Alaska: The Last Frontier

On Fridays we study US geography and we are planning to study a different state each month. In April it was Alabama (we are going in alphabetical order - it is actually a very varied way to look at the US) and for May is has been Alaska.

Now I knew Alaska would be fascinating because it is sooooooo different from Florida, but I did not anticipate how sincerely Annalise would tell me that she wants to move there or how longly Caleb now wants to own a sled dog. And I didn't realize how perfectly ignorant I was (and probably still am) about our 49th state.

We watched three PBS videos (from the library) about Alaska, one was about the Iditarod Dog Sled Race, which is very interesting just in itself. We also read a book about the Inuit, listened to a book on CD about Balto the famous sled dog, and watched Snow Buddies. To cap off each state, the plan is to eat a meal themed on that state. We had that tonight:
Snow Crab Claws! I suggested salmon at first, but Rob is kind of a Deadliest Catch fan...


Caleb liked the first bite, but then decided he didn't like it. After he rejected it, Annalise decided she didn't like it either. Our side dishes weren't particularly Alaskan.

But for dessert...Publix has three Denali flavors (the Alaska reference is Denali national park, where Mt. McKinley is) - Annalise picked Bear Claw.

Let's just say it was good :)

We haven't actually had our Alabama meal yet because when I looked for ideas the recipes I found didn't seem terribly unique to me. I know I have some current and former Alabamians who read my blog - do you have any suggestions? There is a restaurant on the way to the Keys called Alabama Jacks, it is on the water and is kind has kind of a crusty shrimp boat feel to it. Would that be authentic enough? We did learn some interesting things about Alabama (they have a coon dog cemetary), but it didn't seem quite as exotic as Alaska. Next is Arizona and then Arkansas! I should be able to come up with an authentic meal from there, don't you think? :)