Tiffinie Helmer is in the garden with fresh salmon
Have you ever watched Deadliest Catch? Today we have our own Alaskan fisherman, Tiffinie Helmer with us. (You thought it was going to be a man, admit it!) Welcome to Maryās Garden. Everyone grab a snack and your favorite beverage and hold on!
Mary: Thanks for joining us today, Tiffinie, at the Garden. Iāll be picking your brain about your favorite recipes, places to travel and all kinds of things. Can you tell us a bit about you, where you grew up, what are your hobbies, etc.
Tiffinie: Thanks for having me, Mary!
I grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska but spent my summers commercial fishing in South Naknek, Alaska in Bristol Bay. Bristol Bay is located above the Aleutian Chain on the Bering Sea.
I currently live in Utah where I write Alaskan thrillers and throw pottery, but I return each summer to commercial fish in Alaska. My family has been commercial fishing since the 1970ās.
Mary: Tell us some stories about Salmon Fishing on the high seas? What is your favorite thing about fishing?
Tiffinie: Itās hard to pin point my favorite thing about fishing. There are so many. Three of my teenagers fish with me, along with my mother, brother and his two teenagers, plus my cousin. Itās really a family affair. There is no electricity, no running water, no Internet. We work hard, and play just as hard. Itās wild, adventurous, and something completely out of the norm. I love it.
From one day to the nextāhell from one hour to the nextāwe never know what weāll face. Fishing is a high-stake money making business and it can get interesting when you have a limited amount of fish and a lot of fisherman after those fish. Then there is the weather. The Bering Sea is not a peaceful ocean. She is a cantankerous body of water with attitude and seems out to get us. Then there are the bears. Big, hungry grizzlies who are after their share of the seasonās catch. It adds up to be one hell of adventure.
Mary: I know you donāt drink wine like a lot of us do here at the Garden, so what is your favorite beverage, and why?
Tiffinie: Starbucks Green Tea Frappuccinos! Love, love, LOVE them. I, of course, donāt get any fraps when Iām in Alaska commercial fishing. South Naknek doesnāt have a grocery store let alone a Starbucks. I love the way the fraps taste, the way they make me feel. Iām convinced my muse will only show up to write if I provide her with a green tea frap. My day just isnāt the same without one.
Mary: What do you do to relax? Do you travel? And if so where are the places youāve been, and/or where would you like to visit?
Tiffinie: Relax? Whatās that? I do travel if I get the chance. Nice thing about fishing is it helps pay for a trip every January to Hawaii. My mother has a time share and only allows the girls to come. No husbands and no children. So it is a true vacation for me. I do spend a lot of time worshiping the sun, but I love to boogie board and kayak.
I was a foreign exchange student to Finland in high school and Iām dying to return. That is probably my wish trip. My husband and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary next year and Iāve been hinting loudly for a Scandinavian cruise.
Mary: Have yourself another Green Tea Frap and some more cheese and crackers, Tiff. So when youāre not on the water in Alaska, do you have a favorite town? And also a place to eat when we visit?
Tiffinie: I love Homer, Alaska. The views of Kachemak Bay are breathtaking. The surrounding glaciers, active volcanoes, mountain ranges, and the pristine waters of Kachemak Bay full of aquatic life are amazing. Truly inspiring. Homer is known as a ālittle drinking village with a fishing problem.ā My kind of place. There are many restaurants to choose from in Homer, but one of the more interesting ones is the Salty Dawg Saloon. The name alone makes you want to try it out. Itās right on the Homer Spit. If you get the chance, order their halibut fish and chips.
Mary: When youāre not on the boat what is your favorite salmon recipe?
Tiffinie: So hard to choose. People have no idea how versatile salmon is. But when you eat a lot of it every summer, you can get down right creative. Here is a recipe that always makes my mouth salivate. It tastes and looks like a party on a plate.
Pineapple Mango and Coconut Salmon
Ingredients:
Wild Alaskan Salmon. I prefer red or sockeye salmon but silver does just as well ā donāt get me started on farm fish. Just be good to yourself and donāt go there.
Two salmon fillets
1 can crushed pineapple
1 can coconut milk
2 tbsp of fresh grated ginger
Marinate in the refrigerator overnight (save marinade)
Mango Salsa
2 mangos diced
3 kiwi diced
4 jalapeno peppers diced
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tsp sugar
Fresh cilantro to taste
Cashews
Mix together and set aside
Remove salmon from marinade and cook in a 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes until salmon is pink and flakes easily or wrap in foil and grill until done. While salmon is cooking, take 2 cups of the marinade and mix with 2 cups of water, 1 tsp salt, and 2 cups of jasmine rice. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cover. Cook on low until rice absorbs the liquid and is done.
Serve Salmon on a bed of rice, top with mango salsa, cilantro, and cashews. This recipes serves 6 to 8 healthy appetites. Leftovers are yummy the next day or you can easily cut the recipe in half for smaller groups. Enjoy!
Thank you, Tiffinie and everyone else for visiting the Garden today. Tiffinie good luck with your fishing ventures and be careful.
Mary: Thanks for joining us today, Tiffinie, at the Garden. Iāll be picking your brain about your favorite recipes, places to travel and all kinds of things. Can you tell us a bit about you, where you grew up, what are your hobbies, etc.
Tiffinie: Thanks for having me, Mary!
I grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska but spent my summers commercial fishing in South Naknek, Alaska in Bristol Bay. Bristol Bay is located above the Aleutian Chain on the Bering Sea.
I currently live in Utah where I write Alaskan thrillers and throw pottery, but I return each summer to commercial fish in Alaska. My family has been commercial fishing since the 1970ās.
Mary: Tell us some stories about Salmon Fishing on the high seas? What is your favorite thing about fishing?
Tiffinie: Itās hard to pin point my favorite thing about fishing. There are so many. Three of my teenagers fish with me, along with my mother, brother and his two teenagers, plus my cousin. Itās really a family affair. There is no electricity, no running water, no Internet. We work hard, and play just as hard. Itās wild, adventurous, and something completely out of the norm. I love it.
From one day to the nextāhell from one hour to the nextāwe never know what weāll face. Fishing is a high-stake money making business and it can get interesting when you have a limited amount of fish and a lot of fisherman after those fish. Then there is the weather. The Bering Sea is not a peaceful ocean. She is a cantankerous body of water with attitude and seems out to get us. Then there are the bears. Big, hungry grizzlies who are after their share of the seasonās catch. It adds up to be one hell of adventure.
Mary: I know you donāt drink wine like a lot of us do here at the Garden, so what is your favorite beverage, and why?
Tiffinie: Starbucks Green Tea Frappuccinos! Love, love, LOVE them. I, of course, donāt get any fraps when Iām in Alaska commercial fishing. South Naknek doesnāt have a grocery store let alone a Starbucks. I love the way the fraps taste, the way they make me feel. Iām convinced my muse will only show up to write if I provide her with a green tea frap. My day just isnāt the same without one.
Mary: What do you do to relax? Do you travel? And if so where are the places youāve been, and/or where would you like to visit?
Tiffinie: Relax? Whatās that? I do travel if I get the chance. Nice thing about fishing is it helps pay for a trip every January to Hawaii. My mother has a time share and only allows the girls to come. No husbands and no children. So it is a true vacation for me. I do spend a lot of time worshiping the sun, but I love to boogie board and kayak.
I was a foreign exchange student to Finland in high school and Iām dying to return. That is probably my wish trip. My husband and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary next year and Iāve been hinting loudly for a Scandinavian cruise.
Mary: Have yourself another Green Tea Frap and some more cheese and crackers, Tiff. So when youāre not on the water in Alaska, do you have a favorite town? And also a place to eat when we visit?
Tiffinie: I love Homer, Alaska. The views of Kachemak Bay are breathtaking. The surrounding glaciers, active volcanoes, mountain ranges, and the pristine waters of Kachemak Bay full of aquatic life are amazing. Truly inspiring. Homer is known as a ālittle drinking village with a fishing problem.ā My kind of place. There are many restaurants to choose from in Homer, but one of the more interesting ones is the Salty Dawg Saloon. The name alone makes you want to try it out. Itās right on the Homer Spit. If you get the chance, order their halibut fish and chips.
Mary: When youāre not on the boat what is your favorite salmon recipe?
Tiffinie: So hard to choose. People have no idea how versatile salmon is. But when you eat a lot of it every summer, you can get down right creative. Here is a recipe that always makes my mouth salivate. It tastes and looks like a party on a plate.
Pineapple Mango and Coconut Salmon
Ingredients:
Wild Alaskan Salmon. I prefer red or sockeye salmon but silver does just as well ā donāt get me started on farm fish. Just be good to yourself and donāt go there.
Two salmon fillets
1 can crushed pineapple
1 can coconut milk
2 tbsp of fresh grated ginger
Marinate in the refrigerator overnight (save marinade)
Mango Salsa
2 mangos diced
3 kiwi diced
4 jalapeno peppers diced
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tsp sugar
Fresh cilantro to taste
Cashews
Mix together and set aside
Remove salmon from marinade and cook in a 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes until salmon is pink and flakes easily or wrap in foil and grill until done. While salmon is cooking, take 2 cups of the marinade and mix with 2 cups of water, 1 tsp salt, and 2 cups of jasmine rice. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cover. Cook on low until rice absorbs the liquid and is done.
Serve Salmon on a bed of rice, top with mango salsa, cilantro, and cashews. This recipes serves 6 to 8 healthy appetites. Leftovers are yummy the next day or you can easily cut the recipe in half for smaller groups. Enjoy!
Thank you, Tiffinie and everyone else for visiting the Garden today. Tiffinie good luck with your fishing ventures and be careful.
Comments
Lindsay, try the recipe and let me know what you think. My family fights over the leftovers.
Veronica
Great post.
Boone Brux
I cruised Alaska in June and I have to say, it is beautiful, No wonder you love it.
Thanks Tiffinie!
I love Salmon. I'm going to try some of your recipes soon. You posted one a few weeks ago that looked great.
Yes, the Pesto salmon is one of my family's favorites. Is the easiest, tastiest salmon to do. I love this recipe, too, but there is more time involved and we are all hurting for time. :)
Let me know which one you try and how you liked it.
Thanks everyone for your comments.