Pioneer Potluck: In celebration of my little brother Jim McClure’s 71st birthday

Pioneer Potluck: In celebration of my little brother Jim McClure’s 71st birthday

By Ann “Grannie Annie” Berg Monday, Oct. 1, 2018 would have been my little brother Jim McClure’s 71 birthday. I remember the morning my Dad… Continue reading

Pioneer Potluck: In celebration of my little brother Jim McClure’s 71st birthday

Pioneer Potluck: Eggless, milkless, butterless cake

Eggless, milkless, butterless cake I have a wonderful recipe that Mom sent to me in 1967 when I first got to Alaska with very little… Continue reading

Pioneer Potluck: About memories of Grandpa and Grandma Cogswell

Grandma Freda Cogswell was my mother’s Mom. She was born in 1895 and died in 1976. Her birthday was the 15th of September, which brings… Continue reading

Pioneer Potluck: About your very first day at school

I was five years old when I started school, no pre-kindergarten, no kindergarten, no preschool. (And that was really the name of the school!) My… Continue reading

Dan Bilyeu of Northern Lights Mushrooms sells oyster mushrooms and a large variety of peppers, including scotch bonnets, jalapenos, poblanos and more at the Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 Farmers Fresh Market at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Produce is plentiful as farmers market season is wrapping up

Despite the unexpected sunny August weather, summer is wrapping up, which means only a few more opportunities to shop local at farmers markets. Dan Bilyeu… Continue reading

Dan Bilyeu of Northern Lights Mushrooms sells oyster mushrooms and a large variety of peppers, including scotch bonnets, jalapenos, poblanos and more at the Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 Farmers Fresh Market at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

About Dad’s hat and Sunday school

1940-50’s on a farm east of Fort Collins, Colorado As I begin this article I want to thank all the veterans of all the wars… Continue reading

Joe Spady stands in front of his food truck, Joe’s Meatball Shoppe, on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. Spady rents his truck through Kenai Soil and Water Conservation District, who offers the converted trailer for people interested in a test kitchen and small business development, with a focus on Alaska grown products. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Food on the go: Trucks help local chefs make restaurants a reality

The peninsula food scene Joe Spady grew up with is much different than the food scene in the area now. The 30-year-old, who opened Joe’s… Continue reading

Joe Spady stands in front of his food truck, Joe’s Meatball Shoppe, on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. Spady rents his truck through Kenai Soil and Water Conservation District, who offers the converted trailer for people interested in a test kitchen and small business development, with a focus on Alaska grown products. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

About our visitors to Alaska

Fishing, camping, traveling, visitors and mosquitos — you are truly an Alaskan if you smell like mosquito repellent and fish. Or campfire smoke and mosquito… Continue reading

About the Swanson River Fire of 1969

About garage sales, wonderful people and glitches: Over this last weekend, Susan Jordan had a great big, giant garage sale in her greenhouse with 11… Continue reading

Mandy Leslie of Anchorage beers with her brother Zack Leslie of Kenai on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2018, at the Kenai Peninsula Beer Festival at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. Mandy Leslie said her favorite beer was the 12 quadruple beer from the 49th State Brewing Company, which won as the people’s choice for top beer. More than 15 breweries from all around the state participated in the festival, a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Soldotna with benefits going to local Rotary projects. (Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna to host eighth-annual Kenai Peninsula Beer Festival this Saturday

The eighth-annual Kenai Peninsula Beer Festival will celebrate community and locally crafted brewing this Saturday. More than 25 breweries, distributors, wineries and a cidery will… Continue reading

Mandy Leslie of Anchorage beers with her brother Zack Leslie of Kenai on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2018, at the Kenai Peninsula Beer Festival at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. Mandy Leslie said her favorite beer was the 12 quadruple beer from the 49th State Brewing Company, which won as the people’s choice for top beer. More than 15 breweries from all around the state participated in the festival, a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Soldotna with benefits going to local Rotary projects. (Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion)

About airplanes and flying in Alaska

Year – 1967 Alaska used leftover WWII Constellation Airplanes that were actually the workhorses in the air in the 50’s and 60’s. Alaska did not… Continue reading

About Ben’s boat wreck at Big Lake

Year: 1972 — Big Lake, Alaska This is one of my favorite stories about one of my favorite friends, Ben Burcham — he died in… Continue reading

Bill, Beers and blogging: Alaska craft brewing blog turns 10

Bill, Beers and blogging: Alaska craft brewing blog turns 10

In 2004, when beer aficionado Bill Howell retired from the U.S. Navy and settled in Alaska, the brewery scene on the peninsula left much to… Continue reading

Bill, Beers and blogging: Alaska craft brewing blog turns 10
Sterling shares British snack with peninsula

Sterling shares British snack with peninsula

Bill Howell’s 9 Spice Pickled Onion recipe features sweet Palmer-grown onions, apple cider vinegar and nine top-secret spices — but that’s about all he will… Continue reading

Sterling shares British snack with peninsula

5th annual Swank Street Market celebrates boutique, antique and more in Soldotna this weekend

Swank Street Market will be hosting their fifth annual flea market today, Saturday and Sunday in Soldotna. The first market was in the summer of… Continue reading

About Ben’s boat and clam digging

1971, Homer, Alaska In my “Other Life.” My friend Ben was like a funny big brother…only he was exactly a year younger than me! In… Continue reading

About Ben’s boat and clam digging

1971, Homer, Alaska In my “Other Life.” My friend Ben was like a funny big brother…only he was exactly a year younger than me! In… Continue reading

About birthday presents

Around 1986-87, Nikiski, Alaska and Boulder Point homestead “How in the world are you going to haul a pig?” one of my friends asked me.… Continue reading

Wild chamomile hangs to dry inside the Ionia Community Center on Tuesday, July 3, near Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Ionia: Born and bound by food

On Tuesday at noon, the lunch bell rings in Ionia, a health-conscious community near Kasilof. Over 50 servings of brown rice with pumpkin seeds and… Continue reading

Wild chamomile hangs to dry inside the Ionia Community Center on Tuesday, July 3, near Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Wild chamomile hangs to dry inside the Ionia Community Center on Tuesday, July 3, near Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Ionia: Born and bound by food

On Tuesday at noon, the lunch bell rings in Ionia, a health-conscious community near Kasilof. Over 50 servings of brown rice with pumpkin seeds and… Continue reading

Wild chamomile hangs to dry inside the Ionia Community Center on Tuesday, July 3, near Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)