This morning dawned blustery–a true March day with snowflakes swirling about and a bitter wind blowing.  But no matter.  I know spring is on its way.  Yesterday was the vernal equinox.  We have a good amount of light.  The sun is warm.  And the nights, oh my, how the aurora has captivated us!  This is a special time of year to live in Fairbanks and take in the surroundings, observing movement in all its forms.

One of the unique offerings inside the store brings a smile to my face. This funky fish is actually a handmade felted birdhouse.  Imagine chickadees taking up residence in a fish to raise young this spring in your yard or woodlot.  The whimsy and color fascinate me, so I want to bring these products to your attention.  The birdhouses, birds, and wool purses are all handmade by artisans in Nepal of all natural products.  The felt is made from sheep’s wool and dyed with environmentally friendly dyes.  The result, responsible products brought to you by a member of the Fair Trade Federation.  The birds can bring you cheer inside the home and the birdhouses provide a burst of color and fun outside.  All are great items to think about for spreading cheer at this time of year.

My phone tells me it is negative 36 out here right now.  Standing here all day, I can tell you it is COLD, COLD, COLD!  Even if I had a hooded fur parka on, I’d be cold.  To get my mind off my own predicament, I want to share about our sale table.

For First Friday in January we set a sale table with some of our favorite things.  The table is so successful, we’ve added to it over the month, letting you in on 40% savings on some fabulous If Only choices.  Pictured here are Scandinavian glass carafes.  They come with silicone smart lids  that keep ice and garnishes in and unwanted odors out when the carafe is stored in the fridge.  The lid opens completely when pouring from the carafe, and it’s completely drip free.  Good for water or wine, these carafes hold 0,8L and can store in the refrigerator door.  With 40% off, your cost is $27.00.  Convenience, elegance, and function at your fingertips!  I’d have one out here in front of the store to show you, but whatever liquid I put in it would be frozen solid.  You’ll have to go inside to check these out.

 01 December 2012  I’m sharing with you some of our favorite Specialty Foods during the days leading up to Winter Solstice.   Since 1919 Vermeiren Traditional Belgian Biscuits have added a spicy treat to coffee or tea time.  These biscuits, made with raw cane sugar and cinnamon, are 100% vegetable.  They contain no milk, eggs, animal fat, preservatives or coloring agents.  In other words, they are healthy as biscuits go.  I suggest you brew a pot of your favorite tea (we have several flavors of Sipping Streams Tea), set these biscuits on a dessert plate for a treat, and enjoy conversation with a friend.  It’s a good way to chase away the winter blues during this chilly weather we’re having.  Yes, Vermeiren Belgian Biscuits are available right here at If Only…a fine store.  They are a new this year to our Specialty Food Collection, so give them a taste and let us know what you think.

21 November 2012  One of the things I find endearing about Fairbanks is its quirkiness.  I’ve told you before I see a lot of it from my vantage point on Cushman Street.  Last week we celebrated the opening of the Veterans Memorial Bridge, variously called the Barnette Street Bridge and the Bridge to Nowhere, although now, obviously it does go somewhere, connecting the north side of the river with the south side, or the south side with the north side, depending on how you look at it.  No need to point out that the Cushman Street bridge is only a block away, and it does the same thing.  Let’s see, how many bridges do we now have spanning the  mighty Chena?  1,2,3,4,5…we’re getting right up there.  If we ever want to see a steamboat ply these waters again we’ll have a lot of deconstructing to do, won’t we?  The number of bridges is amazing for a town this size.  Interesting that it seems much of Fairbanks’ retail focus is on Box Store Row despite all these bridges in proximity of the uniqueness and quirkiness of what makes our downtown truly Fairbanks, filled with galleries, shopping, eateries and green (now white)  space.  But no matter.  The scheme to build this bridge was hatched more than 30 years ago.  And now it’s a  reality, like it or not, need it or not.

Curious about the bridge dedication, I made my way over on the morning of November 12 to see who would brave the weather for the occasion.  I saw several local merchants,  folks from the News Miner and Downtown Association, clergy and staff from  neighboring churches, and dogs (yes, with booties), strollers, bare handed camera holders, etc.  In short, the group looked pretty much like our friends and neighbors from around town.  My heart was warmed, even in the sub-zero temperatures that day.  I came to see the ribbon broken by Charlie Creamer’s 1912 Chalmers.  I wanted to see for myself that today’s mechanics could keep the Chalmers and the other antique cars in the procession going in November weather in Fairbanks. And I wanted to see the drivers and passengers bundled up enjoying their  foray across the bridge.  I sure wasn’t disappointed!  The color guard from Wainwright led the pack, followed by several cars, passengers including veterans and well as one of our own sales associates.  It was momentous.  Congratulations to everyone who arranged and participated in the dedication.  The folks at Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum deserve a special thanks for their attention to detail on these fine old cars.  I think Charlie Creamer would have been proud; I know I am!

3 November 2012  For the debut of our 2012 Specialty Foods Collection, Georjean made a terrific couscous that everyone enjoyed at our First Friday event.  I thought you all might like the recipe, so here it it.  And remember the special ingredients she used are available right here at the store.

Couscous If Only Style

(Recipe adapted from Chef Kathy Casey)

Ginger Vinaigrette
1 ½ Tbsp White wine Vinegar (use citrus infused OO Vinegar or champagne vinegar for an exquisite taste*)
¾ tsp Dijon mustard (or use my favorite: Dulcet Moroccan Mustard*)
½ tsp ground Coriander
½ tsp fresh Garlic, minced
1 tsp fresh Ginger, minced
1 ½ tsp frozen undiluted Orange Juice concentrate
1/8 tsp Kosher Salt
1-2 pinch each Black Pepper and Red Chili Flakes
3 Tbsp Olive Oil (we have some great olive oils that are superior in dressings*)
To make vinaigrette: in a bowl, whisk together ingredients – except oil. Then whisk in oil slowly, emulsifying dressing. Refrigerate until needed. (I like to use a small food processor or a wand blender to add oil and emulsify the dressing.)

Couscous
1 c Couscous, dry (we have a wonderful couscous available at If Only…*)
1 tsp Kosher Salt
1 tsp Curry Powder
1 Tbsp Olive Oil (we have some great olive oils that are superior in dressings*)
1 c water, boiling
To make couscous: mix dry couscous, salt and curry powder together with olive oil in a medium heat-proof bowl. Bring water to a boil. When water boils, immediately pour it over dry couscous, stir to combine, and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Set aside at room temperature to steam for 10 – 15 minutes. Remove plastic, fluff couscous with a fork and let cool to room temperature.

Now let’s add the texture and color to our couscous:
2/3 c Celery, small diced
½ c dried Apricots, small diced
4 Green Onions, thinly sliced
½ c chopped fresh Italian Parsley
¼ c + 2 Tbsp dried Cranberries (use Chukar Cherry North Cove Cranberries-delicious*)
½ c Red-Yellow-Orange Bell Peppers, small diced

½ c sliced Almonds, toasted (low heat in sauté pan till lightly toasted, stir often)

In a large bowl, toss cooled couscous with celery, green onion, apricots, cranberries, and peppers. Add ginger vinaigrette and mix until evenly coated. Toss in toasted almonds right before serving.

*available at If Only… a fine store We have a great selection of specialty foods. Enjoy! Georjean
215 Cushman Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701

15 June 2012  I begin to think about flowers in late May.  Yes, I’ve ordered hanging baskets back in September and planned out the flower beds in April, but I’m not ready to dig in the dirt until late May.  Preparing the dry soil takes patience; then there is the fertilizer and all.  Finally my helpers are ready to do the job while I stand back and watch!  In my mind’s eye, I see allysum cascade down the concrete.  I see foxglove spike to the sky and bloom brilliant lavender.  I ponder the small faces of pansies.  Then in a blink of my bottlecap eyes, there are small plants before me, safely planted in the ground and ready to grow.  I’ll watch them grow steadily all summer long.  Join me.  It’s a feat for the eyes.

5 April 2012   Today that sliver of red is going up, up, up!  Break up is on its way and I couldn’t be happier.  Last weekend I took a little tour since it was cold and I had springtime on my mind.  What did I find but the cutest baby chicks!  I’m reminded of how quickly they grow and mature.  The same is true with me.  Here I am celebrating my 14th birthday.  Who would have thought?  Spring chicken, NOT!  So I just want to remind you to come on by for my party, have some good eats, check out the new merchandise, pick up those last minute Easter basket items, and enjoy yourself.  May you bask in the warmth of the sun this Easter and Passover weekend.

 22 March 2012  How long have you been driving by on Cushman and glancing over to see what I’m wearing?  Those of you who have been here awhile know I’m coming up on 14 years.  That’s a lot of looking!  On First Friday in April we’ll be celebrating those 14 years by serving up some of my favorite homemade strawberry shortcake with real whipped cream.  Yum, yum.  I can hardly wait!  I want you to mark your calendars now for a fun filled evening.  You never know, I might even be inside to enjoy the frolic and save you the trip outside to wish me well! 

If you’ve taken some photos over the years, please bring them by.  I’d love to see them.  I’ll gather together a few of mine so that we can take a stroll down memory lane.  Remember, Friday, April 6, 5-8 p.m.

21 December 2011  We chose some of the most interesting salts for our Specialty Foods Collection this season.  Limited Edition affordable packages provide the opportunity to taste amazing salts without purchasing large quantities.  Beautifully presented, the Classic, Gourmet, and Smoke contain five individual salt jars with cork tops and three bowls with spoons.  For example, Fumee de Sel is premium Fleur de Sel crystals that are cold smoked over oak wine barrels that have been used for years to age fine Chardonnay wine.  This is one of a kind salt –excellent as a finishing salt on salads, veggies or meat. Durango is Smoked Sea Salt—created when Pacific sea salt flakes are naturally smoked with untreated Hickorywood, resulting in a full, smoked flavor without turning bitter.  There is no liquid smoke or artificial  flavor added.  This salt is a natural with ribs and burgers, or any red meat, for that matter.  Salish is Pacific sea salt that is cold smoked over red Alderwood.  No artificial coloring or flavoring is added.  Salish is excellent on salmon, red meat, creamy pasta dishes and baked potatoes. Bali is a hand harvested sea salt, slowly smoked over coconut shells with a hint of lime–great for use on grilled chicken, seafood or rice dishes.  And finallyYakima is a salt smoked with Applewood from theYakimaValley.  Aged Applewood is one of the most popular of the fruit woods used in smoking.

We have other Limited Edition packs that include everything from Himalayan Pink (harvested from ancient sea salt deposits deep in the Himalayan Mountains) to Murray River Flake Salt fromAustralia.  They are all fabulous compliments to every day cooking.  Talk about pumping up the flavor and limiting your salt intake at the same time!

Gift Idea Number Eighteen:  Limited Edition Sample Packs are great gifts.  Choose one for yourself and keep one on hand for last minute gift needs over the holidays.

 17 December 2011   Sometimes you have to go a far distance to get something wonderful.  It’s a bit of a jaunt to get to the Polka Dot Bake Shop from here.  They serve up some delicious cupcakes and such in Charlotte,North Carolina.  So we’ve done the next best thing— bring their amazing Cracked Pepper Sweet Potato Crackers to Fairbanks!  Made in small batches with real sweet potatoes, they are seasoned with savory ingredients to provide a unique taste.  Plus, they’re gluten free!  So come on in and get some for serving at your holiday parties.  They are great by themselves or with hummus, soups, or salmon.   We speak from experience.

 Gift Idea Number Seventeen:  Pair a box or two of Sweet Potato Crackers with some of our Rill Soups for a healthy, hearty twist on holiday giving and receiving.