Winter in the North is a long season of little daylight. A whole day can be filled up with simple tasks like shoveling snow and bringing firewood inside. There are no "quick" trips to town for errands-instead, any outing involves heating up the car and shoveling the driveway, bundling up in all the layers and snow boots, driving slowly through snow and ice, and making room for moose wandering into town to escape the deep drifts. Things take time. Time slows down. Winter lets us take a breath and rest. Everything moves slower and the world quiets under a cold blanket of snow and ice. Eyes closed, we turn our faces to the sky, soaking up as much vitamin D as possible and counting down to the winter solstice and the return of the light. "We made it" is a common phrase repeated after the darkest day of the year.
Embracing winter in all of its extremes is necessary to its enjoyment. The first snow is a signal to slow down and rest after the hustle and bustle of summer adventure and fall harvest. A stormy day may be a sign to stay inside and bake a loaf of sourdough and start a pot of stew instead of maintaining your normal busy routine. A magical, cold clear day may invite you to bundle up in your warmest gear and take your family ice fishing or out into the woods on snowshoes or skis.
Living seasonally means constantly adjusting expectations for what a day looks like, and in winter it means giving yourself the space to go slower and savor solitude, reflection, and creativity while the light is low and the world is quiet.
Something about the cold makes the holidays feel extra bright and necessary. We are grateful for a reason to celebrate, come together, and enjoy each other's company around the table and outside in winter. This is the season when all the summer and fall harvest tucked away in the pantry feels like riches. The taste of a tin of smoked salmon brings us back to the 10 p.m. sunshine sparkling across the sea and the smell of a driftwood campfire. A jar of jam transports us to our happy place deep in a blueberry patch, fingers busy as our minds drift on the tundra breeze. Sweet shrimp in the freezer remind us of the soft burn of the line coiling in our hands and the smell of fresh, rich mud from the deep. Sharing a bountiful harvest is one of life's great joys in Alaska because of the stories that come with it.
To help celebrate the special season we are in, we are excited to be sharing a series of blog posts over the next 6 weeks with recipes, traditions, and stories from Alaskan women on thriving in the colder, darker season. Our Thriving in Winter blog series is meant to bring a little inspiration, grounding and joy to a season that's sometimes tough to fully appreciate because of the extremes of light and weather that come with it in Alaska. We hope this series inspires new meals and traditions for your family and brightens up the darkest days of the year; thanks for reading and cooking along with us.
A few of the things we're excited to share in the coming weeks, from the pages of our book, The Salmon Sisters: Harvest & Heritage.
Winter Traditions
- Grow Bulbs Indoors
- Host a Winter Solstice Feast
- Light Up the Night with Ice Lanterns
- Relax and Rejuvenate in the Sauna
- Go Ice Fishing
- Make Winter Bird Garlands
- Pour Homemade Candles
Winter Recipes:
- Fish Pie with Lemon-Dill Cream Sauce
- Seafood Charcuterie Board
- Shrimp and Crab Gumbo
- Salmon Dumplings
- Garlic-Butter Wild Alaska Spot Prawns with Stir-Fried Noodles
- Chewy Chocolate Ginger Cookies
- Orange and Rosemary Upside-Down Cake