EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY
Natural Snacks and Memorable Meals Enjoyed While Visiting Pamela in Alaska.
July 23 through August 21, 2005
WITH BERRIES!
WILD STRAWBERRIES
We came to Alaska at peak berry season. We found all kinds of delectable ripe berries along the roadsides and trails.
Bob showed great restraint by taking the time to photograph his handful of strawberries before he ate them.
BLUEBERRIES
Pretty on the bush.
Good eating for man and beast.
RASPBERRIES
We indulged in these succulent treats nearly every time we rode our bikes into town.
AND OTHER EDIBLES
GOOSE TONGUE
Camille and Pamela harvest Goose Tongue for dinner.
The Goose Tongue has a “V” down the middle – a lot like a goose’s tongue. It can be eaten raw and has a slightly salty taste. Pamela told us it is one of the bear’s favorite foods. Pam and Camille picked it as they walked up the Bartlett River. Pam put her picked Goose Tongue in a bag for dinner and Camille ate what she picked. The fact that there was so much Goose Tongue around on this day told us that the bears have not been up this far.
Goose Tongue in the pot for dinner. It is a lot like green beans when cooked.
BLADDERWRACK
This slightly salty seaweed is also good eating. Camille ate so much of it that she pulled a muscle in her back from stooping down. Bladderwrack is full of estrogen which is useful for treating PMS, the symptoms of Menopause and Thyroid conditions. Some other names for Bladderwrack are Fucus, Old Man Firecracker and Popping Weed.
ANNIVERSARY DINNER
On July 31, Pamela treated Bob and Camille to champagne, flowers, a card, candles and a special meal to celebrate their 11th Anniversary. Clockwise from the top are oven-roasted herbed potatoes, the flowers, card and candles, wild rice, carrot cake, goose tongue in garlic, and seitan baked in barbeque sauce.
SKUNK CABBAGE
We didn’t actually eat this but it does go into the edible category and it is reassuring to know that something of this size was available for consumption should we find ourselves stranded in the wild. Pamela had a habit of trying to eat at least one of nature’s offerings daily and we followed her lead. There were very few days during the time we spent in Gustavus that we did not sample a wild edible.
MAKING MERRY
Pamela experiments with an interesting version of the Bloody Mary which involves a pickle.