Everyone who visits Alaska should go to Katmai National Park to see the bears fishing for salmon.
Those two words, "Pick me!", usually remind me of my first book, "Pick Me!" Cried Arilla. Anyone and everyone knows the feeling when you raise your hand and hope with all your heart that you will be the one picked. It doesn't always happen. That was the case for Arilla in my story. She wasn't always picked. But, when she was, she was in the right place at the right time and, certainly, the right one for the job.
It's a very good feeling.
And, just like you, I have been in the very same situation raising my hand and hoping that I would be the one picked. Sometimes, it all works out just the way your want it. On one Christmas holiday, I heard my brother-in-law say, “I’ve always wanted to have a cookbook with the recipes that my wife and son create for our guests at our Alaskan fishing lodges. Guests have requested a cookbook for years and we just have never gotten around to doing this.”
Right away, I raised my hand. “Pick me! I know how to do this. Pick me! I can photograph the dishes and create the cookbook. I’ve made several books. Pick me!”
I seriously doubt that my brother-in-law ever suspected how good I was for this job. I've written thirteen children's books, three coffee table photography books, and assorted e-books about my murals, travels and recipes that I've garnered along my path. I am handy with my camera to photograph the food, excellent with writing and editing text, and I have the artist's designer eye to put it all together. I am the full publishing package that not many people can boast. Very fortunately, the guy picked me.
It's a very good feeling.
And, just like you, I have been in the very same situation raising my hand and hoping that I would be the one picked. Sometimes, it all works out just the way your want it. On one Christmas holiday, I heard my brother-in-law say, “I’ve always wanted to have a cookbook with the recipes that my wife and son create for our guests at our Alaskan fishing lodges. Guests have requested a cookbook for years and we just have never gotten around to doing this.”
Right away, I raised my hand. “Pick me! I know how to do this. Pick me! I can photograph the dishes and create the cookbook. I’ve made several books. Pick me!”
I seriously doubt that my brother-in-law ever suspected how good I was for this job. I've written thirteen children's books, three coffee table photography books, and assorted e-books about my murals, travels and recipes that I've garnered along my path. I am handy with my camera to photograph the food, excellent with writing and editing text, and I have the artist's designer eye to put it all together. I am the full publishing package that not many people can boast. Very fortunately, the guy picked me.
For a taste of Mojito Pie, you must come to Alaska or buy the book. And that is how I came to King Salmon to work on Feasting and Fishing in Alaska. Over the course of two summers, I photographed each recipe as well as a lot of the other pictures used in this book. A couple of my blogs also made it into the final draft. And, while my sister and her husband visited me for two weeks in December, the book finally took shape.
Fishing and Feasting in Alaska is divided into different recipe categories, but it isn't just your ordinary collection of recipes. Soup: I hate tomatoes in almost every form, especially tomato soup. But, the Tomato Bisque recipe is so delicious that I ate every drop. How is that even possible? Salad: My sister always makes her own salad dressing. I didn't even know that was possible. What's the secret? It's worth buying the recipe just for that. Entree: Some of the recipes are Alaskan specific. I mean, most of you don't have reindeer meat for your lasagna or all of the ingredients for Alaskan Paella. But, if you are creative with hamburger, fish or shrimp, you can make any and all of the dishes. Vegetables: For a large portion of the population, there is nothing you can do to make veggies worth eating. What did my sister add to her broccoli? Well, it rhymes with " makin' " and it did an incredible job makin' those veggies to die for. Pasta: Who knew you could make mac and cheese that was not from a box? That would be my nephew. And, you may never want to go back to the box, no matter how convenient it is. Dessert: This was the hardest part of the entire cookbook. After photographing each dessert, I had to eat them. I can promise you, none of the desserts are bad. And, finally, Breakfast: There is one dish that my sister refuses to eat. However, mysteriously, it is still a favorite of almost every fisherman who comes to Alaska. Can you guess what it is? I never would have.
Between each of those delicious sections are stories and photographs that reflect the fish, fishermen, wildlife and destinations around King Salmon, Alaska. These sections include bear tales and Amanda screaming, "Save me! Help! I'm Terrified!" Of course, there is a story there that you have to know. Yes, I'm terribly biased, and you are not allowed to disagree with me on this, that the book really looks great.
As I write, and as you read, the different sections of the book are being compiled and reviewed by several pair of eyes. It's so hard to get text and recipes perfect. But, we're doing our best. It's my hope that the book will go to the printer in January and be ready for sale in the spring.
Fingers crossed.
I wish I could say that I took every picture in the cookbook, but I received a lot of help from other people I met in Alaska. Thank you to Sage, Kodie, LBJ, Matthew, James and Mike. Without your photography of Alaskan fish, fishermen, wildlife and scenery, this book would not have been nearly as beautiful.
Thank you to Jim for wanting this project and picking me. Thank you to the people I met in Alaska who made me feel so welcome. And, especially, thank you to my sister, Phyllis, for welcoming me into her home and kitchen. We all have our own unique talents and mine are not in the kitchen. Thanks for sharing your gifts with me and now to the world. Every recipe is delicious.
Of course, I'll let you know when the Fishing and Feasting in Alaska is available. You know you want one.
Everything, including Salmon Dip, is good to the last bite in Fishing and Feasting in Alaska.
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