Christmas Recipe - December

Tim was lucky enough to get a great Christmas present from Melody this year - a monthly recipe that contains an interesting ingredient or combination of ingredients.

For December he received a recipe for Spicy Beetroot and Coconut Soup with herby yoghurt from the BBC Food channel and some fresh lemon grass and kaffir lime leaves.

We just happened to be getting Full Circle Farm back last week and make sure to order some nice organic beets, shallots, and a cucumber. We had most of the other ingredients in the pantry.

For the spice paste

• 2 lemongrass stalks
• 2 garlic cloves
• 3 red chillies, deseeded if you don't want too much heat
• 5cm/2in fresh ginger, peeled
• 4 kaffir lime leaves
• 1 lime, juice only
  
  
  So this paste was really super awesome smelling and made up into a thick paste that had a lot of flavor.

For the soup

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 banana shallots(or 4 round shallots), finely chopped
• pinch sea salt
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 500g/1lb 2oz ready cooked beetroot (not the kind prepared with vinegar), chopped
• 600ml/1 pint vegetable stock
• 400ml/14fl oz can coconut milk
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
  
  
  So we used fresh beets - we weren't quite sure how many beets are in a can and I'm afraid we might have over estimated the amount.

For the herby yoghurt

• 2 tbsp plain yoghurt
• 1 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh coriander leaves
• 5cm/2in cucumber, deseeded, chopped
  
  
  
  

  

  
  

As you can see our soup was not pink but bright red! It was earthy (as beets are) and the lemon grass-lime-chili paste flavors along with the coconut milk were muted. If we were to make this exact soup again we wouldn't use as many beets. After a few tastes of the thick redness we were struck that the same lemon-grass spice paste would taste really good with squash so if we make this again we would probably try that out instead of with beets.

The yogurt-cucumber mixture didn't do anything to enhance the taste – in fact it might have detracted from it. We didn't have any fresh mint so that might have made the difference. I think just the plain yogurt or maybe some sour cream would taste better.

So for January, Melody gave Tim some Heirloom Bhutan Red Rice and a recipe for stuffed zucchini...so we'll have to coordinate ingredients in the next food box!

New Year's Day Walk - Douglas Zipline

We often walk the treadwell trail back to where the http://www.alaskacanopy.com/ has their zipline. At the end of the trail they have buit a road that looks like it goes straight up the mountain side - alot more steep then this picture shows! So on New Year's Day of this year we decided to brave the hike. It has been in the 40s with some rain on top of about 3 feet of snow. Most of the main road are clear but some of the trails and side streets are ice covered with rain water on top. 

So on New Year's Day of this year we decided to brave the hike. It has been in the 40s with some rain on top of about 3 feet of snow. Most of the main road are clear but some of the trails and side streets are ice covered with rain water on top. 

Boy am I glad for rubber boots and Microcleats!

\

After a short rise we came to the first of many old remnants from the Treadwell Mine area. According to their website this is the ruions of the original mine refinery, where millions of dollars of molten gold was poured into ingot molds. thus the bars of the windows!

…and now only the home to Sitka spruce and Hemlocks!

We traveled up higher on the trail and came across a couple of small bridges as well as the main area for the zipline platforms. It was pretty icy so were glad of the handrails on this elevated walkway.

You can see where the treadwell ditch comes in and flows into Bullion Creek.

One thing that we noticed immediately is that there aren't any railings on the zipping platforms! In this case, everyone is a tree hugger!

Interesting trail - we'll come back when the walking conditions are a little better and we can explore more!

December in Anchorage

It has become an annual affair to get together with my two sisters and some of the nieces for a December weekend. It began as a cookie baking weekend until last year when it got a little out of hand and we ended up with about 20 varieties of cookies - some double batched. So this year we but an embargo on butter and sugar and turned from bakers to makers. We did make a few batches of cookies, what kind of Ohlsen-girls would we be without some goodies for the cookie jar, but the batches were limited to just a few varieties.

The Valentine girls have a lot of art supplies and a couple of trips to Joann's increased the inventory with specific items we lacked. 

Button Stash Trees

Beginning with a large button gradually decrease the button size to create a tree complete with a little star at the top. We started out with green buttons and then quickly begin using other color pallets. We also thought these would make cute zipper pulls using small buttons.

Punched paper ornaments

We eventually got an assembly line going with a paper puncher, a awl hole maker, an assembler of bead on pin and pushed through the paper, one who actually planned and placed the pins on the styrofoam ball, and ending with the bow/hanger installer complete with glue gun. We experimented with different colored beads and with ribbon. 

Other paper activities included making gift tags and some other paper ornaments. Over the weekend some knitting and crocheting projects were accomplished. 

Great weekend hanging out together, limiting our dishwashing of cookie sheets to just a few times, and just being together!

Interactive Image

We saw snow on Mt Juneau so I did some weekend canning in preparation for the winter!

Birdie weekend

This was kind of a birdie weekend for us. The weather has been so mild and the forecast for Saturday looked like it was going to be pretty nice so we decided to head out to Boy Scout beach for a nice walk along the beach without the "science equipment" or looking specifically for dead birds. We were interested to see if the eagle carcass was still on the beach. There was talk on the local "eaglechat" about having a permit to collect the features for the National Repository so we really doubted we would see it again.

It did happen to be Backyard Bird Count weekend (Feb 17-20) and our walking friends decided to keep a list and submit it. We counted 1 Fox Sparrow, 3 Eagles, 7 Bufflehead, 4 Common merganser, 36 Canada goose, 2 Harlequin ducks, 7 Mallards, and 293 Gulls (probably Herring). There was some debate if there was 294 or 292 and a few kept flying from one sand dune to the other so we decided to go with 293. It ended up snowing on us which was a little unexpected so we didn't want to lounge around like we had entended.

On Sunday I put up a suet holder that I had gotten for Christmas. I waited until I thought the major wind storms passes as I didn't want it to get up going through a windows. With in about 3 minutes after putting it up and walking away the crows started arriving. Ended up with 60-75 crows poking at it or waiting turn underneath to get the seeds. Talk about an Alfred Hitchcock experience! Tim went out and took it down. We'll have to find a nicer neighborhood for the suet.

We had a lot of birds in the channel in front of the house. There were the usual Barrow's Goldeneyes, Bufflehead, Mallard, Common Mergansers, a Red-Necked Grebe and Glaucous-winged gulls along with Crows (still looking for suet), Ravens, and Eagles. Out in the middle of the channel Tim spotted a large gathering of birds that had the shape of a loon or a grebe. Upon further inspection with the spotting scope we determined that they were Pacific Loons - there were about 100 of them. We've never seen the solitary birds grouped up like that before. I haven't heard anything from the birdie people about the group but we ruled out what else they might have been. Too far to get a good picture - even in the scope it was shaky.

Then to round out the weekend we had chicken grilled on the bbq!

Wearable Arts Juneau 2012

Ever since we moved to Juneau I've been trying to arrange my schedule so that I could take in the Wearable Arts Show. Finally, this year I was successful...and so worth the wait! The production was incredible to watch and the concepts and artistry of the creators was very impressive. The theme this year was Fusion. More at JAHC.

Here is the winner–The Beast in the Beauty, a tribute to those who have overcome breast cancer. Padauk and bird eye maple

Second Place

Lady Blue made from blue mussels, seaweed, shells, mosquito screen, plastic ties.

She was probably one of the most striking of models of the night.

Before coming to this show I had thought about what kind of materials I would want to work with if I were to create an entry. Blue mussels was one of my thoughts but I could never have come up with something so elegant.

Amused by Fused Recyclables: this was truly made from all sorts of different materials from plastic straws to bottle caps, to folded paper. You really didn't see the detail until after the show when all the models came out and you could get up close.

Hot Shot: This was one of my favorites. It was simple, yet striking. The model was fantastic on the runway and really working it and making those shells explode!

Seraphina: dyed ace bandages and other materials from the operating room. This one was really cute!

Hair Flair: one advantage of owning your own hair salon...but kind of ewww.

Raise your Glass! Look at this 40 lb dress with accompanying 40 lb cape. No bottles of wine or bubbly were harmed in the making of this garment but a couple bottoms of aspirin were consumed to ease the hangover.

Juneau Tank Top:

Fit to be Tied: 1500 neckties...Dad you might want to check your closet.

If you are interested, I'm told by a reliable source that 360 North will be airing the show in Alaska (find out where) on the evening of March 17 and simultaneously web streamed at the same time (that would be simultaneous in a simultaneousness simultaneously) for those outside the state or without broadcast coverage.

**photos courtesy of the remarkable Claudia Clark

Good Food

On one of our visits to Florida, Tim and I had an incredible dinner out at a strip mall at a place called the Food Shack. I know, it sounds super swanky, right? Well, if you find yourself in Jupiter Florida you really must try it out! The menu is incredible and they offer a lot of different fresh fish.

They have their regular dinner menu online. The servings are very large. I had the tropical paella which was excellent. This is on their regular menu. They also offer a nightly menu which had so many interesting combinations that I was overwhelmed! Tim had the sweet potato encrusted Grouper cheeks over greens and green beans with a lime cilantro sauce. We were too full for dessert but they all looked delicious too!

I found this recipe which is the one that we tried and it comes really close to the tastes at the restaurant. We made one change to the directions when it came to browning the fish. If you decide to use the butter with the oil then remember that butter browns things very quickly (read: fast) so be sure the use a lower temperature than suggested. We tried a sample and followed the heating directions and pretty much burned the first side. The second attempt was to leave out the butter and we had much better results.

The crust is delicious and the Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette is delicious - there was enough left over to have with a couple other meals. The vinaigrette (which actually has no vinegar in it!) has pretty much the same ingredients as a cuban recipe we make for Chimichurri–just the quantity of ingredients gives it a different taste.

We made this dish for the third time last night and decided to try cooking the fish on the grill. We rarely eat fried foods and the smell in the house lingers for days. We have one of those non-stick grilling pans that Tim got really hot and then placed the fish-sweet potato mixture into and turned the heat down. It turned out perfectly and didn't smell up the house!

February COAAST survey

Despite the dreary-sounding weather report, the sun rose to display a pink sky and continued shinning all day long in a near cloudless sky. It was time once again for our monthly beach survey out at Boy Scout Beach. We packed a small snack and hit the trail a little earlier than normal. The 45-minute drive out to the trailhead gave us glimpses of blue sky and snow covered mountains. We weren't sure what the trail condition would be with the recent 4 feet of snow and then two days of rain. The twice a day shoveling I did while Tim was in Florida has reduced itself into patches of green grass and a few mounds of soft snow. I keep wondering if we shouldn't just ignore the snow when it falls as it always seems to melt a few days (or a week in this case) later.

We had our snowshoes but ended up only needing our microspikes. If you veered off the trail then you fell through the snow up to your (my) knee but it was a pretty wide pathway so wasn't too bad. There was only a few really icy spots but it was reassuring to have the microspikes.

When we finally made it to the beach the view was incredible and we slowing shed outer clothing as we got out of the forest and into the open. It was like a spring day. There was warmth from the sun and no wind.

And then we found a deceased adult Bald Eagle near the high tide mark from the previous high tide (around midnight). The bird had all of its outer parts but was just a carcass of bones and features. We didn't need the identification book this time to know it was an eagle.

With wings measure 110 cm and a tarsus measuring 60 mm it was a very large bird, so probably a female although we can't confirm.

Bald guy with the bald eagle.



We taged the bird with our designated Orange band and since it was our second bird it got another orange tag double orange (in COASST speak).

We remarked that if we had to find a deceased bird, that the weather conditions we had were the best for it. It would have been miserable if it had been pouring down rain or snow while we were taking measurements or trying to make notes on the data sheet.

February 24, 1912

Flo's Diary:

10:30 sunshine headache - sweep. Fox comes and says get ready for dog team ride. Go with Mr. Olsen. Fine ride out to Tanana and back by wireless. Get supper. Heacocks. not any better. Harold comes about 9:30 - chocolate.

This map from 1906 shows where the wireless lines ran around the Fairbanks area.

February 23, 1912

Flo's Diary

Cloudy. feel pretty good - Latin student - Fence. home and found Harold here. nap on couch. supper. Heacocks. Mr Thrift brings Mr. Tallman up. Mgr of Fisher Mine. Very nice. Play crib beat him 3xs. Chocolat and bed 10:30. 0°

February 22, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Our day to lay a bed - till 12 o'clock. clean house some - H.C.G comes for ans - "go to ball" Down to Olsen's to stitch scarf. Get mail - home supper and ready for ball. Marcella and Joe - Nell and Lysle.

February 21, 1912

Flo's Diary

Cloudy - wind and snow. Have Latin pupil. Home about 5 - over to Heacocks. Harold comes also Thrift and Brown. HCG asks me to go to ball - dog team riding. Decide tomorrow so to bed.

February 20, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Cloudy and 20° above. Rush from school to fence but French lesson so walk - Raine - home at 6 get supper - over to Heacock's Mrs H. sick. Drury and Litsey Brown come. Go to show and ice cream at Red Cross. Talk and bed at 11.

So Raine - Flo finds him interesting....does she run into him on her walk?

February 19, 1912

Flo's Diary:

School - cloudy-wrm. Mt. Litsey comes to take us to Mrs. Whiteley's but Kelly and Raine come. Raine is gov't man and very interesting. Inspire them to poetry.

February 18, 1912

Flo's Diary:

A beautiful warm, sunny day. Breakfast with Mr. Thrift's - home and on couch - ill. Harold comes and I go dog team riding - great. Saw pussy willows - people without coats and mittens - walking. Marcella goes for short ride. H.G. for supper. Bed early while others to go show.

February 17, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Awaken by Nell getting up to go to work. Up at 9. Get breakfast but no stir from M. She sleeps till 11 - eat and begin work. Drink coffee with M. In midst of scrubbing when H.G. arrives to take M out dog riding. Ironed - go downtown. H.G. comes in evening. Nell goes to father's no. I lay crib with him. They go to show. Bed early

February 16, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Cloudy - Busy Day. Refuse Miss Gilmer's invite out to dinner – home at noon and start dinner- get bath water rush home from school and start fire. Fence - go to M.E. church for cafeteria dinner - very good. Rush home for bath. Get ready for A.B. dance. Marcella comes home and bathes. Rush back to church for ice cream with Adams. Rush home and Harold and Litsey come. Rush to dance so as to be there at 9. Splendid times. Harold and I come home at 12:30. Stay up till M. Arrives so as to talk things over.

My goodness...there was lots of rushing around on this day. Just think about how life has changed in 100 years - and how much easier it is to draw a hot water bath!

February 15, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Cloudy - rather cold. Go to Nordale's to C.E. party. Have nice time with high school youngsters. Bed as 12.

February 14, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Valentine's galore. Candy. Snowing 15 ° above. Over to Heacock's. She sick. Give up having Kelly come. Lysle and Dee come. But we have kimona party. Bed early.

February 13, 1912

Flo's Diary
Cloudy. Fencing – walk Litsey gives M and I a splendid trade–who? Green comes. Finish M's throw. Bed early – tired.

Gosh, this is all very mysterious!

February 12, 1912

Flo's Diary

School again – oh dear. Lincoln's birthday and no holiday! M. and I walk downtown while Lysle drys dishes for me. Met Fox – gave him bum steer. Pussy willows out 1st bunch I've seen in Alaska. Bed early.

February 11, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Awakened by Mrs. Heacock at 10:30 but sleep till 12:30. Up and take bath. Harold comes scramble to get in clothes. Eat breakfast. Do work while Marcella and Green walk. Write letters and mail them. Marcella and I go to C.E. and church. Hear talk by A.R. Heilig. A long lonesome day - no walk or nothing. Boys gone a week. Splendid weather for them.

A.R. Heilig, is probably Albert R. Heilig, an attorney who worked in private practice as well as with Judge Wickersham as Clerk of the Court. He was also a UAF Board of Regent (1917-1921).

Wickersham and Heilig Families in Dawson image

Judge Heilig's Garden image (not sure when he became a judge!)