Food and Drink

My family gathers on Zoom to discuss our foraged finds at Forage Fest 2020, on Dec. 3 2020, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Foraging for gifts

Bringing a personal twist to holiday giving

My family gathers on Zoom to discuss our foraged finds at Forage Fest 2020, on Dec. 3 2020, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
A simple and classic spice cake made for a friend’s birthday, photographed on Oct. 21, 2020, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

A simple spice cake for a pared-down Thanksgiving

I know Thanksgiving this year won’t be the same.

A simple and classic spice cake made for a friend’s birthday, photographed on Oct. 21, 2020, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Butternut squash soup picnic is enjoyed on the rocky beach at Eklutna Lake, on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020 in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kalifornsky Kitchen: A soup to match the color of the leaves

Getting outside can be a balm to that isolation and grief many of us are experiencing.

Butternut squash soup picnic is enjoyed on the rocky beach at Eklutna Lake, on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020 in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Kachemak Cuisine: Bounty of berries makes great ice cream dish
Kachemak Cuisine: Bounty of berries makes great ice cream dish
Crab apples hang from the branches of the author’s tree in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen)

Kalifornsky Kitchen: Crab apples signal fall

My most vivid memories of eating crab apples are all natural

Crab apples hang from the branches of the author’s tree in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen)
A bowl of mango salsa, next to a bowl of salsa verde, are accompanied by seltzer water, tortilla chips and a shrimp tacos birthday meal on Aug. 21, 2020 in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kalifornsky Kitchen: Stretching out summer with mango salsa

Life is what you make it and so is this salsa.

A bowl of mango salsa, next to a bowl of salsa verde, are accompanied by seltzer water, tortilla chips and a shrimp tacos birthday meal on Aug. 21, 2020 in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
A crab boil to celebrate a friends birthday, on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020 in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kalifornsky Kitchen: Cooking for others

Food tastes better when it’s shared with friends and family.

A crab boil to celebrate a friends birthday, on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020 in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
A bag full of fresh broccoli is seen in the author’s kitchen in Anchorage, Alaska, in August 2020. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kalifornsky Kitchen: A tote bag of broccoli

The broccoli had this perfect crunchy texture that paired really well with the gooey melted cheese.

A bag full of fresh broccoli is seen in the author’s kitchen in Anchorage, Alaska, in August 2020. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion                                Frozen salmon is pictured in this July 2020 photograph.

Kalifornsky Kitchen: A freezer full of salmon

Fresh fish deserves to be enjoyed in a pure form.

Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion                                Frozen salmon is pictured in this July 2020 photograph.
Kachemak Cuisine: Celebrate the Fourth Alaska style — with salmon

Kachemak Cuisine: Celebrate the Fourth Alaska style — with salmon

We don’t usually do things in the traditional manner up here on July 4.

Kachemak Cuisine: Celebrate the Fourth Alaska style — with salmon
Morel pasta is enjoyed outside on May 19, 2019, near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kalifornsky Kitchen: Morels all the ways

When the Swan Lake Fire started, we knew we had an opportunity to get even more morels.

Morel pasta is enjoyed outside on May 19, 2019, near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Kachemak Cuisine: Find comfort in hard times by cooking good food

Kachemak Cuisine: Find comfort in hard times by cooking good food

The first tastes of spring for me are rhubarb, fresh-caught fish from Kachemak Bay and chives.

Kachemak Cuisine: Find comfort in hard times by cooking good food