Yes, I am alive

I am so out of it! I have been planning/packing/fishing and recovering for over a week now and I am lost in the blogosphere. I have so many posts to catch up on, tweets to read through, posts to write, comments to leave and a best foodie foto contest to host. Whew I am exhausted just thinking about all of it.

So first let me fill you in on our fishing trip. We set off Sunday morning to avoid the weekend rush which ended up working well for us because we were heading down as the entire state was heading back.

Turnagain Pass
and road contruction! yes!!!!!
We left here at noonish and arrived around 5. We set up camp about 10 feet above the high tide line on Cook Inlet at the south side of the Kenai River mouth. It was an amazing place to camp, everyone was friendly and the sunsets were awesome.

After constructing 2 tents and a screened room the guys put on their chest waders and headed out to start fishing. Turns out we had camped in one of the hottest fishing spots right on a little shelf where the salmon swim to avoid the serious current. After high tide went out the fish started coming in. We were so excited to see the first one come in we accidentally ran off and left Union's shoe drying by the fire and it caught on fire! My husband, who HATES(!!!!) to fish was so jazzed to net his first fish he fell 3 times trying to get out of the water with his fish. I laughed pretty hard but let me tell you waddling out of the ocean with a salmon, in a 5 foot wide net, on 15 foot pole, in neoprene (sexy!!) waders, 40 pound wet boots and rain gear is not easy.

The first night they brought in 17 fish. I cleaned and gutted the fish while the guys warmed up by the fire. You have to stop fishing at 11 pm on the Kenai River so the campground is pretty quiet and mellow. At 6AM the next morning the guys were back out there fishing. They fished for a while and I hung out with boys, drank lots of coffee and stuck cookies and doughnuts in the mouths of hungry fishermen when they came out with fish. This continued on with the fishing getting better and better. I finally decided I was ready to give it a shot and within 1 minute of dropping my net I had a HUGE fish. And I continued to catch fish after fish until the guys around me were making cracks like " gee haven't you limited out yet?" It was awesome fishing and I will NEVER use a rod and reel again. While the guys around were making cracks it was all in good fun and they were happy to see the only woman in the water catch a ton of fish. By the end of the day we had 46 fish. We fished the turning of the tide one more time and I caught my last one at 10:59 pm right as the fishing was about to close. I ran and stumbled and lurched to the beach to make sure I had it in by 11:00 PM. I did. Whew.

Our trip total was 58 fish, with each salmon weighing between 7-9 pounds we potentially brought home between 406 and 522 pounds of salmon. How much was usable? Well I don't really know the post fillet weight of all the salmon but I'll guess around 300 pounds? That's just a guess based off a couple recipes that called for 2-3 pound Kenai Red fillets.

What did we do with all of it? Well some were caught by proxy for my mom and she was happy to get them! We cooked some on the grill for dinner the night we got home. I have made to different batches of smoked salmon about 20 pounds there. I am actively making gravlax (lox) it's curing in the fridge. We had a gorgeous roll you r own sushi party tonight featuring fresh salmon, smoked salmon and Black Box Wine ( thanks foodbuzz tastemakers, great delicious wine that we all loved, more on that later!) The rest has been judiciously filleted or cut into roasts or steaks and vacuumed packed and frozen within 14 hours of arriving home. We also have several whole cleaned fish to serve for our Harvest Home Feast later on in the fall. Our freezer is filled with great healthy, sustainable, local fish and I am so thankful.

We had an amazing adventure and we can't wait to go back next year and do it all over again. Lets hope the reds run 40,000 a day like they did this year, even if they don't, we'll still go, camp on the beach, burn up shoes and get so excited we flail around in the water. Our lives are never dull, thankfully.


Bff is still going so lets see what you guys have been up to! Anyone??

I will be trying to make rounds and comment but forgive me if I miss anyone to start with! I have only twittered for the last week, even on the beach I used my husbands iphone to tweet, shhh don't tell him.

Peace and Love,




Turnagain Pass

Best Foodie Foto Contest Week 2

Ah here it is the end of July already! Where did summer go? While you are reading this I am busily driving to the Kenai(Keen-eye) Peninsula to go dip netting! This is going to be an adventure and we are all very excited. The limit for Kenai Reds personal use dip netting is 25 for the head of household plus 10 for each additional family member, that's 65 for our house. I am also fishing by proxy for my Mom, this means I fish and give her the catch, so I'll need to catch an additional 35 for her household. My boys are bursting at the seems with excitement and seem to ask every few minutes "are we going dip netting today?" finally I get to say yes! The drive will take about 4-5 hours give or take 2 with boys needing pit stops. My father in-law is also going so we have the potential to be driving back with 135 salmon strapped to the roof of our suburban.

So guess who will cooking, smoking, freezing and eating salmon all this week? YEP! Me. Quite an adventure.

I won't be around until Tuesday so voting will just continue until I get back. When I'm back I'll shut off comments and post a winner as soon as I can. Bear with me as we fill our freezer for the winter. Thanks!

Here we go!
#1 Is from Kristen at Sogkonnite Living Potato Chourico Tortilla


#2 comes from Lynn at The Actors Diet The Margharita Pizza DOC at Enoteca San Marco


#3 is also from Lynn at The Actors Diet its an appetizer of mushrooms and gnocchi


#4 is from Heather at The Green Adventures of a City Girl her Fennel Beet and Orange Salad

#5 is from Kristin at Sogkonnite Living I'm calling it the pasta arm

#6 came form Christo at Chez What? Avocado Ice Cream, yes that's right, Avocado

#7 is from MochaTrina at The GOOD, The BAD, The HONGRY from the I ain't cooking post

# 8 is also from The GOOD, The BAD, The HONGRY sushi

#9 is Monica at Lick the Bowl Good blueberries

#10 is from Monica at Lick the Bowl Good Slice of Blueberry cake

#11 is from that same post at Lick the Bowl Good Lemon Blueberry Marble Cake

#12 is from MochaTrina at The GOOD, The BAD, The HONGRY veggie slices

#13 is the last from MochaTrina this week another shot of that sushi

#14 comes from Girlichef the Tostada Bite

#15 is from Girlichef it's brisket fresh from the oven

#16 also comes from Girlichef the Thyme-infused Lemon Ricotta Cupcake

#17 is Tuna and Bean Salad from Girlichef#18 from Monica at Lick the Bowl Good sent us Cookies and Cream Cheesecake

#19 another shot of those Cookies and Cream Cheesecakes from Monica
Go eat and then come back and vote!! Tell your friends, twitter it, blog it, share it; VOTE!!! Wish me luck on my salmon adventure.

Peace and Love,

Less than 9 hours left to enter this weeks Best Foodie Foto contest

We have 4 entries so far!! Who will win it's up to you! Enter today and vote tomorrow!

2nd week of the Best Food/Foodie Foto contest is open for business. I think the kinks are worked out and I am looking forward to seeing what food shots make it in this week. Send 'em in and make sure you give me a shout out on your blog so we can keep up the weekly contest. Email me with questions or if you want to sponsor a future prize. jinxyjune@gmail.com

The rules are easy:

• simply send a photo or 2 of your best shots of the week and their link/s
• enter as many photos as you would like
  
• photos MUST be from a post during the 'week'
  
• the 'week' starts Sunday 12:01 AM and runs through Saturday 11:59 PM AST(4 hours later that Eastern Standard time)
  
• the shots will be collected in one main post and voting will begin at high noon Alaska Standard Time (AST) on Sunday and run for 24 hours until noon Monday (AST)
  
• the post will include all photos and links
• voting will be in the comments section, encourage your friends to vote early and often
  
• the winner will be announced Monday evening after counting has finished
• the prizes will vary week to week and may be provided by sponsors or myself or both
• email if you any questions or want to sponsor a prize jinxyjune@gmail.com

Peace and Love,

Because the Kitchenaid Ice Cream Maker Sucks

I wanted to use my new 'free with purchase' Kitchenaid Ice Cream Maker, make real ice cream and then post it. Yeah. No. That damn thing went for 2 HOURS and the custard was STILL liquid my kids were disappointed and so was I. No I was pissed to be totally honest. You'd think the attachment for a 400 DOLLAR mixer would make ice cream right? Wrong! Dead F*&$%@G wrong.

Ahem excuse me, it's been a long week. My husband has worked about 130 hours in the last week. I am beat. I am so glad I am not a single Mom. I was the first time around but now with 3 it's rough. To all the single Moms out there my hat's off to you. So the boys are at Grandma's tonight because I think she saw a dangerous pointy look in my eye last night. I believe she was glimpsing the last straw. So no little boys and I am off to take a hot bath and forget my frustrating day.
Thankfully MochTrina saved my ass with this sweet meme.

-------One------ one word answers

1. Where is your cell phone?purse
2. Your hair? insane
3. Your mother? gardener
4. Your father? passed
5. Your favorite food? any
6. Your dream last night? private
7. Your favorite drink? iced coffee
8. Your dream/goal? writer
9. What room are you in? sleeping
10. Your hobby? cleaning
11. Your fear? abandonment
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? traveling
13. Where were you last night?home
14. Something that you aren't? small
15. Muffins? gak!!
16. Wish list item? tractor
17. Where did you grow up? Alaska
18. Last thing you did? drove
19. What are you wearing? smile
20. Your TV?HATE
21. Your pets? 1
22. Friends? few
23. Your life? busy
24. Your mood? frustrated
25. Missing someone?NO
26. Vehicle? cluttered
27. Something you’re not wearing? halo
28. Your favorite store? local
29. Your favorite color? green
30. When was the last time you laughed? now
31. Last time you cried? today
32. Your best friend? pointy
33. One place that I go to over and over? garden
34. One person who emails me regularly? none
35. Favorite place to eat? all

So there it is, my ice cream post. Funny thing about the custard; I froze it in a pan just to make it anyway and the damn custard has egg chunks in it. SEE??!!?? This day is over.

peace and love,

Blueberry Upside Down Cake

And more blueberries. Don't blame me! They are in season in the stores and I am obliged to buy boxes and boxes of them until my kids cry and run away at snack time. Heh. Actually I made jam with honey last week and I froze a bunch on cookie sheets for winter use. Now I have cherries for 4 pies and blueberries for 3 pies put up in the freezer. I am so going to enjoy them next winter when apples and oranges stroll by in season-less monotony.

berries frozen and waiting for the food saver

I still have a 5 pound box to use up so I'm thinking I'll make a double batch of jam to use them up and maybe freeze the rest. Tonight I was inspired to try something new. This doesn't really constitute a 'summer dessert' but I think it is truly an inspired take on the simple sponge cake. Skillet cakes, made with sponge cake and fruits, were popular at the turn of the century with the pineapple coming in the roaring '20s. Initially made with cherries or apples pineapple was readily available in the '20s and it soon became an American dessert icon. It was sometimes referred to as 'better than sex cake' but I think I might have to argue with that. (what say you Donna?)

Here is my version slightly adapted from Alice Water's Cranberry Upside Cake in one of my favorite cookbooks " The Art of Simple Food". I also tried a new oil in this recipe, in place of some of the butter I used Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil. I really liked the slight sweet flavor of the oil and it gave the cake a fine depth of flavor. Use butter if don't have Coconut Oil and you'll be fine. My teenage (DRIVING!!!) son said "ift ghooodsth" with his mouth stuffed full.
Score one for mom!


Blueberry Upside DownCake---oven 350 degrees

4 Tbsp butter or use half coconut oil and half butter
3/4 cup of sugar

2 3/4 cup washed fresh blueberries
2 Tbsp water

1 1/2 cups of flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick of butter again you can use half coconut oil and half butter
1 cup sugar
1 tsp almond extract
2 eggs, separated
1/2 cup of milk

in an 8 inch skillet or medium sauce pan melt the butter and sugar together, stir constantly until it bubbles
if you are using a skillet set it aside if you are using a sauce pan pour the sugar butter mix into an 8-9 inch cake pan, cool
in a medium sauce pan cook the blueberries and water until the berries start to pop
pour over the sugar and butter mix and set aside
measure the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl and set aside
cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy
add the almond extract and beat again
add the egg yolks 1 at a time beating well after each addition
add the flour and milk alternately mixing slightly after each addition just to incorporate the flour
beat the egg whites until they hold soft peaks
gently fold in the egg whites until they too are incorporated
spread over the berries
bake in the heated oven 35-40 minutes until the cake is done, turn the oven off and left the cake rest 10 minutes
let it rest another 10 minutes then turn in out on a cake plate
the extra berries will slip off, let them fall they look so beautiful

before the batter


the first slice out
mmmm

2nd week of the Best Food/Foodie Foto contest is open for business. I think the kinks are worked out and I am looking forward to seeing what food shots make it in this week. Send 'em in and make sure you give me a shout out on your blog so we can keep up the weekly contest. Email me with questions or if you want to sponsor a future prize. jinxyjune@gmail.com

The rules are easy:

• simply send a photo or 2 of your best shots of the week and their link/s
• enter as many photos as you would like
  
• photos MUST be from a post during the 'week'
  
• the 'week' starts Sunday 12:01 AM and runs through Saturday 11:59 PM AST(4 hours later that Eastern Standard time)
  
• the shots will be collected in one main post and voting will begin at high noon Alaska Standard Time (AST) on Sunday and run for 24 hours until noon Monday (AST)
  
• the post will include all photos and links
• voting will be in the comments section, encourage your friends to vote early and often
  
• the winner will be announced Monday evening after counting has finished
• the prizes will vary week to week and may be provided by sponsors or myself or both
• email if you any questions or want to sponsor a prize jinxyjune@gmail.com

Peace and Love,




I couldn't help including this picture of our little museum and tourist visitor center. We've had stormy weather these last few days and then the clouds blew away. Blue sky for a minute anyway the clouds rolled right back in a few minutes later.

Ripe and Abundant

BAM!

Right now our property is pretty dang robust and full of life. Every where I turn the beauty and wonder of life is there holding it's breath and waiting for me to discover it.

Robins-this is their second set of babies, our robins seem to have one set, raise them part way, then completely build a new nest very close to our yard and lay a second clutch, meanwhile feeding and caring for both sets-this is their second year doing this last year they made their 2nd nest in our apple tree





does it look like the one on the left is hatching?

Juncos-we started with 4 but the nest is snugged up against my 5 year old's garden box and he accidentally stepped on the nest--he didn't know it was there until I screeched and lunged at him when he stepped back, he was really sad but the juncos keep coming back and they even cleaned up the mess


Hens-we got eggs and probably a dozen more layers coming on in September, anybody need eggs?


Peas- and a very weedy garden beyond


Pumpkin-the female flower...does this not scream sex? her success!



Fennel-think this one is trying to bolt



potatoes-ok I am tall and these things are past my waist

Wrapper Leaf Basil -HUGE!!
Onion-one of the many many many onions we grew this year bonus shot weeds galore!
This is my first year being completely 100% organic using all my own homemade compost. I think I like this. Yes it will do.




This time of year is so full and ripe I can't help but wander around and admire the absolute fullness of life. It's amazing and it never ceases to thrill me year after year. Life is abundant. Things so green it hurts your eyes. Days now losing time, dark creeping in where it was twilight just one short month ago. The wind sometimes has a cooler edge and some mountains have been touched by frost. Ripe and abundant Alaska.




Peace and Love,