You can celebrate Valentine’s Day the whole month of February!
There are six good reasons if you live in Alaska:
1) The sky is pink a great deal of the day the whole month. That doesn’t count the red in the sunrise and sunset.
2) You burn a lot of calories out in the wilderness and sweet desserts keep you warm.
3) Alaskans get bored and plan things like the Fur Rendezvous
and the Willow Winter Carnival, where there are fun events like Outhouse Races and Ice Carving Contests.
4) Northern Lights are out. Everyone looks handsome under the Northern Lights.
5) Your spouse is happy!
6) It is just a little warmer and more animals are out and about. There is so much outdoors to explore. I am going to be exploring in this Great Outback, so I will turn this blog over to my beautiful wife.
Linwood
“Valentine Month is about Love. All you need to keep your love alive is a calendar. Time is the ultimate relationship builder so mark out your days and hours together ahead of time. You might want to consider a Great Adventure with you and your love on a dog team under the Alaska Mountain Range with Wayfinder Kennel.”
Since I am the main cook for this operation, I will leave you a few recipes that add to your Valentine Experience. You can show your dogs how much you love them by making these special Valentine treats, heart shaped dog treat. They are easy to make, grain free and are healthy for the dogs and they love them. Here is the recipe:
HEART SHAPED DOG BISCUITS
Ingredients:
1 1/2 Cup Coconut Flour
1 1/2 Cup Almond Flour
6 Eggs
1/2 Cup Chopped or Mashed Beets ( Beets provide fiber as well as nutrients, beet
powder is an option also)
1 1/2 Cup of Leftover Salmon (Can substitute any leftover dry meat)
3 Tbsp Coconut Oil (not melted)
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°F
Combine flour, and coconut oil (I use Everyday Living Goodcook Disposable Nitrile
Food Prep Gloves for hand mixing)
Knead in the salmon and the beets. In another bowl, beat the 6 eggs.
Slowly pour flour mixture into the bowl with the eggs.
Mix thoroughly. Add just a little more flour if you need to.
Mix into a ball of dough, then roll out using a lightly flour rolling pin.
Cut out treats using a heart shaped cookie cutter.
Place your hearts on parchment paper on a cookie sheet. You can pack them close together because they do not spread.
Bake in the oven for 15 minutes or until edges are crisp.
Cool before giving them to your loving dog(s). They freeze well too.
Note** I have tried can tuna fish and it does work but it requires a great deal more flour.
VALENTINE CHIPOLTLE MAYO PARMESAN FISH RECIPE:
For you and your special human I choose a great fish dinner for your Valentine
Celebration. Of course, here in Alaska fish is abundant and we all have plenty, especially salmon.
Here is one of my favorite recipes and it works with all fish:
Ingredients:
2 pound salmon filet ( any kind of fish is an option)
McCormick Himalayan pink salt with black pepper and garlic seasoning
Southwest chipotle seasoning (optional)
1/2 cup of Primal Kitchen Chipotle Lime Mayo made with Avocado Oil
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese –the powdery stuff in the green can works, but real shredded
Parmesan cheese for this recipe makes it shine.
2 tbsp. freshly chopped cilantro, plus more for garnish
Instructions:
The key to cooking a whole filet of salmon is keeping it moist. Be sure to not overcook.
I’ve found the best temperature for this is 375°F. While the oven preheats, remove the salmon (Start with a 2-pound whole salmon fillet.) Take the filet from the fridge to come to room temperature, 15-20 minutes. If you need to rinse it, use saltwater.
Place the salmon on a pan sprayed with cooking spray and pat both sides dry with a paper towel.
Sprinkle your salmon with pepper, salt and garlic combination. I also like to use a chipotle seasoning but that is optional.
Spread Chipotle Mayonnaise with Lime (if you don’t tolerate spice regular mayonnaise is a good option) and generously spread it over the top.
Cover it with Parmesan Cheese all over the top and bake it for the 15 minutes.
Garnish with cilantro and transfer to a serving platter with a rose.
Come and join us at Wayfinder Kennel for an Adventurous Dog Sled Excursion and share a heart shaped treat with each of the dogs in your team. Enjoy your Valentine Month!
Happy Trails,
Kathi