Glaicier Brewhouse, Anchorage, Alaska

When in Anchorage, do not forget to visit the Glacier Brewhouse. The best restaurant in city. Expect a long wait to get in and that's always a good sign. This is where we headed on a Saturday right after our visit to the Saturday market. 

This is what I ordered - Spicy fish, salsa and rice. 

READ MORE...

Pies Galore

We are huge fans of NPR that we get our inspiration for Thanksgiving dinner menu from the news channel. My husband heard the story of a chef learning to make his Nana's sweet potato pie. The setting is somewhere in Georgia. We need no additional convincing. Guess what made it to our list of pies this year.

We made the Sweet potato pie and a chocolate-apple-pecan pie.

The intent was to make a chocolate pie and then I realized the contents filled only half way through the pie. So filled the rest with green apples, pecans and shaved chocolate.

The pies are now cooling off as the turkey goes into the oven for 4 hours.

READ MORE...

Spicy Potato Wedges

Somethings sweet and some savory. We cook and eat all day long on Thanksgiving day. Each dish is phased so we not running on empty stomach. Of course we save some exclusively for the sit down dinner.

Recipe for the Spicy Potato Wedges

Grind the following in a spice grinder -
2 tsp Cumin seeds
2 tsp Pepper seeds
4 Dried Chilies
1 tsp Jeera
1 tsp Corriander seeds
1 tsp Hing
2 tsp salt

Method

1. Heat oven to 400F.
2. Wash and cut 8-10 small sized potatoes into wedges. Coat the potatoes with ground spice. 
3. Add 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro leaves to the potatoes
4. Space it evenly on a oven-proof sheet and drizzle olive oil on top of the potatoes.
5. Roast in the oven for 40-45 minutes.
6. Squeeze lemon juice before serving.

READ MORE...

Happy Thanksgiving

My latest obsession is Trader Joe. I'm there every week and have possibly tried all their products. This Thanksgiving, most of my menu is from there. Round 1 is melted brie, toasted sourdough bread, cheese with lavender and cranberry sauce.

As my finals are fast approaching, I took a few short cuts this time. Store bought cranberry sauce. Well, not any store, it's Trader Joe's Cranberry sauce. I got this recipe from a fellow shopper while I was trying chose the cheese for the Thanksgiving dinner.

Step 1. I prepped olive oil by mixing it with crushed garlic cloves and red chilies. Left it overnight for the favors to blend in.
Step 2. Melted the Brie in the oven for a few minutes
Step 3. Drizzled some flavored olive oil on top of the sourdough bread and toasted it in the oven at 350 degrees for about 7 - 8 minutes.
Step 4. Dip the bread in the melted cheese, or spread it with the cranberry sauce or orange marmalade. The choices are plenty.

You can always replace Sourdough with French. My family prefers sourdough over any other kind of bread. Stay tuned for the rest of the recipes.

A Very Happy Thanksgiving From My Family to Yours!!!

READ MORE...

Almond Biscotti

Looking for a recipe for a baked goods sale at school for kids? My sister-in-law suggested biscotti and to my surprise, I did find it terribly simple to make. Here is the recipe I used.

I would have used my sister-in-law's recipe, but the measurements in her recipe were in the metrics system and it would have probably taken me for ever to convert it.

READ MORE...

Anchorage, Alaska

Alaska is an RV state. If there's one place you want to try RV'ing for the first time, I would do it in Alaska. We flew into Anchorage and used the opportunity to explore the city. we literally walked up and down the streets. 

READ MORE...

San Francisco, California

Driving down crooked street is always a huge thrill !!!! We did a day trip here from Sunnyvale. We did not do much other than see the bridge and crooked street.

READ MORE...

Saturday Market, Anchorage, Alaska

The Saturday market in Anchorage is a must visit for those who love fairs and markets with local products. Well, not exactly, they had berries from California, that I simply could not comprehend.

We brought home some of these jams and simply loved it. It did not last a long time, well, that's another story.

We certainly brought home some sauces, coffee, Ulu knives and other goodies. 

READ MORE...

Flora in Alaska

These trees were killed by salt water when the ground sank 10 feet  in the 1964 earthquake. Today they are a dominant part of the landscape.

... and pictures of flowers ... some shot in their natural habitat, some artificially grown.

The ones below were from our walk in the park, right in the middle of the city,Anchorage.

READ MORE...

Dog Sled, Alaska

You can take a flight to Mt McKinney and do a real dog sledge down the slopes. For those who can't the rangers in Denali will walk you through a dog sledge. If you as the kids, they will tell you this was one of their favorite things to do.

I was amazed to see the dogs exited and were begging the rangers to pick them for the ride. That was one misconception I always had. The dogs love it and are really not forced into it.

READ MORE...

Prince William Sound, Whittier Alaska

The finale of our Alaskan trip was the blue ice glacier. A delight to the eyes. We took a day cruise to Prince William Sound. 

These glaciers are melting away as we speak and do not know for how many more years they will last. I am 

not a glaciologist, do enjoy while these lasts. Some more pictures from our cruise.

READ MORE...

Denali National Park, Alaska

For those of you connected to me via Linkedin, know what I up to. I started my exec MBA with UT Austin. A lot of studying moved blogging to the bottom my priorities. Well, it's nice to track simple pleasures on this blog. You are bound to see many post from me to today and again I'll go on a hiatus until my finals. 

We were in Alaska when I found out I got into UT Austin. Memorable place!!! 

A 6 million sqft national park !!! we camped in the camp grounds in an RV. You so have to reserve a spot way ahead of time. If you plan to hike here, beware the mosquitoes in Summer. Cover yourself head to toe.

READ MORE...