Spenard Farmers Market

Until September 30th on Saturday is Spenard Farmers Market.   Farmers and crafters together making it work in a style that is really awesome.  A fun place for those of you in Anchorage to visit!

Alaskans I tell ya “Live for summers fresh veggies”

I know I over indulge in all the greens that I can.  The only thing I have never really eaten all my life is peas.  Don’t like that mushy taste.  Love split pea soup…and I honestly make the world’s best Pea Soup.   

A farmer was at his table yesterday and had a bag of what I thought fat green beans but after being told "no those are Sweet Pea’s" with a snicker and quick reply “I don’t like pea’s and I’ll pass on those”  but his snapped a pod open for me and offered them to me to sample.  Putting a little green ball in my mouth I was expecting the worse but was totally surprised.

I loved them ~ OMG so sweet!  I will be making a soup or casserole with them for sure in the next couple of days. 

I also got kale, zucchini, plus a bag of potatoes, and a new item to try out zucchini blossoms, along with those sweet peas and kohlrabi; which is a great chopped to add flavor to soups – it is nice fried also.

A healthy stew for you and oh so tasty! Kale Stew:

Portage Glacier - A drive down Turnagain Arm

On Monday we took a break from our crazy life in Anchorage and drove down Turnagain Arm to Portage Glacier.

Friends were driving up from Kenai.  Plans where we would meet for a picnic lunch; catch up with life happenings and mainly enjoy the 'Breath Taking Beauty of Alaska'.

Even though the drive is only 1 1/2 hours from our house to Portage Glacier Center front doors we love stopping along Turnagain Arm to take in all the beauty of the mountains, the inlet, and especially handsome guys with their best friend.

It was windy along the arm and Miss Patches does not like wind Nor having her hair blown...she wanted back in the car!

Driving along a scenic view such as Turnagain Arm can be very distracting...one can not stop every 100 yards as I wish I could to take pictures of what caught my eye.  Glacier run off and snow runoff along the mountain side of the drive was amazing!  We must have passed at least 50 waterfalls.  Several are there all summer long - So next month's drive WE do plan on stopping to get those photos!

<----- This happens to be one of my favorite mini stopping areas

 Another car had stopped at the same time - a couple about the same ages as us - we all said "isn't it beautiful today!  And that we are the luckiest folks in the world to live in Alaska. And to be surround by sites such as this!"

As we passed Girdwood I wanted to stop at the bakery but we decided that would be best at the end of the day and drive home!

I'll be posting more pictures all week long...slow and easy just as our Day Trip!

Eating Bitefuls of Sawdust

Ever eat a item so dry it felt like sawdust?  Croutons remind me of sawdust, even when one pours a liquid dressing on top of those crunchy bits my mouth sends a message to my brain 'sawdust'. 

We are a house divided on croutons.  My guy really enjoys them, I don't.  So I will purchase a bag of different types for his eating pleasure with his salads.  Usually though, they sit in the pantry forgotten and then tossed in trash after determining that they have been in the pantry past the expiration date.

I'm also a person who likes my bread lightly browned when toasted but not tortured on both sides turning that slice into a rock; a slight crunch on top with a wonderful softness of the fluffy cooked dough is the type of toasted bread I enjoy.

Today's Gourmet Sweet Treat picture is: Pecan Cookie Bars (before slicing & cutting bars)

Beer, Cocktails and me

It is seldom that we drink beer.  It's not one of those items I ever liked...I grew up in a city that had two breweries.  Most of my family enjoys a good beer; I was the outcast.

Cooking with beer is a new experience for me but heard others talking about the different beers they have used in Sweet Desserts and I had to try in some of my creations.

Alaska is a budding community of brewers!  I must admit I was drawn to the label on the ones that I chose to try out.  From a brewery down in Juneau, and they do like 5 types and I selected 3 with the help of the sales clerk in the liquor store.  Alaska groceries stores do not sell any liquor, its found in a separate store.  Most are located right next door to the grocery store, or in mini malls.

 

The smoked porter was very heavy and dark -tried it in a beer cheese broccoli  soup and it didn't work in fact was a total mistake; the soup turned an awful brown LOL and cheese soup as we all know is a pretty yellow and since I had added the whole bottle the flavor was overwhelming - I had to toss the soup...maybe a lamb stew it would be better - needs a heavy meat to go with - next adventure in beer I will do lamb for sure I really believe it will be the perfect match!  

The Winter I totally enjoyed - I was really surprised super great flavor, we liked it so much it didn't even get to be tested in any item for cooking LOL and I have to say I've never drank a whole beer until this one - we had it with mild white fish and went very well with the total dinner!

We have not opened the White yet...I'm making enchiladas today for dinner with pulled beef so I will stir in a 1/2 cup into the meat mixture and save the rest for drinking with dinner.  We are looking forward to this.  And will make for another post.

The past week I've worked on various things...getting ready for several juried Art Shows, sewing up a few new Cocktail Hats that I been trying to fit into the schedule; plus planning on activities I will be attending for Fur Rondy which starts next week.  I love this little Cocktail number:

 

If your a follower and live in Anchorage: I have a photo entered into the Fur Rondy Photo Contest that is held at Sears Mall:

 

This handsome guy is my little guy I mention every now and then!  He is as close as a grandchild I'm ever going to have.  I'm Grandma Pat to him and that makes my heart sing let me tell ya!  On this day we were down at Ship Creek looking for salmon and within 3 seconds of walking on the boardwalk  (don't read the rest Little guys mom) but stepped in gum warmed by the sun Grrrrrr...his exact words where GRAMDMAA PAT I STEEPED IN GOMMMM!  I don't chew gum, totally dislike seeing folks chew their cuds with it and think those who just spit it out where ever should be hung by their thumbs over boiling oil with snapping sharks.  The picture keeps one guessing to what he is up to... it was snapped just before his announcement and yes we did clean off the gum.

New computer

The computer that operates my three online business’s was built in the fall of 1999. I purchased it early 2000. In computer lifetimes she is as old in technology as the first Apple we all drooled over when some of us were just youngsters in a exciting new times of the 80’s. This Compaq has served me daily, only once having to go the repair shop - a month before the 3 year service contract ran out. The hard drive was acting up and hence was replaced. Following that the last 6 years she has run like a perfect little computer with very little acting up. The other member of my household has gone through 3 desktops and 2 laptop computers. He must be really rough in his activities when online. No he just enjoys new gadgets…it’s a man thing. I still have plenty of storage space on this old baby. But as my artwork advances I no longer can put on new software programs. The manufacturers are not making for XP anymore. My XP is also just Widows updates. This computer real working program is Windows 98. I love this computer I know the programs inside out. Yesterday I became the proud mamma of a brand new laptop. Toshiba. 3GB of ram, 320GB memory. More than enough computer for anything I do. She’s fast, she’s slick, and the new programs on it already make my head spin. I’m just thrilled to now be able to go anywhere and do my work. I’ll no longer be tied to the home office. In fact all my updates and new listings for my products will be done at the local library or coffee shop that have wi-fi. Dialup is fine for home and old computers but gotta get with the new age and speed is the name of the game for me now. So the next few weeks I’ll be learning new things, new ways, and new products will be forthcoming. All I can say is “Watch Out!”

Volcano Ash in Anchorage

<--Volcano Ash on my car this morning! Living in Anchorage a mere 100 miles from Mount Redoubt an active volcano is exciting. South Central Alaska has been on volcano alert since January. The last few weeks the Mt. Redoubt has decided life needs a little reminder. So in the fashion of volcano’s she decided to huff and puff her way into the news. First the towns and cities south of Anchorage, Homer, Kenai where in the wake of the dangers…ASH. Ash has dangers. Not only to a person health; but also of going about your daily business. Ruins the paint on your car, damages the engines of cars, will scratch up your windows when you turn on the wipers. Harms home electronics. Airline passengers stand stranded as planes are grounded. Everything comes to a halt. Anchorage yesterday now stands in the wake of ash from Mt. Redoubt. At 3:20pm, March 28, 2009 an eruption towering into the air currents up to 40,000 feet floated over the 100miles in a dark cloud, raining tiny particles of Ash over cars, yards, and homes as it traveled north to Anchorage. I have experienced two different volcano’s activity here in Anchorage. My first experience was 1992 and now 17 years later. Gardens will be glorious this summer. Ash is a gardeners delight! Plus the scientists and geologists are filled with excitement of learning more of active volcanoes. As I woke this morning to gray skies and dusty dirty snow outside my windows. I am again amazed of the way Earth shows her growing pains. Anchorage Daily Newspaper has a wonderful website covering Mount Redoubt and her activities: http://www.adn.com/

Fur Rondy and Iditarod

The next two weeks are Fur Rondy which is a winter festival here in Anchorage ending with the kickoff of the world famous dog sled race the "Iditarod". If your in Anchorage for Fur Rondy...watch out I'll be visiting lots of the different activities myself, taking pictures & giving out freebies of my candies! Although these are mini bites of White chocolate Oreo cookies candies Yes two in a box to be giving out plus I'll be giving out Dark Chocolate Truffles, chocolate lollipops and also will be handing out the "Blonde Bombshell cookie". Totally awesome way for folks to get a taste of my gourmet desserts! Plus what a fun way to advertise my online shops! Low cost- high impact and I get to have fun too! I'm be the one with a huge bag of treats handing out small white boxes with truffles or bites in them, & clear bags with cookies. I be the one wearing a red jacket, black gloves, and black hat and plaid scarf! So come on over to Fur Rondy and all the activities and Make sure you get your freebie of a delightful gourmet dessert!