Bean-Bacon Chowder

I'm always in the mood for a good soup or chowder, especially when it's chilly..and in the Midwest, there's no shortage of chilly days...even though it's supposed to be spring! This is one of my "go to" recipes when I need something filling and am short on time. I almost always have the ingredients on hand. It's adapted from Better Homes and Gardens Pork Sausage & Ham Cookbook.
Here's what you need:

• 6 slices bacon cut up
• 1c chopped onion I use sweet yellow
• 2 T flour
• 3 c milk
• 2 medium potatoes peeled and diced
• Salt and pepper to taste, because of the salt in the bacon I only add pepper
• 1 22oz (or close to it) can or jar baked beans -I use Bush's Original

Cook bacon and onion till bacon is browned and onion is tender. Blend in flour. Add milk, cook and stir until bubbly. Add potatoes salt and pepper. Cover and simmer 12-15 minutes or till potatoes are done. Stir in beans and heat. Makes at least 6 good size servings.
Enjoy!
~Simply Angie

15 Minute Blueberry Sauce or Jam

If you have 15 minutes and a couple of ingredients, you can make your own blueberry sauce or jam without using sugar or pectin. My inspiration for this recipe actually came from a recent yogurt experience. I ran out of homemade yogurt and didn't have an extra minute that day (for real - lol) so I had to buy yogurt to get me through the crisis situation. I have issues with store bought yogurt, which is why I make my own. Here's the recipe in case you haven't been following us, Simply Homemade Yogurt. If I have to buy yogurt my favorite is the brand Kalona but this week I spotted the "Noosa Yoghurt" and it looked really good. It had blueberries on the bottom and what looked to be a nice creamy yogurt on the top. I usually dislike yogurt with fruit on the bottom because they have too much sugar and syrup, but the Noosa yogurt was delicious! The yogurt was creamy and the fruit was real! So as I savored every bite of my store bought yogurt, I thought there must be a way I could make this at home! And you know how it goes, a few experiments and you finally get the right combination! So here is the delicious blueberry sauce/jam (yes, you can use it for either purpose). I made 1 pint which is perfect for our house and no canning is required.
Ingredients:
2 cups fresh organic blueberries (you don't have to use organic)
1/4 c honey
1/4 c water
Directions:
Wash the blueberries and place them in a small pan over medium low heat on the stove. Add the honey and water and stir gently. Let your blueberries come to a boil, then turn it down and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir them a few times during this process. Remove from heat and let it cool for about 15 minutes. I poured mine into a 1 pint Ball jar, then into the refrigerator. You can use this as jam or sauce.
I placed a layer of yogurt with some honey (about a teaspoon but add honey according to your taste) and spooned some blueberry sauce over my yogurt. As I enjoyed every bite of my new favorite homemade blueberry yogurt, my husband used the blueberries as jam on a Simply Homemade English Muffin! True yummy-ness happening here!
Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi 

Breakfast Sandwich

My husband used to like the scary breakfast muffins from the fast food restaurants. I tried a bite once then suggested we change that routine. To me, nothing about that bite tasted like real food. So I started making our own breakfast muffins, froze the extras in the freezer so he could take them to work and heat them or just grab one on the go. These taste great and are a healthy breakfast or I even like them for lunch. You can decide what you want to put on your muffins. The favorites for the children are ham, bacon or sausage, or you can make them without meat. The very best is to make your own English muffins using our recipe Simply Homemade English Muffins. It may seem like a time consuming process but it really isn't, there time while you are making them to multi-task and in the end you have 20-24 delicious homemade English muffins! Use your favorite English muffins if you don't have time to make your own. This recipe is for 6 egg breakfast muffins. If you are making meals ahead, triple the recipe for about 20 breakfasts.
Ingredients for the Egg Muffin:
6 English Muffins (or as many as you want to make)
5 eggs, scrambled
1/3 c milk
1/3 cup cheese of your choice, you can use shredded or sliced cheese
Cooked meat of your choice, ham, bacon, sausage or Canadian bacon
Optional - veggies such as diced peppers, mushrooms, shallots, onions
Directions:

• In a medium bowl, whisk eggs and add milk. Whisk together. Pour egg mixture into a pan over medium heat on the stove and stir eggs until they are cooked. 
• Place cheese over the top of the eggs and turn off heat, the cheese will then melt. 
• Slice your English muffins in half and toast them, butter them lightly (optional) once they are toasted. You are now ready to put your muffins together. 
• Add meat to half of a muffin then add the egg and cheese mixture. Top with the other half of the muffin and enjoy your delicious breakfast!

If you are going to freeze some of the muffins, follow the instructions above and wrap in foil. Place in freezer until you are ready to eat them. Heat them in the microwave or oven until they are warm.
Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi

DIY Easter Wreath

A fun project that you can do in about an hour is to make your own Easter wreath! This is an inexpensive project, total cost for mine was about $6.00. They also make great gifts! I made 2 wreaths and gave one as a gift.
What you need:
1 straw wreath (leave the plastic wrap on) or Styrofoam circle - mine was 12 inches but you can use any size
24-30 plastic eggs (I used about 30 standard size eggs and 6 small eggs)
Ribbon for bow or pre-made bow
Small stuffed animal  (Dollar store $1.00)
Hot glue gun and glue
Artificial flowers or other decorations
Floral moss (I used the natural straw color)
Craft wire
Directions:

• I started with my wreath hanger. Cut a piece of craft wire about 12 inches long. Wrap it around the top of the wreath and twist it several times on the back of the wreath, form a small circle and twist at the bottom of the circle. This will be your wreath hanger.
• Turn the wreath over keeping the hanger on the top while you're working. You will want to leave a space at the bottom for your bow and stuffed animal. Heat your hot glue and start by placing a generous amount of hot glue on an egg, hold the egg onto the wreath for a few seconds until it sticks. I started placing my eggs on the top and worked my way down the sides.
• Place the eggs as close to each other as you can. There will be space between them, it's ok, you can fill them in later with your decorations, flowers or moss.
• Once your eggs are in place you should have a space at the bottom about 5 inches wide. This is where you will place your bow. Use the directions to make your bow here Simply Make Your Own Bows. (I made one change on the bow I used a piece of ribbon 12 inches long instead of a pipe cleaner).
• Glue your bow to the bottom of the wreath in the empty space. Just above the bow, apply a large amount of hot glue to the wreath, apply some hot glue to the bottom of the stuffed animal, and hold the stuffed animal on the wreath for a minute or so until it sticks. 
• Now for the finishing touches, I used hot glue on some silk flowers and placed them where my spaces are between the eggs. I also used pieces of floral moss and tucked it in the spaces between the eggs. It works great if you use the end of your scissors to tuck the moss into the spaces.
• Make sure all of your eggs are secure. If they aren't apply small amounts of hot glue to them and stick them to each other. I only had to do this to 3 or 4 eggs. 
• I hung my wreath on the inside of my front door using a magnetic wreath hanger. Your project is done and so beautiful! Happy crafting!

Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi