Alaska from Scratch

Balsamic Mushroom & Goat Cheese Pizza with Spinach

alaskafromscratch — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 16:34:34 +0000

I had a night off from the restaurant, so I asked my wife what she wanted to do for ‘date night.’ “I want to make pizza,” she replied ahead of a long pause. “Mushroom pizza. With goat cheese.” My brain started buzzing with a recipe taking shape. “Tomato sauce or olive oil and garlic?” I […]

Tater Tot Casserole

Danae Wilson — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 17:11:23 +0000

Tater tot casserole is not a dish I grew up with. I didn’t even know it was a thing. I also didn’t know that in places like Minnesota, it’s called tater tot hot dish.

Crab Artichoke Dip

Danae Wilson — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 16:53:33 +0000

If you’re looking for a show-stopping appetizer to serve at an upcoming holiday gathering, look no further than this crab artichoke dip.

Peanut Butter Balls

Danae Wilson — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 06:11:07 +0000

My wife grew up making peanut butter balls every holiday season. She remembers mixing together the butter, peanut butter, and powdered sugar until it forms a dough that can be rolled into bite-sized balls.

Boozy Eggnog

Danae Wilson — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 02:40:39 +0000

Fair warning: this eggnog recipe contains raw eggs. It also contains lots of booze, which acts as a sterilizer and a preservative for the eggs and cream.

Best Turkey Soup You’ll Ever Eat

Danae Wilson — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 03:23:21 +0000

This soup really does stand out in the crowd. It’s exceptional. And, I bet you just might have some leftover Thanksgiving turkey in the fridge.

Sweet Potato Pie with Marshmallow Meringue

Danae Wilson — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 16:33:32 +0000

To all the lovers of candied yams with marshmallow topping: I’m not going to hate on you. That dish has gotten a bad rap over the years.

Slow Cooker Beef & Barley Stew

Danae Wilson — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 17:58:15 +0000

It’s crockpot season. Snow has arrived and Thanksgiving is just around the corner making it prime time to pull out the old slow cooker and get her ready for the long winter ahead. My crockpot hadn’t seen the light of day in quite some time. I’ve had a bag of barley from Alaska Flour Company […]

Parmesan Roasted Carrots

Danae Wilson — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 16:42:35 +0000

Two bags of Alaska Grown carrots showed up at the restaurant for the chef to try, courtesy of a local farmer. They had just recently been pulled from the ground, but they were clean and symmetrical, portioned evenly into two clear plastic bags, each with a wooden tag.

Baked Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks

Danae Wilson — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 18:54:14 +0000

I miss Indian food. I especially miss it in the fall, when the turmeric-colored leaves on the trees immediately make me crave warm spices, like garam masala and cardamom. The Kenai Peninsula is desperately lacking in the area of Indian cuisine, and while I’m admittedly no expert, I do my best to attempt to make […]

Pasta e Fagioli Soup

Danae Wilson — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 13:46:32 +0000

Pasta e fagioli loosely translates to pasta and beans. In this soup vegetables, two kinds of beans, and meat settle nicely into a thick tomatoey broth.

Beet Salad with Tahini Dressing

Danae Wilson — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 05:13:24 +0000

This beet salad is much more beautiful and appetizing than the stuff of my past and with this recipe, a tragic food memory has come full circle.

Blueberry Bourbon BBQ Sauce on Baby Back Ribs

alaskafromscratch — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 23:39:12 +0000

Not a week went by before I was finding ways to highlight those beautiful bourbon flavors in my kitchen by making this blueberry bourbon bbq sauce.

Nectarine Caprese Bruschetta with Prosciutto

alaskafromscratch — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 16:23:26 +0000

This bruschetta with nectarines and prosciutto drizzled with balsamic makes a stunning appetizer, lunch, or light dinner as we bid farewell to another spectacular Alaska summer.

Zucchini Brownies

alaskafromscratch — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 23:23:29 +0000

I realize it’s been a while since we talked dessert. It’s also been even longer since I’ve given you a recipe involving chocolate. Both are surprising since there’s hardly ever a day that I don’t have at least a bite of chocolate or a nibble of something sweet after dinner. In fact, for my birthday […]

Breakfast Tacos with Salsa Verde & Avocado

alaskafromscratch — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 16:52:44 +0000

When our daughter asks for an “eggy” for breakfast, she’s never just asking for an egg. She’s asking for a scrambled egg with cheese and salt (salt is key), wrapped in a warm (warm is also key) corn tortilla that’s been turned over the open flame of my gas range.

Coconut Iced Tea

alaskafromscratch — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 15:44:36 +0000

I have a creamy, dreamy iced tea on tap for you this week as we continue into summer. It’s a strong black iced tea, with whole spices and a hint of vanilla, swirling with a sweet coconut milk concoction.

Mexican Corn Pasta Salad

alaskafromscratch — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 14:59:43 +0000

For weeks I’ve been studying pasta salad options, drooling over visions of Hawaii-style macaroni salad, a vinegar forward Italian pasta salad with olives and salami, or an herbaceous pesto salad packed full of fresh vegetables.

Almond Rhubarb Coffee Cake

alaskafromscratch — Sat, 23 Jun 2018 02:54:02 +0000

When Saturday morning rolled around, I got into the kitchen and made this almond rhubarb coffee cake. The batter alone was to die for, with intoxicating streaks of orange zest and just the right amount of cardamom.

Sablefish with Ginger Soy Glaze over Ramen Noodles

alaskafromscratch — Sun, 10 Jun 2018 19:09:58 +0000

On Sunday, we spent the day in Homer for a book signing at The Homer Bookstore and a cooking class at The Classic Cook. While sitting at the book signing table, Claire Neaton, one of the Salmon Sisters walked in the door carrying a package of wild Alaska sablefish for me...

Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Foil Packs

alaskafromscratch — Sat, 09 Jun 2018 03:33:30 +0000

We really lucked out with the weather this past Memorial Day weekend. Sunshine and blue skies ushered in summer as if right on cue.

Braised Radishes with Bacon & Shallots

alaskafromscratch — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 05:07:48 +0000

What many people don’t know, and what took me years to figure out, is that cooked radishes are a thing, too. A lovely thing.

Lemon Loaf Cake with Elderflower Glaze

alaskafromscratch — Fri, 18 May 2018 16:00:54 +0000

I’ve developed a pretty little lemon loaf cake with elderflower glaze. It’s much simpler to make than an extravagant wedding cake, but it still has a touch of sophistication and a dash of whimsy.

Creamy Homemade Vanilla Pudding

alaskafromscratch — Mon, 07 May 2018 17:04:59 +0000

Here is what makes this pudding magical: you don’t stir it until the very end. You leave it undisturbed on the stove for most of the cooking time. I know you’re scoffing. I know you don’t believe me. I’d be scoffing, too.

Chicken Tamale Pie

alaskafromscratch — Fri, 04 May 2018 14:18:34 +0000

I refuse to disgrace the memory of those tamales in Tecate by even attempting to make some now. What I can offer you is a less-intimidating and inauthentic chicken tamale pie. Yes, I said inauthentic. But did I also say delicious?

Four Ingredient Green Smoothie

alaskafromscratch — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 15:38:20 +0000

As the weather warms up and the snow dwindles, making way for occasional April showers, smoothies go back on the regular rotation in our home and in homes everywhere.

Lemon Meringue Pie with Shortbread Crust

alaskafromscratch — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 19:43:39 +0000

Lemon meringue pie is a classic. When I say classic, I mean it’s a bit of an antique where recipes are concerned. Meringue is said to have originated in the 17th century and is still used widely today.

Tortellini with Tomato Cream Sauce & Italian Sausage

alaskafromscratch — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 19:40:47 +0000

I only ever made one thing with my pretty little tortellini. One thing since 2011: Tortellini Soup. Over the years, that brothy bowl of soup has shown up on my dinner table and as leftovers for lunch the next day way more times than I like to admit.

My Favorite Crispy Buttermilk Waffles

alaskafromscratch — Sun, 11 Mar 2018 17:02:53 +0000

In lieu of a big layer cake for his 13th birthday this past year, our middle son requested buttermilk waffles from scratch. While at first I was a bit sad, I quickly dispensed with tradition and made the waffles, finding myself relieved by their ease. The funny thing is though, I had never developed a […]

Jalapeño Popper Mac and Cheese

alaskafromscratch — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 01:19:31 +0000

In my cookbook, which hit the shelves on February 20, I share about growing up with food insecurity and the ways in which foods just like mac and cheese from a blue box kept me going. I talk about my need to nourish people, most especially my children.

Meyer Lemon Rosemary Scones

alaskafromscratch — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 15:13:25 +0000

Meyer lemons are one of the heroes of citrus season, with their complex perfume and unique flavor. They’re just as good in savory recipes as they are in sweet ones.

Baked Chicken Wings with Bourbon Birch Syrup Glaze

alaskafromscratch — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 01:11:14 +0000

Just in time for Super Bowl, I bring you an irresistible plate of chicken wings. This dish is a sneak peek recipe from my forthcoming book, The Alaska from Scratch Cookbook, which will be hitting the shelves on February 20.

Chocolate Pudding Cake

alaskafromscratch — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 16:24:27 +0000

The most memorable pudding cake I ever made was for my now 13 year old son’s first birthday. It was a gingerbread pudding cake for the December occasion, a sticky warm dessert full of molasses and cloves, topped with whipped cream.

Ginger Pork Lettuce Wraps

alaskafromscratch — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 16:25:50 +0000

To help begin everyone’s 2018 on a bright, fresh note, I’ve made you some crisp ginger pork lettuce wraps. They are a little spicy and a little sweet. They're bursting with flavor, protein, and lots of goodies from the produce aisle.

Overnight Baked French Toast with Cinnamon Crumble

alaskafromscratch — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 03:24:04 +0000

I received a text message from my wife asking if I would be willing to help her cook breakfast for her staff for their early morning staff meeting. “Of course,” I quickly replied. “What do you have in mind?" She had polled her staff asking their favorite breakfast foods. Four of them had requested French toast.

Spicy Halibut & Cream Cheese Wontons

alaskafromscratch — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 03:50:46 +0000

I got the inspiration for this recipe from my friends Marcy and Deb, who served these up at a progressive dinner party for my wife's hockey team. These wontons got rave reviews and were one of the highlights of the night.

Swedish Meatballs

alaskafromscratch — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 05:58:12 +0000

Feeling under the weather, the last thing I wanted to do was cook this week. What I really wanted was a homey, comforting plate of Swedish meatballs swimming in cozy gravy made by my Swedish aunt. One problem: I don’t have a Swedish aunt.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies with Peppermint

alaskafromscratch — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 05:17:51 +0000

When I asked readers on social media to name the holiday cookie they absolutely have to have every year, I received dozens of responses. As I expected, there were the classic favorites: spiced gingerbread, frosted sugar cookies, thumbprints, peanut butter blossoms, snickerdoodles.

White Christmas Cocktail

alaskafromscratch — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 21:00:01 +0000

Here’s what I recommend instead of reinventing your leftovers: make yourself a cocktail. Then, kick your feet up. Plug in some Christmas lights. Listen to holiday music.

Smoked Salmon Frittata with Potatoes & Goat Cheese

alaskafromscratch — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 03:42:13 +0000

There’s no better time to pull out our treasured smoked salmon than during the holidays. It’s a time when we are cooking for a crowd and we are cooking to impress, to celebrate, and to give loved ones a taste of this Alaska life.

Pull Apart Dinner Rolls

alaskafromscratch — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 06:02:50 +0000

When I was growing up, there was one item that always made an appearance at Wilson holiday gatherings: Carol’s Rolls. While the turkey and the stuffing, the gravy and the sweet potatoes may have been nondescript, varying from year to year and household to household, Carol’s Rolls were an obligatory fixture on the Thanksgiving table.

Butternut Squash Soup with Bacon & Goat Cheese

alaskafromscratch — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 22:04:37 +0000

Today, I’m going to ask you to tackle a butternut squash. I’m going to encourage you to arm yourself with a good heavy kitchen knife, freshly-sharpened. If you don’t have one, then walk away now, because I’d much rather you keep your fingers.

Glazed Maple Scones with Oats

alaskafromscratch — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 17:08:47 +0000

The word on the street is that, when it comes to fall flavors, pumpkin spice is out and maple is in. The masses have grown weary of pumpkin spice everything, a phenomenon that’s grown since Starbucks introduced it’s first pumpkin spice lattes in 2003 and 2004. The pumpkin spice trend has seemingly run its course, […]

Creamy Spinach & Garlic Spaghetti Squash

alaskafromscratch — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 02:50:47 +0000

As we rode our bicycles down the bike path on Kenai Spur Highway, with our yellow lab, Rosie, running beside us, my wife turned to me and said, “I really love fall. I don’t think I ever realized how much I love it.” She talked about how crisp the air feels on her face, how it smells, the way the damp leaves lay across the bike path like a golden carpet.

Hard Apple Cider Old Fashioned

alaskafromscratch — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 00:04:59 +0000

It’s October and it’s Alaska PFD time, which are both are ample reasons to be clinking glasses to a fall forward cocktail. Lately, I’ve often been keeping it simple but seasonal by enjoying a nice bottle of hard apple cider. I like the carbonation and the crisp, fragrant apple notes. And, in autumn, I particularly […]

Thai Curry Noodle Soup with Halibut

alaskafromscratch — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 18:23:30 +0000

With all of the vibrant fall colors and chilly autumn rain we’ve been having, I was more than ready this week to cozy up to a steaming, spicy bowl of soup. When I posted a photo of this dish to Instagram, one follower asked if it was Thai pumpkin curry. Those orange cubes are actually […]

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

alaskafromscratch — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 05:52:30 +0000

Being that South Restaurant in Anchorage is a three plus hour drive from here, and knowing the kids would turn their noses up at the nuts on a sticky bun anyhow, I concluded, “I should make some cinnamon rolls.” At this point, our teenager chimes in without glancing up from his computer screen, with his decisive tone and dry humor, “Yes. Yes you should. Right now.” I chuckled to myself, knowing that cinnamon rolls from scratch are not something that can be rushed.

Creamy Mushroom Pasta with Lemon & Herbs

alaskafromscratch — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 18:36:53 +0000

Mushrooms are popping up everywhere this time of year, ready to be foraged and enjoyed. But be sure that you know which ones to pick and which ones are better left undisturbed, and make sure the kiddos know, too. If you’ve never done it, be sure to grab an Alaska mushroom identification guide, or better yet, grab a friend who is a foraging expert and bring them along.

Blueberry Buttermilk Cornmeal Waffles

alaskafromscratch — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 15:17:14 +0000

It was my grandmother who taught me long ago that blueberries and cornmeal go together. One of the only recipes she ever jotted down for me, handwritten on a notecard, is one for her blueberry cornbread, delightfully buttery and lightly sweetened.

Halibut Piccata over Angel Hair Pasta

alaskafromscratch — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 04:21:40 +0000

Weather: 60 degrees, steady rain What I’m listening to: Disney Channel During fishing season, I get a lot of requests for salmon and halibut recipes. I think back to all the summers past, scanning through the recipe box in my mind of flavors and fish and food memories. I remembered the very first halibut recipe I […]

Blueberry Rhubarb Galette

alaskafromscratch — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:15:02 +0000

I made a rustic blueberry rhubarb galette and it’s one of my favorite rhubarb preparations to date. I love making galettes because they’re quicker, simpler, and more freeform than making a traditional two crust fruit pie. Nothing about it needs to be perfect.

Broiled Salmon with Birch Syrup Glaze

alaskafromscratch — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 15:53:54 +0000

When we arrived back in Kenai, one of my wife's coworkers gave us a bag of fresh-caught salmon and halibut as a wedding gift. I knew right away that I wanted to broil the sockeye salmon with a birch syrup glaze to mark the occasion, highlighting two of Alaska's beautiful local ingredients in one memorable dish.

Smoked Sausage & Vegetable Foil Packet

alaskafromscratch — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 02:49:50 +0000

Foil packet meals are awesome for summer, whether you're around the campfire, using your outdoor grill, or roasting them in the oven on a rainy day. Family and friends can all get involved in assembling their own packets, loading up on their favorite vegetables and getting their meat to veggie ratio just the way they like.

Fresh Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

alaskafromscratch — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 15:04:52 +0000

If you have fresh mint on hand, whether it be for mojitos, tabbouleh, or watermelon salad, set some aside for these mint chocolate chip cookies. I thought the kids would be skeptical when they encountered the surprising fresh mint flavor when biting into a traditional-looking chocolate chip cookie, but they loved them too.

Gin & Tonic with Lilac Syrup

alaskafromscratch — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 03:55:34 +0000

Consider making a homemade batch of lilac syrup that will last weeks in the refrigerator and will preserve the lilac’s floral notes long after the flowers are gone.

Spinach-Artichoke Stuffed Shells

alaskafromscratch — Sat, 27 May 2017 15:14:31 +0000

I hadn’t had stuffed shells in years and years and had never developed a recipe for them. I felt inspired. It was something I probably would never have come up with on my own. The cravings of the people around me are most often my greatest motivation.

Rhubarb Barbecue Sauce

alaskafromscratch — Sun, 21 May 2017 21:14:56 +0000

I am one of the ones who enjoys using rhubarb each spring and summer, and I look forward to finding new ways to use it, some of them downright delicious. Its bright color is captivating and its acidity surprising.

Toasted Coconut Iced Coffee

alaskafromscratch — Sun, 07 May 2017 22:59:50 +0000

I’m offering you a special coffee treat to make for all the moms in your life. Because we need it. Because we survive on it. Because we deserve it. One sip of this homemade toasted coconut iced coffee and mom will be momentarily transported to a far-flung island with sand and waves and coconut trees, enjoying sweet, highly caffeinated bliss.

Bananas Foster Pancakes

alaskafromscratch — Fri, 05 May 2017 21:57:27 +0000

I wanted to kick my breakfast game up a notch, as Emeril Lagasse would say, and invoke the flavors of Bananas Foster. But, I had no desire to be setting things aflame in my kitchen at 8 a.m. on a Saturday morning while just sipping my first cup of coffee.

Egg Salad Bagel Sandwiches with Smoked Salmon

alaskafromscratch — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 22:16:33 +0000

If you’ve grown tired of your hard-boiled egg options, this year I’m offering you an updated local take on the retro egg salad sandwich. Enter: smoked salmon.