The Salmon Sisters: Harvest & Heritage: Seasonal Recipes and Traditions that Celebrate the Alaskan Spirit

by Emma Teal Laukitis, Claire Neaton

Overview

2024 IACP Nominee for Best American Cookbook

"A cookbook that celebrates abundance, and pays tribute to precious landscapes that offer us such satisfying meals."
Food & Wine magazine

Follow the Salmon Sisters as they celebrate the seasons through the food, traditions, and rituals of their Alaskan home. Lush photography, charming illustrations, 60 comforting recipes, and 35 traditions showcase and honor the untamed spirit, natural bounty, and seasonal rhythms of land and sea.

Open up the rich pages of Harvest & Heritage and step into another world. A landscape dotted with berries, wildflowers, and moose, an ocean rich with salmon, seafood, and kelp. A place of resilience and cherished traditions. While the landscape is vast, the community is tight-knit. This is the world of the Salmon Sisters and they are inviting you to join them through a year of changing seasons and comforting rituals. And yes, deeply satisfying food.

The cookbook is organized by season. In each section, readers will find:

• Recipes ideal for the home cook

• Illustrated rituals and traditions

• Stories from Alaskan women on living and eating well 

• A Solstice or Equinox menu to celebrate the seasonal harvest
• Expansive and intimate photography 

The recipes and projects are delicious and satisfying. For example, forage spruce tips and make Spruce Tip Ice Cream. Jig for a halibut and then make Halibut Burgers with Wild Chimichurri. 

Emma Teal Laukitis and Claire Neaton, aka the Salmon Sisters, grew up on a homestead in Alaska's remote Aleutian Islands, and they make their livelihood harvesting wild seafood from the pristine, bountiful waters around them. This luxe hardcover reflects their values and vision, with delicious recipes and lovely traditions that is seasonal eating and living at its best.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781632174345
Publisher:	Blue Star Press
Publication date:	08/22/2023
Sold by:	Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	26 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Emma Teal Laukitis and Claire Neaton grew up on a homestead called Stonewall Place on the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. They have worked on their family's commercial fishing boats in the Bering Sea since they were young. Born from summers fishing with their family, Emma and Claire's appreciation for their unique upbringing and for the sustainable fisheries became central to many of their pursuits. Emma studied art and English at Williams College and earned a master's degree in design at the University of Washington, and Claire studied business and nutrition at the University of Vermont.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Celebrate the Seasons of Alaska with Us

Spring
 
Introduction to Spring

Recipes
Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
Smoked Salmon Scramble with Caper-Dill Cream on Toast
Dill Bullwhip Kelp Pickles
Fancy Spring Butters
Sautéed Fiddleheads with Pine Nuts, Lemon, and Oregano
Wild Nettle Gnocchi
Halibut Burgers with Wild Chimichurri
Lemony Clam Pasta with Crushed Pistachios
Wild Salmon Noodle Soup
Rhubarb-Cream–Filled Doughnuts
Grilled Oysters with Miso Seaweed Butter
Spring Equinox Feast
Spring Greens and Flower Salad
Spring Greens and Sea Salt Sourdough Focaccia
Mussels with Spring Onions, Sorrel, Cider, and Cream
Rhubarb-Mint Gin & Tonic
Spruce-Tip Ice Cream

Traditions
Grow Sprouts in a Jar
Harvest Seaweed for Your Garden
Plant an Herb Garden
Forage Fiddleheads
Harvest Wild Nettles
Jig for a Halibut
Dig for Clams
Tap a Birch Tree
Make Your Own Sea Salt
Forage Spruce Tips
 
Summer
 
Introduction to Summer

Recipes
Super Berry Muffins
Cast-Iron Baked Eggs
Fancy Toast with Homemade Ricotta and Salmon Caviar
Cured Salmon with Cucumber and Seaweed Salad in Lemony Cream Dressing
Tinned Octopus, Avocado, and Tomato Salad with Lime-Cilantro Dressing
Roasted Beets and Carrots with Anchovy Herb Butter
Fried Oyster Toast
Tinned Salmon Niçoise Sandwich
Smoky Citrus, Soy, and Herb Cedar-Plank-Grilled Salmon
Miso Salmon and Soba Salad Bowl
Sea Salt Fireweed-Honey Pie
Summer Solstice Feast
Smoked Salmon Panzanella Salad
Fireweed (Hard) Lemonade
Alaska Seafood Boil
Lemon Olive Oil Cake with Lemony Buttercream Frosting and Blueberries

Traditions
Pick Wild Berries
Celebrate the First Fish
Make Salmon Caviar
Harvest Edible Seaweed
Make Fish Jerky
Cook Fish over a Fire
Share Your Harvest with Your Community
Press Flowers
Make Fish Stock
Eat Wildflowers
 
Fall
 
Introduction to Fall
 
Recipes
Crab Omelet with Wild Mushrooms, Caramelized Onion, and Brie
Smoked Salmon-Chive Buttermilk Biscuits
Pumpkin Spice Pancakes
Apple, Rhubarb, and Cranberry Chutney
Crispy Turmeric Rice with Toasted Almonds and Herbs
Pan-Seared Scallops with Honey-Cider Glaze
Tinned Salmon Carbonara with Arugula and Pine Nuts
Grilled Halibut Tacos with Avocado-Cilantro Crema and Pickled Onions
Sockeye Salmon Thai Red Curry with Chili Crisp
Garlic Butter Wild Alaska Spot Prawns with Stir-Fried Noodles
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
Fall Equinox Feast
Harvest Moon Old Fashioned
Seafood Charcuterie Board
Creamy Tomato Soup with Basil Pesto
Black Cod with Wild Mushrooms and Kale over Creamy Grits
Orange and Rosemary Upside-Down Cake

Traditions
Forage Wild Mushrooms
Learn the Basics of Canning
Quick Pickle Your Garden Vegetables
Harvest and Dry Herbs
Preserve Your Catch
Create Your Own Seasoning Blends
Gather Rose Hips
Make Your Own Herbal Tea


Winter
 
Introduction to Winter

Recipes
Nutty Cinnamon Banana Smoothie
Smoked Salmon Strata with Goat Cheese and Dill
Creamy Steel-Cut Oats with Maple Applesauce and Walnuts
Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Salmon Caviar
Smoked Salmon Pesto Pizza
Fish Pie with Lemon-Dill Cream Sauce
Fancy Crab Mac & Cheese
Shrimp and Crab Gumbo
Salted Caramel Apple Pie
Winter Solstice Feast
Rosemary Negroni
Roasted Broccolini and Carrots with Tahini Dressing
Oyster Stew
Salmon Dumplings
Chewy Ginger Chocolate Cookies

Traditions
Grow Bulbs Indoors
Stock Your Pantry with Staples
Light Up the Night with Ice Lanterns
Relax and Rejuvenate in the Sauna
Go Ice Fishing
Make Winter Bird Garlands
Pour Homemade Candles

A Final Note
Acknowledgments
Index

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Praise for The Salmon Sisters Harvest & Heritage:
 
"In exploring and writing about the place that they love, Emma Teal Laukitis and Claire Neaton give us a seat at their Alaskan table, mapping out a blueprint for paying attention to our everyday, even if we don't live near saltwater shores. The celebration of seasons, harvest, and all that the natural world provides creates the framework for the art of living, a practice that asks us to find beauty and inspiration in rituals, food, and community. Harvest & Heritage is as much a cookbook as it is a call to rethink our own relationship to the place we live, the stories we tell, and the people we spend our time with."
—Anna Brones, artist and writer, co-author of Fika: The Art of the Swedish Coffee Break
 
“One thing we need more in this world is people who truly love every bit of what they do. This book celebrates just that. Emma Teal Laukitis and Claire Neaton make me want to escape to Alaska and go fishing and then cook a gorgeous feast with their recipes. You will too.” 
—Renee Erickson, chef and co-owner of Sea Creatures Restaurants, author of A Boat, a Whale & a Walrus andGetaway.
 
“The Salmon Sisters’ new cookbook is a beautiful celebration of how deeply the seasonal changes of the Alaskan landscape shift and shape what you eat, when, and with whom. This collection is centered around thoughtful stewardship of the land, and how digging into the long-standing wisdom of our surrounding communities can make us better inhabitants, wherever we live. Filled with approachable, exciting recipes, vibrant photography, and attainable prompts and activities, Emma and Claire have created something truly extraordinary borne out of their rich Alaskan heritage.”
—Julie Pointer Adams, author and photographer of Wabi-Sabi Welcome and Al Fresco

"These pages are full of all that is charming, rugged, and delicious about Alaska. The Sisters’ life-earned wisdom translates into a manual for a good life lived anywhere. I’m a happier person for having read this book, and I want to go to Alaska." 
—Barton Seaver, chef and author of The Joy of Seafood

“I had the honor of working with Claire and Emma for the Women’s Issue of Modern Huntsman, and was blown away with their ability to continually create things of great beauty—and of course spectacular flavors—from a place as wild and rugged as Alaska. They have lived such unique lives and their passion and dedication to the wild things and places that sustain them is awe inspiring. To see this book come to fruition after a long and dedicated journey is very exciting, and the brilliance of what is found within cannot be understated. Yes, of course there are recipes, but so much more than that is within these pages: wisdom, thoughtfulness, practicality, conservation, simplicity, poetry, and many of the things that you see when human beings are living a life in perfect harmony with nature. This work is pure, honest, and uplifting, and frankly I just wish there was more like it in our everyday lives. However, you might proceed with caution, as it’s likely to make you rethink your path in life for the better.” 
—Tyler Sharp, co-founder, CEO, and editor in chief of Modern Huntsman
 
"A beautifully photographed documentation of the coastal cuisine of Alaska's Kenai Peninsula that well understands the value of sharing and cooperation at the center of our food culture, the generations-old recipes and food preservation techniques in our kitchens, and the harvest rhythms of the place." 
—Julia O'Malley, food writer and author of The Whale and the Cupcake: Stories of Subsistence, Longing, and Community in Alaska 


“In a world of pretense and puffery, Claire and Emma are the real genuine deal. Seasons, harvests, friends, community—hard work and great reward—this is what living our best life in Alaska is all about. It’s all here in this beautiful book.” 
—Tom Kizzia, author of Pilgrim’s Wilderness and Cold Mountain Path
 
"This book is a true celebration of Alaska, Ocean Stewardship, and family. I am inspired by these two women for many reasons and am flipping through this book with a sense of awe and wonder at the natural beauty of Alaska and the art, craft, and heritage of each one of these stories. Learning from other women from that region as well as a celebration of light coming and leaving the sky each season encourages me to dive deeper into a sea of understanding and learning."
—Charlotte Langley, chef, Scout brand founder, and tinned fish disruptor

"This second Salmon Sisters cookbook even outdoes the first fabulous one. As an Alaskan, I value not just the outstanding recipes, photographs, and graphics but the attentions to our seasonal round of harvesting and the importance of sustainability and protecting the environment. The reflections by Alaska women on their lives within the seasons are an added and inspiring bonus."
—Nancy Lord, author of Fishcamp and Early Warming

Editorial Reviews

Top music and book gifts for 2023 — Seattle Times

"No matter how far from Alaska one resides, the Salmon Sisters offer readers a multisensory connection to their wild and wonderful home."
Shelf Awareness

"Laukitis and Neaton focus on how to enjoy the abundance of nature while practicing stewardship of the land, and protecting all its resources. This important message will resonate with many environmentally conscious-readers, and it is presented alongside recipes that make the most out of ingredients straight out of the wilds of Alaska: foraged herbs, salmon prepared over an open-fire, pickled kelp. It's a cookbook that celebrates abundance, and pays tribute to precious landscapes that offer us such satisfying meals."
Food & Wine magazine

“One thing we need more in this world is people who truly love every bit of what they do. This book celebrates just that. Emma Teal Laukitis and Claire Neaton make me want to escape to Alaska and go fishing and then cook a gorgeous feast with their recipes. You will too.” 
—Renee Erickson, chef and co-owner of Sea Creatures Restaurants, author of A Boat, a Whale & a Walrus and Getaway
 
"Open the rich pages of Harvest & Heritage and step into another world. A landscape dotted with berries, wildflowers, and moose, an ocean rich with salmon, seafood, and kelp. . .  This is the world of the Salmon Sisters, and they are inviting you to join them through a year of changing seasons and comforting rituals. And yes, deeply satisfying food."
The Chuckanut Reader

"In exploring and writing about the place that they love, Emma Teal Laukitis and Claire Neaton give us a seat at their Alaskan table ... Harvest & Heritage is as much a cookbook as it is a call to rethink our own relationship to the place we live, the stories we tell, and the people we spend our time with."
—Anna Brones, artist, writer, and co-author of Fika: The Art of the Swedish Coffee Break
 
“The Salmon Sisters’ new cookbook is a beautiful celebration of how deeply the seasonal changes of the Alaskan landscape shift and shape what you eat, when, and with whom.”
—Julie Pointer Adams, author and photographer of Wabi-Sabi Welcome and Al Fresco

"These pages are full of all that is charming, rugged, and delicious about Alaska. The Sisters’ life-earned wisdom translates into a manual for a good life lived anywhere."
—Barton Seaver, chef and author of The Joy of Seafood and American Seafood

"As an Alaskan, I value not just the outstanding recipes, photographs, and graphics but the attentions to our seasonal round of harvesting and the importance of sustainability and protecting the environment."
—Nancy Lord, author of Fishcamp and Early Warming

"In their new cookbook, the Salmon Sisters share 60 recipes and 35 traditions that anchor them to the seasonal rhythms of the land and sea of their Alaskan home."
—Seattle Times

From the Publisher