Pilot Bread

When it comes to food, we can get almost anything. There are quite a few companies that specialize in Bush delivery. But it tends to be expensive. A loaf of bread can cost $8.59 and that wouldn't include shipping costs. I was asked if there was any food that was different here. Well, not really, but there are a few foods that are unique to the area. Salmon is quite plentiful and is usually dried into strips. It's sort of like a jerky. Each family tends to dry the salmon just a little bit differently from each other. The end result is wonderful. I must admit I do like salmon strips.

Another item that is unique to Alaska is Pilot Bread. Ask any Alaskan if he has had Pilot Bread, and I am certain he would laugh. Who hasn't? But to describe its taste is a little more difficult. It's called bread and then in small print it's called crackers. It looks like crackers. It has a faint sweet taste. Yet, the texture is neither bread nor cracker. So, what is it? Some say it's hardtack. And, I think I would agree with them.

We serve Pilot Bread for breakfast here at school. Our cook Annie puts peanut butter on it for the students. I could always try it at school, but our school breakfast costs $2.50 So instead, I bought a few boxes of Pilot Bread while I was in Bethel at a cost of $5.79 a box. I tried it out at home. I took a cracker/slice of bread/piece of hardtack and covered it with peanut butter. Then I added honey to it. Wow! This was really good. Now we would never serve it with honey at school, but at home that's what I do. I have it for breakfast or as dessert. I really like it. I have even had Pilot Bread plain, but I probably wouldn't recommend it that way. I liked it, but I tend to like starchy kinds of food. I'm that kind of girl.

Pilot Bread is a staple here in the village. I think it's unique to Alaska. I consider it to be a suvival type of food. Properly stored, it will last a long time. I have only two boxes at home. Next time I'm in Bethel, I think I better buy a few more boxes for my cache.