As I mentioned yesterday, we are currently in the midst of fiddlehead harvesting. After work we headed back out to the river for another picking session. Even Tom finds fiddlehead collecting satisfying because they fill the container quickly!

Alaska is abundant with wild game and fish, but foraging for wild plants takes a little more work. But it's fun work! With the right mentality, every spring walk through the woods can be turned into a treasure hunt for green buds and shoots. 

I roast quite a bit of wild game bones for our weekly dose of broth, which means I am often swimming in marrow. Marrow is decadent: rich, creamy and flavorful, so I usually enjoy it by the small spoonful. A little goes a long way!  This week I was craving something different. I decided to make tapenade, as I thought the tang of olives, lemon juice and capers might jive nicely with the earthy, creamy caribou marrow.

I was feeling restless the other day. I was experiencing a mental block while working on a big project and frustration was creeping in. I could feel the frustration transitioning to anxiety and self-doubt. Suddenly, I was daydreaming about sliding open the silverware drawer, grabbing a spoon, opening the fridge and reaching for the almond butter. How enjoyable a fat scoop of almond butter would be! Because I’ve been practicing, I was able to pull back and became an observer of my thoughts.

A few years ago my diet looked like this:

• Breakfast: green smoothie
• Mid-morning snack: protein shake
• Lunch: baked potato topped with cottage cheese, salsa, and broccoli
• Afternoon snack: boiled eggs and an apple
• Dinner: Salad and fish
• Bedtime snack: protein bar or shake

If you are anything like me a few years ago, you are tired. Physically tired from working out. Mentally tired from thinking too much about food and what should or should not go into your mouth. Emotionally tired when your pants feel tight or if the  scale isn’t budging. This was me pre-primal, followi

One of Alaska’s primal perks is the abundance of clean, beautiful, wild game.  Many Alaskans have extra freezers in which they store a year’s supply of moose, caribou and salmon. While spring is an amazing time of year up north, it also coincides with diminishing vacuum-sealed freezer goodness. I currently find myself both hoarding what meat we have left and day dreaming about eating it every night- particularly in the form of moose burgers.

The arrival of spring motivates many of us to clean out our closets and garages. This process feels so amazing- so why stop with the house? I encourage you to take that momentum and utilize it in the most important cleansing endeavor of all: YOU!

I love that Tom (or “The Star of the Blog”, as he likes to call himself) has joined me on my primal adventure.When I first suggested we try giving up sweeteners altogether, in an attempt to conquer our sugar cravings, he balked at the idea. Dessert had traditionally been his favorite meal. I knew I had to keep him happy with the sweetener-free plan so I created my version of a primal friendly Fat Bomb: a dessert that tastes indulgent and yet fits the objective of giving up sugar. 

Years ago, a friend gave me the “The Miracle of Mindfulness” by Thich Nhat Hanh. I didn’t really get it; I skimmed through the pages and my mind drifted off until I placed it on a shelf and forgot about it. I realize now that my friend was tactfully trying to enrich my life by pointing out the reality that all we really have is NOW.