A Kenai Peninsula Food Bank truck in the Food Bank parking lot on Aug. 4, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Food bank seeks turkey donations as Thanksgiving nears

The local food bank is calling for donations of $25 to “Adopt-A-Turkey” for a local family in need

 

Pistachios and pomegranates give these muffins a unique flavor and texture. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

A chef is born

Pistachio and pomegranate muffins celebrate five years growing and learning in the kitchen

 

Make-ahead stuffing helps take pressure off Thanksgiving cooking. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Holiday magic, pre-planned

Make-ahead stuffing helps take pressure off Thanksgiving cooking

 

This slow-simmered ox tail broth makes this otherwise simple borscht recipe quite luxurious. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Borscht from the source

This homestyle stew recipe draws on experience of Russian cook

This slow-simmered ox tail broth makes this otherwise simple borscht recipe quite luxurious. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
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Anticipating candy-coated revelry

These popcorn balls, done three ways, are a classic Halloween treat

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These lean turkey burgers are juicy and flavorful and go great with salad and soda. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Twin dinner turkey burgers serve up birthday nostalgia

These lean burgers are juicy and flavorful and go great with salad and soda.

These lean turkey burgers are juicy and flavorful and go great with salad and soda. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
These Japanese-style souffle pancakes are sweet, light and delicate, and taste divine paired with tart cranberry sauce. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Aiming for the clouds

Delicate, fluffy Japanese-style souffle pancakes bring breakfast to a new level

These Japanese-style souffle pancakes are sweet, light and delicate, and taste divine paired with tart cranberry sauce. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
This classic chicken salad is bright and tangy. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Afternoon chicken salad

This classic salad is bright and tangy, perfect for enjoying on a beach towel on the roof

This classic chicken salad is bright and tangy. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
This roasted pumpkin, apple and carrot soup is smooth and sweet. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Soothing soup for fall days

This roasted pumpkin, apple and carrot soup is perfect for a sick kid and worried-sick parents

This roasted pumpkin, apple and carrot soup is smooth and sweet. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
A presenter processes cabbage for storage at the fermentation station during the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival at Soldotna Creek Park on Saturday.

Local food festival returns produce, demos to Soldotna Creek Park

The annual Harvest Moon Local Food Festival is organized by the Kenai Local Food Connection

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
A presenter processes cabbage for storage at the fermentation station during the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival at Soldotna Creek Park on Saturday.
These chai latte cookies are fragrant and complex, perfect for autumn evenings at the table. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Card night cookies

These chai latte cookies are fragrant and complex, perfect for autumn evenings at the table

These chai latte cookies are fragrant and complex, perfect for autumn evenings at the table. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Abi Gutierrez fills a box of doughnuts during a ribbon-cutting event for The Glaze in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Living the doughnut dream

Owners aim to create a space for people to enjoy tasty pastries and spend time together

Abi Gutierrez fills a box of doughnuts during a ribbon-cutting event for The Glaze in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
This recipe can be served as French toast with syrup or toasted with butter and sweetened with a liberal dusting of cinnamon sugar. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Spicing up French toast and school mornings

I found some old raisins in the back of my pantry and decided to use them for some cinnamon raisin walnut bread to spice up my son’s French toast

This recipe can be served as French toast with syrup or toasted with butter and sweetened with a liberal dusting of cinnamon sugar. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Doenjang JJigae is an earthy and refreshing stew that can be prepared in less than an hour. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Stewing up the spirit of Chuseok

Salty Doenjang JJigae is earthy and refreshing

Doenjang JJigae is an earthy and refreshing stew that can be prepared in less than an hour. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
This apple cinnamon quinoa granola is only mildly sweet, perfect as a topping for honeyed yogurt or for eating plain with milk. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Building warm memories of granola and grandma

My little boy can hop on his bike or wet his boots in the mud puddles on the way to see his grandparents

This apple cinnamon quinoa granola is only mildly sweet, perfect as a topping for honeyed yogurt or for eating plain with milk. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
This nutritious and calorie-dense West African Peanut Stew is rich and complex with layers of flavor and depth. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
This nutritious and calorie-dense West African Peanut Stew is rich and complex with layers of flavor and depth. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
This pie balances tart Granny Smith apples with a buttery brown sugar caramel sauce. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

New possibilities served with a side of apple pie

Celebrating the first day of school with a sweet treat

This pie balances tart Granny Smith apples with a buttery brown sugar caramel sauce. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
This red beans and rice recipe depends upon building layers of flavor over time. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Savoring the last of summer with slow-cooked beans and rice

Some dishes simply cannot be rushed and won’t fit into a hectic schedule

This red beans and rice recipe depends upon building layers of flavor over time. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Gyoza wrappers are filled with shrimp and onion paste. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Wrapping up summer

These dumplings are relatively easy to make and are very forgiving, perfect for inexperienced folders

Gyoza wrappers are filled with shrimp and onion paste. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
These blueberry and honey, carrot and nectarine, and spinach and green grape gummies are made with minimal sugar and no artificial dyes or preservatives. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Sweet gummies to keep kiddos going

Every year the kids and our activities change, but the one thing that will never change is the kids’ near constant requests for snacks.

These blueberry and honey, carrot and nectarine, and spinach and green grape gummies are made with minimal sugar and no artificial dyes or preservatives. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)