Work(s) In Progress...

This blog has been neglected for quite some time, amidst some major life changes, relocation and lots of other happenings!

I'm attempting to blog using an app, and it's all greek to me, so please bear with me as we figure this out!

This site, my EatWildtree.com site, and my Etsy shop are all things we're working on getting back up to speed. I'm always open to suggestions and ideas, so be sure to comment and let me know what you'd like to see!

As I'm sifting through over twenty years of 'stuff', I'm also learning about life on a farm...with chickens, donkeys, a horse, a calf, and our family milk cow. I'm super excited to share so much with you, so your patience with me while I work on these things is appreciated... ;)

 

Signs

 

 

Ruby June's STORE Opening May 1, 2013

We are so excited to announce that we are once again opening a retail shop!  Ruby June's will be opening Wednesday, May 1, 2013 in Willard, Ohio!

Ruby June's is located adjacent to the fantabulous Wired Coffee Bar, at 421 E Walton Avenue, Willard, Ohio 44890.
Our hours will be Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Come on in Wired's entrance door, and you'll find our store right through the door to your immediate left!  Stop by Wired to get a Wired Mocha or a yummy Fruit Smoothie, and browse our little shop full of unique gifts!  An eclectic mix of handmades (all by American artisans), loose-leaf teas & accessories, and vintage junque, you're sure to find something to tickle your fancy!

Mother's Day will be here soon...we have perfect gifts for the special Mom and Grandmas in your life!

Sweet Mother of Pearl

Meet our sweet lil retro travel trailer named Sweet Mother of Pearl...'Pearl' for short.  I've always loved the nostalgia of the fun little canned ham style of vintage campers, and am so delighted to camp in Pearl!  She's a 1963 Shasta.

Recently we took Pearl to a local Ohio State Park and enjoyed a weekend of camping, including a car show.  My daughter G took lots of pictures, including some of us making one of her favorite meals over the campfire--she wants to do a photo tutorial of that campfire recipe on my blog--so watch for that soon!

Whew, that was a long break from the blogging world--but am happy to be back and sharing our summer with you!

Aunt Meanie's Spinach Balls

My dad's sister, Harmena--or "Aunt Meanie" to me and my brothers--often made these spinach balls for us when we were kids.  She shared the recipe with mom, and so each time we enjoy them now, they remind me of being a kid, when Aunt Meanie would make them.  Simple to make and very handy to have in the freezer!  They can be used as appetizers or a main dish.

20 oz. spinach, chopped, frozen
2 small onions, finely diced
2 cups seasoned stuffing crumbs
1 teaspoon thyme
1 pound bulk sausage
6 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Thaw & drain spinach.  Mix all ingredients together and chill for a couple of hours.  Shape into walnut-sized balls.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

Corn & Potato Chowder Recipe

Fast, simple, frugal recipes are good to have handy for times when you need to put a wholesome meal on the table in a hurry.
The following recipe for corn chowder is simple, and comes from the Great Depression time period, when folks needed to make the most of what they had.  These days, I know so many of us try to be good stewards of what we've been given, seeing how far our grocery budget can stretch, all while filling our family's tummies with good, wholesome food. 
Pair this soup with some homemade bread, and a green salad, and you have a simple, budget-friendly meal.  Yesterday we enjoyed this chowder with homemade cheesy beer bread and fruit/veggie smoothies. 

Corn & Potato Chowder 

• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 2 (15 ounce) cans whole kernel corn
• 1 large white onion, diced
• 4 to 6 potatoes, peeled and diced
• 2 (12 fluid ounce) cans evaporated milk
• 1/3 cup butter
• salt and pepper to taste

In a heavy soup pot, combine broth, corn, onion and potatoes.  Over medium heat, bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, until potatoes are just tender.  Stir in butter and milk, season with salt & pepper to taste.
Note:  I like to add finely diced celery and carrot to this, at the same time I'm adding the onion, corn & potatoes to the broth. 

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Changes are happening...we're beginning to see the sunshine on a more regular basis, and I'm working from home now.  While I really enjoyed my full-time "real job", it's nice to be home again. 

With more time at home, I've been enjoying trying out some new recipes, and making some old favorites, too.  My family certainly has been appreciative of the additional baking and cooking!  A few days ago I tried out a different recipe for baked potato soup...Baked Potato Soup, found on Allrecipes.com.  All of us really enjoyed this soup, a change from the creamy, cheese-laden version I normally make.

The bread maker has been steadily humming away on the pantry counter, filling our home with the aroma of fresh baked bread.  Preparing different mixes ahead of the time saves time when I want to get a loaf going.  Honey Wheat, Honey Oatmeal, and Spicy Raisin are a few of what we've had this last week--I think the oatmeal is my favorite!

I'm really hoping to blog on a more regular basis!  Thank you for stopping by to take a peek!  :)

Mandarin Orange Cake Recipe

This cake is a favorite of my younger brother, I cannot bake it without thinking of him. My sister-in-law Michele used to make this often, making it a family favorite. I appreciate her sharing her recipe, so now we can enjoy it often at our house! I baked this cake to be served at tonight's Mission 1250 meal, a new Feeding Ministry in Willard, Ohio.

Mandarin Orange Cake

2 eggs
2 11oz. cans mandarin oranges, well drained
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Topping:
3/4 cup brown sugar
3 T milk
2 T butter

Beat eggs. Add oranges & dry ingredients. Beat 4 minutes with electric mixer on slow speed until oranges flake through the batter. Pour into greased 9" x 13" cake pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Cake will get quite dark. Before removing from the oven, press top with finger tip to see if it bounce back. If it doesn't, bake a bit longer, taking care that it doesn't burn.

While cake is baking, prepare topping by combining topping ingredients and bringing to a rolling boil.

Remove cake from oven. Pour topping over. Return cake to oven and bake 5 minutes longer.

Enjoy!

Sweet & Spicy Kielbasa Recipe

This is a recipe that is so simple to put together and is perfect for freezer cooking. Over pasta, potatoes or rice this can make a super main dish, and would also make a nice appetizer or tailgate party recipe. The sausages make a yummy sandwich on a hearty roll with a bit of the sauce drizzled over them, too. Choose the sausage of your choice...kielbasa, polish sausage, smoked sausage, turkey smoked sausage or kielbasa, summer sausage, etc. I heard a German sausage can be quite yummy too? :-) Enjoy!

Sweet & Spicy Kielbasa

2 pound Kielbasa Sausage, smoked
1 cup Brown Sugar
1/3 cup Spicy mustard
1/3 cup Onion, finely chopped

Cut sausages into 1 inch lengths. Combine brown sugar, mustard & onion in an electric crock-pot or slow cooker and stir well to combine. Add the sausages and stir well to coat them with the sauce. Cover the crock pot with its lid and cook on low for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally to re-coat the sausages with the sauce.

To Freeze:
cool the sausages & sauce. Store in freezer containers or freezer bags and freeze. to serve, thaw & reheat in the microwave, on the stove on low heat, or in covered dish in a 350 degree oven for about 350 minutes. Since the dish is already fully cooked, you just need to reheat it.

Valentine's Day Banner Tutorial & Giveaway!

Hurry on over to The Polka Dot Chair to check out this sweet tutorial for a "Be Mine" Banner for Valentine's Day! While you're there, don't forget to enter to win their giveaway for a banner like the one pictured! Also, be sure to check out their Etsy shop, May & Mae...great stuff!

Fabric Easter Egg Tutorial

I know it seems early to be thinking of Easter, but I found a great tutorial for making fabric eggs over at Retro Mama! Get a head start on making them for Easter, or make them in colors to match your decor for in baskets or nests for Spring! A nest filled with some of these eggs and a folk bird would be great, maybe even under a glass cloche or on a beautiful cake stand.

Salsa Chicken & Black Bean Soup Recipe

These wintry Ohio days call for cozy soup & homemade bread! I like to use my crock pot to make soups as often as possible, and this recipe was a huge hit at our house and SO easy! Found the recipe at A Year of Slow Cooking, where you will find a ton of recipes to try in your slow cooker, and the blogger's reviews of the recipe, too. So gather the ingredients, bake some fresh bread or cornbread to go with it, toss a colorful salad together and you've got a budget-friendly delicious meal for your family! Just you, or too many leftovers? I think this recipe would be a great one to freeze in individual servings! (we didn't have ANY leftovers at our house!)

Salsa Chicken & Black Bean Soup
--1 pound chicken
--1 cup dried black beans (or 2 cans, drained and rinsed)
--4 cups chicken broth
--1 cup sliced mushrooms (I omitted these, as they weren't on hand)
--1 cup frozen corn
--1 jar prepared salsa (16 oz)
--1 1/2 tsp cumin
--1/2 cup sour cream (to stir in at the end)
--shredded cheddar cheese, avocado slices, cilantro (all optional)

You will need a 4 quart or larger crock pot.

If you know you are going to make this the night before (yay for meal planning!) soak the black beans in enough water to cover and another 2 inches overnight. In the morning, drain the water and rinse the beans. (I used canned beans)

Drain and rinse the beans. Add to the slow cooker. Put in the chicken, and add the broth and salsa. Pour in the corn and mushrooms, and add the cumin. Stir, but don't disturb the beans---let them stay at the bottom of the pot, closest to the heating element.

Cover and cook on high for 9 hours. Yup. High. For 9 hours. It took a crazy long time for the beans to soften, but they did.

If you are using beans you soaked overnight, canned beans, or pre-cooked beans, you can cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 4-5--similar to normal soup-cooking time.

If you'd like to thicken the broth, you can use your immersible blender to blend a bit of the beans and chicken. If you don't have one, scoop out 2 cups of the soup and carefully blend in your traditional blender. Stir the mixture back into the crockpot.

Stir in the 1/2 cup of sour cream before serving, and garnish with shredded cheese and avocado slices.

2010

2010...a New Year, new beginnings, new opportunities, new challenges, and best of all--new life!

I am looking forward to what this new year holds for me, counting the blessings one day at a time.

We've been cleaning, re-organizing, simplifying, and preparing for changes.

I am so blessed to have my dear little family, and also am thankful for the friends in our lives.

Happy Fall!

Ahhh, I love fall! The crisp feeling in the air, the changing colors of leaves & foliage, the comfort foods we reserve for this special time of year....breathe it all in deeply and enjoy every moment while it lasts!

We've been extra busy around here preparing for upcoming shows & events, and now even have some new special orders to fill! We are so grateful for each and every one of you who choose to continue to support our business, thus supporting our little family, and our dream!

Come see us this weekend at the Homespun Holidays Juried Craft Show on Saturday, October 10th from 9-2 at the Willard Senior Center. Email me if you need directions or more info!

Neglected

Wow, this blog has been neglected by me. Summertime has me focused on other things, I guess. Gardening, kids, 4-H, and just enjoying each moment... I'm going to post more often here, I promise.

Calico Beans Recipe

I'm often asked to bring these Calico Beans to family functions and cookouts. Today I'd like to share the recipe with you, so you and your family can make them a favorite!

This recipe freezes so well, I like to freeze them in ziploc freezer bags so they can be thawed and baked or put in the crock pot.

Since this hearty bean recipe contains so much meat, it can also be served as a main dish, perhaps with some cornbread and a salad.

Calico Beans
by June Billman,
www.RubyJunes.com

Serves at least 16...a good-sized batch!

1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground turkey ( you can use 2 pounds beef or 2 pounds turkey, whatever you prefer)
2 c chopped onion
44 oz pork 'n beans
30 oz kidney beans
30 oz butter beans
1 c ketchup
2 t prepared mustard
1 T + 1 t cider vinegar
1 1/2 c brown sugar
1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled

Cook ground beef, turkey and onion until meat is cooked through and onion is tender.
Drain grease. Set aside.
Open cans of beans, draining juices from each can into a large bowl, don't add beans yet.
Add the ketchup, mustard, vinegar & brown sugar to the juice.
Using a whisk, stir juice mixture until well mixed.
Add the beans, ground meat/onion and bacon to the juice mixture.
Stir to mix well. Salt to taste, if desired.

If freezing, now is the time to put mixture into freezer bags...push out any extra air from the bag, seal, label & freeze.

To serve: Thaw. Put into a casserole dish. This recipe will fill TWO 2-quart casserole dishes. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve hot.

If desired, you can add shredded cheddar cheese to top before serving.
If your mixture seems too "juicy", feel free to skim some of the juices off after baking.
If you prefer to prepare them in the microwave after thawing, bake before freezing, being sure to cool completely before packaging for the freezer.

Enjoy!

Happy Memorial Day!

Memorial Day...a day to honor and remember...those that have fought for our freedom, loved ones no longer in our lives...a day to spend with family and friends, making memories. Enjoy this special day together!

Tattoos, Anyone?

Just yesterday my sister-in-law and I were discussing tattoos...do we have any, had we ever considered getting any, etc...

Well what do ya think of this one?!

I love it, but am certain I wouldn't be brave enough to add that to my chest! Amazing! Read more about this tattooed gal.

DC, Spring Fling, Gardening...

Oh my goodness, where has the time gone!?! We've been so busy around here that this bloggy stuff has been neglected!

My son & I went on a school trip to Washington, DC, just had a splendid time with some Farmgirl Friends at dear Dawn's Spring Fling, and we've been focusing on our gardens here...

Will be back very soon with photos to share and more details on the above--thanks for stopping by!

HOPE

Check out this video about an amazing inspiration to so many...9 Minutes of Hope on The Ellen Degeneres Show site.

An accomplished author, climber, speaker, and cancer survivor--Sean Swarner shares freely about his struggles and his journey--to provide HOPE to all.

I went to school with Sean in Willard, Ohio. I am encouraged by his story, and thought we all could enjoy some "good news" in these times!