Simply Quick-n-Yummy Ravioli

 My favorite recipes for Monday nights are something quick. And after a drizzly, rainy day I made ravioli. I used organic ravioli (it helps with the quick part) and it tastes delicious. I bought the Pasta Prima brand, there are several varieties, we like the organic spinach and cheese, found in the refrigerator section at our local grocery store. Of course, you can make it homemade if you have time and a good recipe!

Ingredients:

1-8 oz package ravioli

1 pound ground beef

1/2 shallot, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups diced tomatoes, fresh or 1-14 oz can diced tomatoes with juice

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

Prepare ravioli according to package.

Cook ground beef, shallot and garlic over medium heat until browned.

Add salt and seasoning.

Let simmer for 5 minutes.

Add diced tomatoes and simmer 15-20 minutes.

Place ravioli on a large plate or individual servings, about 4 total.

Spoon sauce over ravioli and top with shredded cheese.

I served ours with warm Italian bread (olive oil, garlic and mozzarella cheese) and a lettuce salad. Yep - it was perfect!

Enjoy your quick and yummy meal!

Love and peace,

~ Simply Tammi

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Simply DIY Shabby Summer Wreath

 

A simple DIY project for under $5.00 is to make your own wreath. I made 2 of them, one for our front door and one for the wall above our fireplace mantel. This wreath is made from coffee filters! 

Supplies and Directions

straw craft wreath, I used a 12 inch wreath for this wreath (leave the plastic on the wreath)

1 package of small basket style coffee filters (1-4 cup size, about 200 coffee filters)

hot glue 

stapler

scissor

craft wire or floral wire

• Begin by measuring a piece of wire (about 16 inches) to wrap around the top of the wreath and shape a circle at the top for the hanger.  Twist the wire so you have a small circle at the top and keep twisting the wire so your hanger will be secure.
• You will need 6 coffee filters for each flower, so plan on sitting for awhile, unless you have helpers, my grand
• To start making your flowers, you will take 3 filters (leave them together so they look like 1 filter), and press them flat with your fingers so you will have 1 circle made up of 3 filters. 
• Fold the circle in half, keep folding the halves in half (total of 4 times). It will look like a small cone.
• Hold the bottom of the cone and trim the top of the filters with a scissor in a scallop shape. Super easy, just trim the tops off the top in a half-circle shape. I cut 2 half circles but you can cut points or any design you like.
• Set this aside and do the same thing with the next 3 filters, except trim them down more, I cut about an inch off the top of the second group of 3. You want them smaller so it will look like the inside of a flower.
• Stack all of the filters together. You'll have the group of 3 of larger filters and the group of 3 of smaller filters in the middle, flatten them out with your fingers and staple once in the middle.

• To make the flower shape, start gathering the first filter (the one on the top) with your fingers. I bunch it together and scrunch them up toward the middle. Continue with each layer of coffee filters until all 6 of the coffee filters are bunched and scrunched! Spread them out a little and fluff them with your fingers.
• After you have made the flower. flatten the bottom a little by pressing the flower down on a flat surface, it'll make it easier to glue it to the wreath when all of the flowers are made.

• I made about 30 flowers for this wreath.
• After your flowers are made, you can hot glue them to the wreath.
• I started with the flowers around the middle of the wreath first and worked my way to the outside of the wreath.

• If you have space between any of your flowers, just glue a dab of hot glue onto the petals of the surrounding flowers and hold it together. This will fill in any spaces. Remember hot glue is hot!! (I always have to relearn that lesson with each hot glue project)!
• I used a magnetic wreath holder on the front door. We have a glass storm door on the outside so the wreath doesn't get wet and still looks beautiful from the outside!
• I'll have more tips to color your filters in an upcoming post so keep stopping by!

Enjoy your beautiful not too shabby wreath!

Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi

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Simply Homemade Blueberry Pancakes

I was so hungry for blueberry pancakes on Mother's Day, I decided to make my own Mother's Day brunch! My favorite blueberry pancake recipe is simple and delicious! I use fresh blueberries and I make my own blueberry syrup. For a special treat, I top them off with a dollop of real whipped cream!

Dry Ingredients:

2 cups unbleached all purpose flour

3 T organic cane sugar ( you can use white sugar)

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

Whisk these ingredients together in a medium bowl (I use a Pampered Chef batter bowl). Make a "well" in the middle of the ingredients so you can pour your liquid ingredients into it. (It's easier to mix that way).

Liquid ingredients:

2 eggs

1 c milk

1 c plain, Greek yogurt

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 c melted butter
1 cup fresh, washed blueberries 

Whisk the liquid ingredients in a small bowl, then pour them into the "well" of the dry ingredients. Stir together (I use a wooden spoon). Don't over-stir, you only need to stir the batter until the most of the lumps are gone. Add 1 cup fresh blueberries and lightly stir into batter. You can add more milk if the batter is too thick, add a small amount at a time until you get the consistency you like.

Heat electric griddle to 325F. I use a 1/4 measuring cup to measure my batter then pour it onto the griddle. It only takes about 45 seconds before you have to flip them, they will have bubbles in the batter and look a little dry on the top. This recipe makes 12 large pancakes, if you have leftovers, you can freeze them.

Heat your syrup and pour over your yummy blueberry pancakes! Don't forget the dollop! Enjoy!

Love and peace,

~ Simply Tammi

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