cobbler Cupcakes from Miz Helen’s Country Cottage

Come and meet your Senior Salon Pit Stop Crew.

Meet your SSPS Crew:

Melynda	Blog	Pinterest	Facebook	Instagram
Estelle	Blog	Pinterest	Facebook	Instagram
Esme	Blog	Pinterest	Facebook	Instagram

SSPS Is Hiring – are you interested in joining the Senior Salon Pit Stop Host Team? Please fill out our Co-Host Questionnaire

SSPS Co-Host Post

A few simple rules for the Senior Salon Pit Stop Link Party:

For every post that you share – make one comment on someone else’s post. Help make their day a bit brighter.

Unlimited sharing BUT we ask that you visit one other blog post for each link you share.

Posts can be on any subject that is family-friendly.

Posts with direct sales, shops, or affiliates must contain relevant post content.

That’s it! Come and join the fun and let’s make it worthwhile!

If you are looking for more fun places to link up your posts – check out our Ultimate Handy Linky Party List – check back often as it’s always growing. And if we have missed your Linky Party – please send me a message and we will get it added in!

Don’t miss new recipes from Homemade on a Weeknight – subscribe and get an email with every new post!

Easy Garlic Knots

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While these might look like a lot of work… they are so easy to make. The dough is simple to put together, and the process of “tying” them is really easy – just an overhand knot. They are a great addition to any table – Easy Garlic Knots are super tasty. I like to make them when I make spaghetti or pizza or an entree salad. They just add that extra note of homemade goodness to the meal.

If you need to simple item to bring to a potluck event – these knots are so good for that. While they are very good warm and fresh from the oven, they do very well completely cooled too! You can make them even up to two days ahead of time, as long as you store them in an airtight container once they have completely cooled on a rack. If you want to warm them up, you can pop them in the oven for 5 minutes and even brush with a little more garlic butter to give them that pretty glistening look.

Substitutes and Variations:

These are really delicious as is, but if you like cheese, add some grated parmesan cheese after the second butter basting, just before serving for a nice extra texture and flavor.

Suggestions for Sides:

These are great with pastas. My kids really like it with the pizza. Since this is essentially my pizza dough recipe anyway, I just use half of the dough to make a pizza and the other half to make these garlic knots.

Tools that may make this recipe easier:

Two things that are integral to the success of these garlic knots are a bench scraper and basting brush. The bench scraper is needed to evenly split the dough into 32 portions. The brush is needed to spread the garlic butter evenly. I prefer a silicon brush, as it cleans more easily and also puts more of the butter on the bun.

Now Let’s Get Cookin’!

Easy Garlic Knots

A simple pizza dough turned into luscious buttery garlicky buns.

Course Bread, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword butter, garlic butter, garlic knots, pizza dough, yeast, yeast dough

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 25

Rising Time 1

Servings Knots

Equipment

1 Bench Scraper
1 Basting Brush

Ingredients

2 tbsp Yeast instant
⅓ cup Oil
1½ cup Warm Water
2 tbsp Sugar
3 tsp Salt divided
4½ cups Flour
1 cup Butter melted
1 tsp Granulated Garlic
1 tsp Dried Parsley

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

Prepare all of the ingredients
In a large bowl, combine warm water, yeast, sugar, 2 tsps salt, and oil. Let sit to activate for about 10 minutes. Yeast should become foamy.
Add flour to activated yeast mixture. Stir together until a sticky dough forms. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to proof for about an hour (until dough has doubled in size)
Preheat oven to 425degF.
Once risen, split into thirty-two equal halves using the bench scrap to cut. Lightly flour your hands and roll each dough piece until its about 6 inches long and ¾ inch in diameter. Tie in a overhand knot and line out on a parchment paper covered baking sheet.
In a microwave safe bowl add butter and melt completely. Then add garlic, parsley and remaining salt. Baste each knot with the mixture, saving about a ¼ of it for after the baking.
Place in oven and bake for 25 minutes.
Immediately after removing from oven, baste with remaining garlic butter.

I love to link up my posts to lots of blogs around the internet – check out this Ultimate Handy Linky Party List to find some of the places I share to!

Estelle Forrest self-published this cookbook after a lot of playing around in the kitchen. You can purchase your own copy here:

AVAILABLE IN PRINT OR KINDLE eBOOK VERSIONS

Don’t miss new recipes from Homemade on a Weeknight – subscribe and get an email with every new post!

Sausage & Spinach Stuffed Shells

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Pasta is a perfect place to start when making weeknight dinners. You can add in some sauce, protein, and cheese for a delightful hearty meal. These Sausage & Spinach Stuffed Shells are an excellent way to get spinach into your families diet. This dish is also so beautiful when you prep it in concentric circles in the large round pan.

As I mentioned, this is a very pretty presentation, making it perfect for a Sunday Supper or a night that you have a dinner guest. That said, you can make this dish ahead of time all the way up to the baking step. Then cover and refrigerate to sit until ready to bake.

Substitutes and Variations:

If you like, you can use different ground meat in place of the Italian sausage. If you use a ground chicken or turkey version of Italian sausage, then just swap out. If you want to use ground beef, you will need to add some Italian seasoning, onion, garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper to the meat while it cooks.

Suggestions for Sides:

Of course, garlic bread is the ideal side for this dish. Perfect for sopping up the extra red sauce. You could also serve a nice Caesar salad on the side.

Tools that may make this recipe easier:

As noted in the recipe, you can use two 13×9 baking dishes to prepare this recipe. But ideally, you would use an extra large 14inch Everyday Pan. I use mine for so many meals.

Now Let’s Get Cookin’!

Sausage & Spinach Stuffed Shells

A hearty pasta dish loaded with sausage, spinach and ricotta all baked in a simple red sauce and covered in cheese!

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword baked pasta, Garlic, grated parmesan, Italian Sausage, jumbo shells, mozzarella, onions, red sauce, ricotta, ricotta cheese, spinach, stuffed shells

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 1

Servings

Ingredients

2 lb Ground Italian Sausage
32 oz Ricotta Cheese
1½ cup Grated parmesan
2 Eggs beaten
2 cup Fresh Baby Spinach chopped
1 cup Fresh Parsley chopped
2 lb Jumbo Shells
1 cup Mozzarella cheese shredded

For the Red Sauce

2 28oz cans Crushed Tomatoes
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
1 tbsp Sugar
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp Dried Minced Onion
1 tbsp Dried Minced Garlic
1 tsp Crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup Beef Broth Or water

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

In a saute pan over medium-high heat, cook and crumble sausage until no longer pink. Remove from heat.
In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta, beaten eggs, one cup parmesan cheese, spinach and ¾ cup parsley. Add about ⅔ of cooked sausage and fold in.
Add ingredients for red sauce and remaining sausage (with any grease) to extra large oven safe saute pan (needs to have a lid). Stir to combine. NOTE – you can also use 2 13×9 baking dishes and cover with foil.
Preheat oven to 350degF.
Start filling uncooked shells with ricotta mixture. Use a metal table spoon to push mix into tightly rolled shells. Line with out in concentric circles in the pan.
Cover pan with lid and place in oven for 45 minutes to bake.
Remove pan from oven and remove lid from pan. Sprinkle with mozzarella, remaining parmesan and remaining parsley. Return to oven to bake for 10 minutes more.
Remove from oven and let rest at least 5 minutes before spooning out to serve.

I love to link up my posts to lots of blogs around the internet – check out this Ultimate Handy Linky Party List to find some of the places I share to!

Estelle Forrest self-published this cookbook after a lot of playing around in the kitchen. You can purchase your own copy here:

AVAILABLE IN PRINT OR KINDLE eBOOK VERSIONS

Don’t miss new recipes from Homemade on a Weeknight – subscribe and get an email with every new post!

Home Matters Linky Party #534

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Welcome to the weekly Home Matters Linky Party #534

A great place to come, share your blog posts and make new friends.

We are so glad you are here with us each week.

I am so excited to be a part of the Home Matters Linky Party Team! I have been participating for quite some time and am eager to make some more contributions to this party. A little about me – I’m a Wife and Mom. My husband, four kids, 5 dogs and 25+ chickens (and counting) all currently live in the rural Montana. We are embarking on the adventure of a lifetime as we live out our dreams of being Homesteaders! Like the name implies – I love to make homemade meals every night of the week for my family. I care about what types of things we are eating and I like to try new things. This blog is all about sharing those journeys and adventures with you.

Now on to this week’s party! I can’t wait to see you there.

Meet the hosts!

Donna @ Modern On Monticello — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Joy @ Days Filled With Joy — Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Facebook Group

Estelle @ Homemade On A Weeknight — Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram

My feature this week!

Heath Sourdough Cookies

EACH HOSTESS SELECTS THEIR OWN 4 FEATURES EACH WEEK. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 12 DIFFERENT BLOGGERS FEATURED WEEKLY.

IF YOU WEREN’T FEATURED ON MY BLOG THIS WEEK, YOU MAY HAVE BEEN FEATURED AT Love My Little Cottage , OR Days filled with joy. HOP OVER TO TAKE A LOOK!

My feature picks this week!

Taco Dip Cups

shared by Honey I’m Home DIY

Stir Fried Red Cabbage with Ginger and Chives

shared by Scratchmade Food for Hungry People

Sweet Summer Berry Salad

shared by Master Pieces of My Life

Air Fryer Hawaiian Chicken

shared by Air Fryer Fanatics

Home Matters Linky Party Guidelines:

Please take some time to poke around and visit some of the other links.
Please take some time to check out your hosts and co-hosts on social media.
We appreciate the variety of blogs on the www; however, the Home Matters Party is for links on matters of the HOME. Please link accordingly.
We ask that you do not add other Linky Parties, Blog Hops, or Giveaways–unless you begin the party with a new project, recipe or post.
On the same note, please do not add links of an extremist, political or strong controversial nature. (The hosts and co-hosts read each and every blog post linked and will contact you directly if you have linked something that does not fit into the realm of the party.)

With your help, we can continue to grow the Home Matters Party! Thank you!

We are looking for Co-Hosts. Help us Rock this party!
If you are interested, please contact Donna at radforddesignstudio@gmail.com.

Link Up!

By joining the Home Matters Linky Party you are giving permission for all hosts and co-hosts to use and share any part of your post, including pictures, for party promotion, as featured posts, in party photo collages, on blogs, across social media, etc. All credits will be given to the original source.

Thank you for joining in the fun and excitement at the Home Matters Linky Party. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. We look forward to chatting with you in the comments.

Happy Cooking,

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While I’m a huge fan of a big juicy burger loaded up with all the veggies and such…sometimes you need to get down to brass taxes and make a stacked burger with just the necessities- cheese and bacon! These Double Bacon Cheeseburgers are how you take burger night to the next level for sure. A simple smash burger style loaded with lots of cheese and 6 – yes SIX – pieces of bacon!

Some may call this an Ultimate Cheeseburger or even a Baconator. Many of the big chains have some version of this classic burger creation because it is, in fact, a classic! I have included a recipe for homemade hamburger buns so that you can make this a little more homemade. But don’t worry – they will be just as good with some store-bought buns.

Substitutes and Variations:

I have listed sliced cheddar cheese in my recipe. You can, of course, go for American cheese. If you want a touch of heat, you can use a pepper jack. Another simple choice for sauce is just using mayo and ketchup. You might add in some mustard, or you could go for the full special sauce.

Suggestions for Sides:

Of course, some sort of fried potatoes is the quintessential side for a burger. Next in line, my book is a crunchy crispy onion ring.

Tools that may make this recipe easier:

You are going to need a 2inch food scoop to evenly portion the seasoned ground beef. I would also suggest having parchment paper and a burger press for the most success.

Now Let’s Get Cookin’!

Double Bacon Cheeseburger

A double patty double cheese double bacon burger.

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword bacon cheeseburger, cheddar cheese, cheeseburger, ground beef, ketchup, mayo, mayonnaise, smash burger

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Servings

Ingredients

1½ Lb Bacon cut in half
2 lb Ground Beef
2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Black Pepper
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Paprika
12 slices Cheddar Cheese
6 Hamburger Buns See recipe below
½ cup Mayo
½ cup Ketchup

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

In a bowl, thoroughly combine ground beef with salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder. Use a 2 inch food scoop to form into 12 balls.
Place each ball between two 6inch pieces of parchment and use a heavy pan or burger press to flatten out. Repeat with remaining ball.
In a frying pan over medium high heat, add bacon. Cook until crispy and then remove to paper towel covered plate.
In a wide flat pan or on a flat top griddle, over medium high heat, add 2 or 4 (depending on available space) flattened patties. Let cook for about 3 minutes then flip and smash down again. Cook another 3 minutes and then place a slice of cheese on each patty. Cover with lid and let melt for a minute then add 3 pieces of bacon on top of each patty. Stack two patties together and remove from pan. Repeat with remaining burgers.
Build the burger – smear top bun with mayo then add a swirl of ketchup. Place double bacon cheeseburger on bottom bun. Add top bun and pressing down slightly.

Homemade Hamburger Buns

A simple recipe for some homemade hamburger buns, perfect for burgers or sandwiches.

Course Bread

Cuisine American

Keyword bun recipe, buns, butter, easy rolls, flour, homemade buns, rolls, Sesame seeds, yeast rolls, yeasty rolls

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Proofing Time 3

Servings Buns

Equipment

Ingredients

2 cup Water room temp.
6 tbsp Sugar
2 pkg Dry Active Yeast 7 grams
2 Egg beaten
7 cups Flour bread or AP
2 tsp Salt
½ cup Butter softened, divided
1 tbsp Sesame Seeds

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

In a small bowl, add water and sugar. Stir until most of the sugar is dissolved. Then add yeast packets. Let sit to bloom for about 10 minutes. (should be foamy)
In a large bowl, combine flour, salt and beaten egg. Pour in bloomed yeast. Mix together until a dough forms. Knead for about 5 minutes. Then add half of the softened butter and knead into dough for another 5 minutes. Cover bowl with plastic wrap (or a bowl cover). Place in a warm place (countertop or proofing drawer), to rise for about and hour. It should double in size.
Turn dough out on lightly floured surface and punch out most of the air. Then use bench scrapper (or knife) to portion into 16 equal pieces. Roll each between your palms into round balls. Line out on a parchment paper covered baking sheet. Cover again with plastic wrap (or a clean kitchen towel) and let proof again, until doubled in size.
Preheat oven to 350degF.
Melt remaining butter. Once buns are done proofing, remove plastic wrap and brush each with melted butter. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Place in oven to bake for 30 minutes (or until golden brown).
Remove from oven and move immediately to a cooling rack. Let cool at least 15 minutes before slicing in half to use to make burgers or sandwiches.

I love to link up my posts to lots of blogs around the internet – check out this Ultimate Handy Linky Party List to find some of the places I share to!

Estelle Forrest self-published this cookbook after a lot of playing around in the kitchen. You can purchase your own copy here:

AVAILABLE IN PRINT OR KINDLE eBOOK VERSIONS

Don’t miss new recipes from Homemade on a Weeknight – subscribe and get an email with every new post!

Crispy Chicken Salad shared by Organized Island

Cucumber Dill Salad shared by Recipe Idea Shop

Strawberry Tiramisu shared by The Copper Table

Peach Cobbler Cupcakes from Miz Helen’s Country Cottage

Come and meet your Senior Salon Pit Stop Crew.

Meet your SSPS Crew:

SSPS Is Hiring – are you interested in joining the Senior Salon Pit Stop Host Team? Please fill out our Co-Host Questionnaire

Share this:

Substitutes and Variations:

Suggestions for Sides:

Tools that may make this recipe easier:

Easy Garlic Knots

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

Share this:

Substitutes and Variations:

Suggestions for Sides:

Tools that may make this recipe easier:

Sausage & Spinach Stuffed Shells

Ingredients

For the Red Sauce

Instructions

Share this:

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/modernonmonticello.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/HMLP-Logo-2022.jpg?resize=523%2C453&amp;ssl=1" alt="HMLP 2022" width="523" height="453" border="0">

Meet the hosts!

My feature this week!

EACH HOSTESS SELECTS THEIR OWN 4 FEATURES EACH WEEK. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 12 DIFFERENT BLOGGERS FEATURED WEEKLY.

IF YOU WEREN’T FEATURED ON MY BLOG THIS WEEK, YOU MAY HAVE BEEN FEATURED AT Love My Little Cottage , OR Days filled with joy. HOP OVER TO TAKE A LOOK!

My feature picks this week!

Home Matters Linky Party Guidelines:

We are looking for Co-Hosts. Help us Rock this party!If you are interested, please contact Donna at radforddesignstudio@gmail.com.

Link Up!

Share this:

Substitutes and Variations:

Suggestions for Sides:

Tools that may make this recipe easier:

Heath Sourdough Cookies

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

Share this:

Thai Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing shared by Miz Helen’s Country Cottage

No Bake Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies shared by Fat Dad Foodie

Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake shared by Walking on Sunshine Recipes

Creamy Strawberry Smoothie from Claire Justine

Come and meet your Senior Salon Pit Stop Crew.

Meet your SSPS Crew:

SSPS Is Hiring – are you interested in joining the Senior Salon Pit Stop Host Team? Please fill out our Co-Host Questionnaire

Share this:

Substitutes and Variations:

Suggestions for Sides:

Tools that may make this recipe easier:

Simple Tomatillo Salsa

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

Share this:

Substitutes and Variations:

Suggestions for Sides:

Tools that may make this recipe easier:

Double Bacon Cheeseburger

Ingredients

Instructions

Homemade Hamburger Buns

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

Share this:

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://i0.wp.com/modernonmonticello.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/HMLP-Logo-2022.jpg?resize=523%2C453&amp;ssl=1" alt="HMLP 2022" width="523" height="453" border="0">

Meet the hosts!

My feature this week!

EACH HOSTESS SELECTS THEIR OWN 4 FEATURES EACH WEEK. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 12 DIFFERENT BLOGGERS FEATURED WEEKLY.

IF YOU WEREN’T FEATURED ON MY BLOG THIS WEEK, YOU MAY HAVE BEEN FEATURED AT Love My Little Cottage , OR Days filled with joy. HOP OVER TO TAKE A LOOK!

My feature picks this week!

Home Matters Linky Party Guidelines:

We are looking for Co-Hosts. Help us Rock this party!If you are interested, please contact Donna at radforddesignstudio@gmail.com.

Link Up!

Share this:

Substitutes and Variations:

We are looking for Co-Hosts. Help us Rock this party!
If you are interested, please contact Donna at radforddesignstudio@gmail.com.

We are looking for Co-Hosts. Help us Rock this party!
If you are interested, please contact Donna at radforddesignstudio@gmail.com.