Smoking Salmon

All over Alaska, the subtle odor of smoking salmon leads people to find new friends. I know that when my smoker gets going I seem to have plenty of visitors, new and old. Nothing like a slice of this delicacy to start new conversations...

Smoking Salmon for the winter storehouse is routine in most parts of the State. When the runs hit, the knifes are kept sharp. Cleaning, slicing, marinating then drying proceed the actual smoking process. It isn't difficult with a bit of instruction, just time consuming, but sooooo worth the effort. After the fish is smoked, you may can or freeze it for later use, and will stay refrigerated for up to a month. Just one strip makes for a good lunch and will deliver needed energy for hours.

There are endless recepies for marinade, I mostly keep it simple with soy sauce and brown sugar in water. I leave the fish in the brine overnight, then hang to dry until tacky before beginning my slow smoke, which is I can keep the smoke cool enough last for about 3 days.

Contact: Michele Holley, Beluga Realty, Kenai, Alaska. 907-229-4650. Follow on twitter @Gwhizzzel

Alaskan Ocean Front Subdivision

Steve Jones contemplates the awesome view of Mt. Redoubt out his front windows. Steve was so impressed with Ocean Vista Subdivision that he purchased 5 lots here. He is just now putting the finishing touches on his new summer home.

I spent the afternoon with him yesterday and enjoyed the endless vistas in every direction.

There are still 2 Ocean Front lots left, and 2 back lots. I will be posting a photo album shortly for your enjoyment. Temp. yesterday, 73*. Oh, bty, Silver Salmon fishing on the Kenai is at it's best. Limits being caught in less than an hour.

Contact: Michele Holley, Coastal Realty, Anchor Point, Alaska 907-229-4650

Razor Clams Galore!

The local beaches along Cook Inlet are a wealth of delicious protein, if you know where to look, when to go, how to locate these delicacies. Just looking at this photo makes my mouth water...

These are razor clams, freshly dug at a minus tide at Ninilchik Beach. There are many places along the east side of Cook Inlet where these guys hang out in the easy digging sand. Just about anywhere from Clam Gulch to Anchor Point would be a good place to look. Before going on your own clam safari there are a few items you need to make this a pleasant and rewarding journey.

1. An Alaskan fishing licence. (available at most sporting store locations state wide or on-line through the State of Alaska). This is a most important step. You sure don't want to be caught without one on the beach. Yes, fish and game does check, even when you think you are away from everyone.

2. A tide book. (available at most stores or gas stations on the Kenai Peninsula or just print out a days tides online for the area on Cook Inlet that you are headed for)

3. Implements of capture. There are 2 well known choices. The first being a clam shovel. This is a narrow long shovel with a curve that gets a good grip on the sand and goes down deep. The second choice is a clam gun. This is a cylindrical device that cores the sand bringing up the clam as you pull it back out of the hole. Both work well. Don't think this is easy, it requires some effort and a bit of muscle. Make sure to bring a 5 gallon bucket with you to carry your haul in.

4. Attire. This is not a chore to bring your best Eddie Bauer or Cabela's gear to. I promise you that you will be having fun in the mud and sand and it will stick to you in some amount. Wear rain gear, mud boots and rubber gloves. I used duck tape to tape my gloves to my arm sleeves so that water doesn't run up my sleeve, and I pin my license to the outside of my jacket in case I get carded. That way I don't have to put my hand in my pocket.

Ok. Now you have found yourself on a minus low tide on the beach and you are looking for clams. Well, they are not laying on the beach, that is what you brought the clam gun or shovel for. So, as you wander along the low water you are looking for a divot. A small round indentation about 1/2 inch in diameter, in the mud/sand. After a while you will get the hang of seeing them real easy. Now you kinda want to sneak up on these guys, because they can move fast! Walk softly, looking down...when you see what you are looking for position the gun directly over the indentation, shove and wiggle down, then put your finger over the air hole on the gun to hold pressure and pull up. Release the air hole and dump out the load, hopefully you have found a clam. Not every try results in success so don't get discouraged. With a little practice you will become a pro!

The method for using a clam shovel is this....position the shovel to the Ocean side of the divot. Dig like crazy, usually 3 or 4 shovel loads. Either have a friend, (best method) drop down on the sand and hand dig in the hole, or do it yourself. Be quick!!! The clams can move very quickly and you will want to get a grip on one and pull hard. Their shells are soft so be careful not to squeeze the shell too hard or the shell will break making it more difficult to clean. DO NOT waste a broken shell clam. That is wanton waste and is not good in the eyes of others, in particular fish and game!

Oh, yeah. They are called Razor Clams for a reason. The shells are sharp on the edges. Don't try this without gloves. You will only make that mistake once.

Getting a limit of gems are the easy part! Make sure you have enough energy to clean them, which should be done immediately after coming off the beach. It will require a water source, perferably outside, a sharp fillet knife, and a table. Hot water makes things much easier. Drop the clams into VERY hot water for a minute. Do not let them cook. Pull them out and cool by rinising in cold water. Now you are ready to take off the shells. Go easy along the shell, both sides and they will slide out. There are two parts to the clam, the neck and body. Both are very tasty. Use this link for a short video of a friend of mine who cleans clams in Ninilchik to buy her winter wood stash. She shows what and how to do it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYpJn8Raw2A
Feel free to contact me for more information at buyalaska@gmail.com, I can be found on twitter @gwhizzzel. Happy Clamming!

Halibut Fishing Homer Alaska

There is always something to do on the Alaskan Kenai Peninsula with 18 hours of summer daylight to illuminate the possibilities.

A short drive along the coastline of Cook Inlet (35 miles) from Ocean Vista and the Ninilchik area, took me to the town of Homer, at the end of the Sterling Highway. The bumper stickers here read " A quaint little drinking town with a fishing problem".
It didn't take more than a few steps from my vehicle to capture this shot of a Halibut catch from one of the many charter boats working the harbor.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A CATCH LIKE THIS....

Give me a call, I can help set you up with a rent a car and a local charter. I would love to show you some great Alaskan Real Estate.

Michele Holley 907-229-4650
Beluga Realty
110 Trading Bay Rd.
Kenai, Alaska

Another Alaskan Beauty!

What a amazing day! Only in Alaska can one enjoy endless everychanging beauty just ripe for the camera lens at every angle. This morning I awoke to find my last photo post on this blog being featured on KTUU news in Anchorage. Thanks team, glad you liked it as much as I did!

At Ocean Vista, the little subdivision on Cook Inlet, this fireweed caught my eye out of the millions that twinkled in the sun. They started blooming about a month ago and are now headed "south". The old Alaska sourdough saying is "when the fireweed blooms at the top, snow is 6 weeks away. Hard to believe on a 70* day like today, but sadly for some, probally not far from the truth.

Most people around this neck of the woods are busy harvesting the bounty of wild fish, clams, vegtables and natural herbs that grow wild in abdunace. I know I am getting my fair share. The fireweed blooms make excellent "fireweed honey". Camomile grows wild everywhere along with red clover and both make plenty tasty tea after a good hanging dry. Way better than what you can get in the store.

I did get some fishing in today at Deep Creek for Silver Salmon, the word is out and the fishermen are showing up. I put my rod down and picked up the camera, shot videos for people and traded for plenty of fish. Now that is the way to do it. Stuffed myself with hour old Silver Salmon for dinner and made a lot of new friends.

Looks like sunset is coming on and who knows what goodness AlASKA will bring in the morning.

ANOTHER OCEAN VISTA SUNSET

What a wonderful place to hang for the weekend. That is the best thing about Alaska, the light is always changing. Tonights pink sunset over Cook Inlet was septacular!

Evening....10:00 PM at Ocean Vista

Sweet Dreams from Ocean Vista...I couldn't resist sharing tonights visual with you. Enjoy.

Ocean Vista Subdivision

On the Kenai Peninsula, I am proud to represent the beautiful Ocean Front Subdivision, Ocean Vista. Located between the communities of Soldotna and Ninilchik at mile 124 Sterling Highway. Take Corea Bend Rd. west, then head toward the water, you will see the signs and flyer boxes. At this time there are only 2 Ocean Front lots left and two back view lots. Once you visit this special hideaway you will want to call it home.

Lot 2 Block 2 (Ocean Front) 1.64 acres $60,000.

Lot 3 Block 2 (Ocean Front) 1.64 acres $60,000.

Lot 1 Block 1 ( Ocean View) 1.47 acres $45,000.

Lot 2 Block 1 (Field Lot) 1.27 acres $35,000.

CCR's, engineers reports, and plat available on request.

Contact: Michele Holley, Coastal Realty Anchor Point, Alaska

907-229-4650 cell

Welcome to Alaska Allure

Alaskan Real Estate has been my passion for many years, in particular the communities south of Anchorage between Indian, Bird Creek, Girdwood, Portage, the entire Kenai Peninsula covering Seward, Cooper Landing, Sterling, Soldotna, Kenai, Kasilof, Ninilchik, Anchor River, Homer and Seldovia. I make it my life to know the pulse of this subject from every possible source. This new blog is intended to keep you up on new and interesting properties, art, fishing, photography and newsworthy items in my travels. Enjoy and safe travels!