Smoked Salmon

The day after a salmon trip..... 

THIS is the recipe I used last year. Everyone loved it - it was sticky sweet. As I am dealing with diabetes, sticky sweet is not a good thing. It also limited what could be done with the salmon. It was GONE by January.

I knew I wanted to make more as this was a favorite....but I researched to see if I could find another brine.

We sort of combined various recipes/techniques this year. Here is exactly what we did.

INGREDIENTS
4 C brown sugar
1 C Kosher salt (non-iodized)

Maple Syrup or Orange Juice
Apple and Alder wood chips (is what we used this time)

INSTRUCTIONS 
Mix brown sugar and salt.

Filet salmon as you desire. Rather than cutting salmon into small strips and chunks - we left it in big pieces this year. This made it easier to dry and smoke on the racks, took less time, and may be one reason it isn't as sweet this year. 

Layer salmon in container, top with 1/4 inch of brine on each layer. Cover your container and place in fridge for 12 -14 hours. I consistently read online that longer marinading leads to saltier fish.

Put salmon on racks. Save liquid from containers to baste salmon as it dries. Pat off any big salt crystals. DON'T RINSE. Baste salmon with liquid.

*Dry salmon on racks - with a fan blowing on them for 2 - 2 1/2 hours.  Baste around the one hour and 2 hour mark. Dry for 30 min beyond the last baste.  A sort of crust layer forms and this is desired. Can't remember what it's called but it starts with a "p".  It's helpful to have Yuuki stand guard during these 2 hours.

Beagle not essential to success

Near the end of drying...fill your wood chip pan with chips Heat smoker to 250* and let a strong smoke build up.  When a good smoke has built up, turn your smoker to the lowest setting, open the door and let it cool down a bit. Spray your racks with non-stick spray (I didn't do this and it was fine). If you didn't dry your salmon on racks as I did - load the racks - or place the racks in the smoker. Baste if you'd like.

Reheat smoker to 150* Cook for an hour under steady smoke.

Baste with brine or do as we did - maple syrup. Orange juice can also be used and I'll try that next time.

Continue smoking with light smoke on 150*. In the original recipe this took an hour or two.

This took 7 - 8 hour with the bigger pieces. 😏

We smoked to an internal salmon temp of 145*. I am seeing it can be smoked to 135-145. I think we'll aim for 140* next time.

Michael basted throughout the process whenever the mood struck him. 

It turned out really good. Not as dry,  or sticky sweet. Rather than a sweet snack, we ate some for dinner.  This will be great on crackers (as the last stuff was) but it will also be good in recipes and dips. I think the difference in the sweet is  we left the salmon in bigger pieces AND Michael covered the racks with tin foil the first time...we didn't this time.

The racks cleaned up quickly in the dishwasher.

Smoked Salmon will keep for up to 2 weeks in the fridge. We vacuum seal and freeze and it lasted until it was all gone - at least 6 months.

If you want to can the fish - smoke for an hour or so for flavor,  and then proceed with canning. I think it would be far to dry to can completely smoked fish. I have smoked for an hour and then canned with good results.

*Drying under fan - online some skip this step; all or most the Alaskans recipes I read say it is essential. I decided not to skip it.

Brenda sent this recipe. It uses a salt water brine for 4-8 hours in the fridge and then a sweet or savory dry rub right before you smoke. I plan to try the savory next time we have some salmon. 

Searching for Salmon in Seward

What would cause us to be up at 11:45 p.m. cleaning the kitchen? This. 

Early this morning we left the valley for Seward, AK. There are two types of fishing in Alaska. Sports fishing and Subsistence fishing. Dip netting and set netting are subsistence fishing. The amount of fish you can subsistence fish depends on the number of people in your family. As a family, we are allowed 65 salmon.  Sports fishing does not count towards our subsistence limit. We will go dip netting in July and attempt to fill our freezer for the upcoming year.

However, we've heard the run is good in Seward and the limit was raised to 12 per person. We headed out. Some have noted Dad doesn't look too excited about this adventure. He WANTED to come. 😊He was given the option to stay home. Nolan was working and was home in the afternoon.

Three hours later, we arrived in Seward. I have NEVER found disinfectant in an outhouse. I was impressed. We were NOT impressed the price to park  had gone from $5 to $10 per person in a week.

Before one can fish, it is wise to don waders. Stacia and I have poofy ones that make us look like sumo wrestlers. The guys and CoRielle have the neoprene type. I suspect they are warmer - they are certainly harder to get on!

Even grown up sisters sometimes need a little help from their sisters. 

Dad had fun. He'll rest well tonight.

Cory had the day off and we were glad they met us there. 

Yes, I do some fishing; though I have never caught a fish.  Mostly, I love being out in nature. The fishing spots are always gorgeous...and all is better if one has a good book and company (I had both today).

Alex caught the first fish. 

This isn't the best photo of CoRielle, but I love Benny's face. He was happy to be on Daddy's back.  

The eagles are majestic. There were many. Dad saw an eagle take a fish which was resting on the beach. He explained the mystery to the gal who came back looking for her fish.  

 Family caught fish. 

Arielle caught a fish - and my camera wasn't working. It was hilarious. She fell to her knees. Cory was yelling, "Hold on!"

Amidst the cheering and yelling we heard her yell, "It's a shark. It'll bite me." ::snort::

Cory helped her land it and get back on her feet. We were all suitably impressed.

Dad has the distinction of catching a dead fish. 

Michael - entertaining the tourists on the cruise ship

Cory has the distinction of catching the smallest fish. 

Fish on! 

Hauling a salmon out. The big splash is the salmon. 

Michael caught 5. Alex caught 2. Cory caught 1. Arielle caught 1. Stacia and I got skunked. She is convinced it's because she was not wearing her, "Shut up and Fish" shirt.

It was quiet ride home....we left Seward around 7 p.m. Arrived home at 10 p.m. with gear to clean, and fish to fillet.

Sleeping with his head on the cooler - hope he was having fishy dreams

Laundry started, gear cleaned and stowed, food and fish cooler unpacked, salmon brining... and it's now 1:17 a.m. on the 19th. I'm going to call it quits for the night.

Father's Day Recital and Such

Father's Day is  a bit bitter sweet for Michael and I. Seven years ago, on Father's Day, Dad G went to be with his Heavenly Father. We've been remembering him, his bigger than life personality, and his stories, as the day drew near. The legacy of a father is an amazing thing. I see it in Michael and in the way he fathers our children.

Today, at Matanusaka AG, we concluded an 8 week series - Heroes. We celebrated and prayed for our  hero fathers.  Our ministry required us to be away from family for decades. It was especially sweet to celebrate this Father's Day with children, my father and our son in laws.

Izaak, Michael, Carl and Dad 

Carl, Dad, Barney, Rick?, Pastor Shannon, Bob and Bob

Danny, Michael, Izaak.....

A word about church Father's Day gifts. Michael knocked it out of the park one year with fishing lures. This year? Pastor hit a home run. Best Father's Day gift ever - BRATS as in

Michael picked out ribs to grill today. They took a bit longer to prepare than we expected. We made good use of the time.  Some of the men headed out to play Bocce. I had meant to buy some new lawn games before today. Oops - it's been busy.  Note - we've pushed back the jungle - but it's still apparent we aren't quite cultured out here. Ah well, we have a defined yard. LOL

Josiah, Michael, Jared, Alex

  We are lurking on every buy/sell list we know hoping to score a nice, sturdy, wood play/swing structure for our yard. We don't have a lot for the kids to do in the back yard. We have the trampoline - thanks to Jared.  We're also looking for a hot tub. If you are local and see something - send us the link. We've missed a couple - but keep hoping.

Benny loves to jump

 Jamin and Arielle took the kids to play with BUBBLES. 

Larissa left the bubble machine for the kids when she moved to Juneau. It is perfect!

Bella, Benny, Jamin, Gideon, Arielle 

 Strange things these bubbles!

Gideon loved the bubbles, but loved the tools Jamin shared with him even more. 

Note the tape measure in his hand even in the midst of bubbles. 

I caught a shot of both boys on the move! Benny is trying to duck under the bubbles. 

Bella wins the creative catch award. Arielle to ld her we were out of bubbles, she attempted to catch bubbles in the bottle. 

Bre's such a good mommy

Stacia is always working on a craft or two. 

Dad and Josiah enjoy the gorgeous day. 

Izaak is the grill master extraordinaire - and he likes doing it. 

Bre and Jared used the wait to catch up. 

 Annie has been a mama only gal for the last couple of weeks. This afternoon she did let Stacia and Josiah hold her - as long as she could see Bre. 

Izaak shared with me the wonders of the chaga mushroom a few weeks ago. People  swear by it up here. It's supposed to boost immune systems, be good for livers and more... I found a chaga nectar for Izaak to use in his coffee...and some powder for Dad  I can put in his morning coffee. Keeping our heroes healthy.

Michael got Moose Poo and Cory got Bear Scat. Uncanny how real they looked. 

The advantage of our later than expected lunch is Nolan made it home while folks were still here. He came home with a sad commentary on culture. McDonalds was swamped with single dads who had their kids for the day.  He was expecting a slow day - it was the busiest yet.

Michael has been giving Stacia piano lessons. She usually practices with head phones on and doesn't want anyone to hear her play. She gave her first recital for Father's Day. She played Matt Redman's 10,000 Reasons and did a great job.  This song was sung at Mom's funeral and I couldn't help but think of Mom and how she would have loved to be here today. Stacia will soon be forced to find a new teacher...and we know just the one...but she's still nervous about playing in front of anyone.

She had quite an audience....

So sweet when Benny RAN to Stacia after she finished and all were clapping. Turns out he wanted to explore the wonder of the louder volume on the keyboard.

Bella and Gideon explored this wonder as well. 

The guys left to get Jared to the airport for his flight back to Juneau. Please continue to pray for him in his job. Obviously, anyone going into this sort of field knows they will have a target on their back. This mama just wants to make sure he's standing at the end of the onslaught. LOL

It was a red letter day. I had an extra smile in my heart as my baby brother and his wife are flying across the globe to the states today. They have reached Amsterdam. They'll be visiting us up here in a few weeks.  Krista called. This will be her final week at her Chaplain Candidate assignment. Michael will be flying to meet her and drive with her back to Alaska next Sunday. Family is a blessing and we are amply blessed. On days like today my heart sings. This life is not the one we had planned for this season - but the blessing of being with family is not to be rejected. I still pray fervently for Japan, I am happy to be here with the kids.

Benny Hosts the Uncles or Jared is in Town

Jared is in town for the weekend. It makes us miss Larissa more, as she didn't come, but we are thrilled he is here for Father's Day.  They pulled in right as we were leaving for Three Bears to "fetch some meat." As it turned out we also looked at guns for my solitary hikes. 

I was bummed Dad and Michael would get out and stay and I'd have to go to the store and miss the catching up. Michael said he'd go to the store and I could stay...but we hit on a solution. Jared hopped in the car and came with us.

Benny entertained the others left at home and Josiah and Jamin.  

Photo by Jamin 

What are they doing? Looks like some odd prayer circle around the table....

They're just serious about their Uno game. 

Alex, Arielle, Jamin & Bennett, Stacia, Josiah, Jared and Michael 

 Jamin and Benny chase Jared.  

Uncles are fun to play with 

We lingered around the table. Uncle Josiah had Benny and Jared snapped a photo.

Photo by Jamin 

At some point Benny moved to Jared. Jared showed him the photo of himself...

Photo by Josiah or Jamin 

I love Benny's new hair cut!  Photo by Jamin 

Arielle and Bennett headed downstairs. We played one round of Farkle. It was a fun table. 

Michael, Jamin, Stacia, GDog, Josiah, Alex, Nolan and Jared 

I didn't think it would get better than having Dad here; Jared joined us and the fun increased. We had a great time hearing about he and Larissa's transition to Juneau. He has some amazing video clips of Eagles eating fish, whales breaching and gorgeous sunsets - taken from their WINDOW.  You won't be surprised, knowing his job and where he lives,  we talked a "bit" of politics and the "funnies" which accompany that world.

It will be fun to spend the day together tomorrow....we're looking forward to adding BreZaak and kids to the mix. We're sorry Cory has to work both days.