"bigger than life character"

Arnie Deckwa is a "bigger than life character" who loves life and lives life to its fullest.  How refreshing it is to meet someone that doesn't fit the average mold.  Arnie Deckwa is that type of man as you will see while reading  "The Singing Salmon Man From Cornet Bay."  It is not only an interesting, fun and heartwarming book to read, it takes you on a ride that will cover all your emotions from laughter to tears, while keeping you captivated with its inspiring stories.

Arnie had a dream as a child and with tenacity and hard work he made it happen.  Each story and adventure in this book that Arnie Deckwa has lived are filled with excitement and laughter.  He claims that his twin passions are music and food.  Well, those might be two of his passions, however, I believe that Arnie's main passion is people.  His love for God is evident as he shows love to those around him along with compassion and a generous heart.  He has old fashioned values and does what he says he will.   

Everything Arnie puts his hand and mind to, he does with his whole heart, as you will see while reading "The Singing Salmon Man From Cornet Bay."   Arnie sees obstacles as opportunities and has developed character traits that have all the makings of success. I highly recommend reading this inspiring biography about Arnie Deckwa... you will walk away with a smile on your face, joy in your heart and it will restore your faith in mankind.

Colleen
Winthrop, WA.

A pleasant reminder of times past

I have known Arnie Deckwa for a long time.  We were in high school during the same time frame in the late 1950's.  Because of that I had a vague knowledge of Arnie's history and his story.  So, when I was given his book, "The Singing Salmon Man From Cornet Bay,"  I set it aside, thinking that I would get to it when my current reading list had dwindled.

Three months and a couple of books later, I finally picked up Arnie's book and began reading.  I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. Of course, the familiarity with the times and location was of immediate interest to me.  When Arnie speaks of Cornet Bay and Deception Pass and the people from this area I could easily relate to them as I have visited those sites often and know some of the individuals personally.  As I was reading, I found the book to be entertaining and a pleasant reminder of times past.  The book is essentially a series of short stories or excerpts from Arnie's experiences from childhood to the present, written with home spun appeal and humor.

The stories are held together by several re-occurring themes which flow through the book from its beginning right down to the last chapter.  A central theme would be "follow your dream."  Arnie knew what he wanted in life and he set out to realize that dream.  A similar theme found was, "never give up".  From the stories told it was apparent  that giving up would have been easy for most people as the opportunities to do so occurred often.  But that was not Arnie's style.  A third theme, the most important one to my way of thinking,  was an underlying faith and commitment to the Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Time and again, the stories came back to the fact that the dreams and the persevering can only be meaningful and rewarding if they are structured within the framework of His presence in our lives.

I understand that a lot of material was cut from this book to keep it a reasonable length.  I'm waiting for the sequel.

Keith Fakkema

Great Storytelling Book

If you want classic reading of great adventures read "The Singin' Salmon Man from Cornet Bay." This is a story about a classmate of mine who I remember as Arnie the singing accordion player. When we finish school and go on with our lives, we never know what lies ahead.

Well what a life Arnie had. I am sure that anyone can relate to one adventure or another that he experienced. It is a great storytelling book about this fun and very multi-talented man. A great story and a must read, besides it makes you hungry for more tales from Arnie.

Barbara Toskey Lobejko

Cowboy-Singer-Entrepreneur

As friendly and charming as Arnie himself, this book stands as a tribute to the pursuance of the American Dream.  Arnie "did it his way," with a determination that has been rewarded with success. The sweetness of life in the 40's and 50's (we were poor, we were at war, but we were happy) sets the stage for this cowboy-singer-entrepreneur.

Follow his rollicking bumps as he travels along finding himself in an interesting array of friendships, ultimately finding his best, the lovely Joanne and the continuance of their lives, demonstrating their skills and passions, definitely a slice of the American Pie.

Friend and fan, Sue Christensen.

Local Guy, Local Story - The Singin Salmon Man from Cornet Bay

Being new to the Skagit Valley area, I found I can learn about a new area by reading books written by local authors. Picking up and reading "The Singin' Salmon Man I ran into a local man who's life  was so interesting I couldn’t put it down. It starts out with a local guy fishing in the Deception Pass area  and  fast moves him into a national role finishing up by starting a fish based food business from of all places Nashville. Who could write about smoked salmon and the Grand Ole Opry in one sentence? Well Arnie can and does.

This is a fun fun informative book about a man who starts small and doesn't know when to stop. A great read well beyond a local guy with a local story.

Oliver Iversen
La Conner WA

Chapter 20 - My Fun Times in the Military

Crawling in the mud under barbed wire and live ammunition was quite an experience.

Bourbon Pumpkin Pie & Bourbon Glaze Whipped Cream

Joanne's Kitchen

Bourbon Pumpkin Pie & Bourbon Glaze Whipped Cream

¾ cup sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground allspice
2 large eggs
1 can (15 oz.) pure pumpkin
1 Tablespoon Cornet Bay Sweet Bourbon Glaze
1 can (12 fl. oz.) evaporated milk
1 unbaked 9-inch (4 cup volume deep-dish shell)

Mix sugar, salt, cinnamon and allspice in small bowl.  Beat eggs in large bowl; stir in bourbon glaze, pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture.  Gradually stir in evaporated milk.  Pour into pie shell.  Bake in preheated 425° oven for 15 minutes.  Reduce temperature to 350°; bake 40-50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean.  Cool on wire rack for 2 hours.  Pie can be baked 1 day ahead and chilled.  Bring to room temperature before serving.

BOURBON GLAZE WHIPPED CREAM

In a mixing bowl; beat 1 pint heavy whipping cream, 1 Tablespoon sugar, and 2 Tablespoons Cornet Bay Sweet Bourbon Glaze.

"The Singin' Salmon Man from Cornet Bay by Arnie Deckwa. Book Review

"The Singin' Salmon Man from Cornet Bay by Arnie Deckwa.

This book is like sitting down with an old and very dear friend over a couple of beers (or cups of coffee) and listening to exceptionally interesting, frequently funny, occasionally a tad frightening, and always heart-warming stories of his life and the paths he has been down.

I read a great deal and generally fairly rapidly, "so many books, so little time."  However, from about the third paragraph of Arnie's book I slammed on the brakes.  My brain simply said this is a book to be shared completely with the author, to be read as if the author were right across from you wherever you might be reading and speaking just to you,  because that is exactly what Arnie does.  He simply shares, in the most entertaining way, a life's path with more twists and turns into unexpected places than most people could experience in ten lifetimes. I really enjoyed reading this book very slowly and savoring the wonderful tales this interesting man shares.  I was actually sorry the book came to an end, and I've found myself going back and rereading about some of the fascinating trails this "singin; salmon man" has traveled.  If you want to relax and spend some truly entertaining time with a fascinating man, read The Singin' Salmon Man from Cornet Bay.  By the end you'll feel as though Arnie Deckwa is one of your oldest and dearest friends, you'll be smiling broadly, and you too will not want the stories to end."
        Captain M. J. McCamish, USN (Ret)

Chapter 19 - The Grown-up Cowboy Dream

Ever since I was a little boy, one of my biggest dreams was to be a cowboy. Mom and Dad helped it along, buying me two Roy Rogers cap pistols with a holster, leather wrist cuffs, and a cowboy hat, along with a classic Daisy Red Ryder BB gun. Then, of course, there was the saddle I rode on top of my dog Trigger's house as I sang to the seagulls.

Chapt. 18 - "You can't beat us, Deckwa, so you might as well join us"

Deputy Sheriff Arnie Deckwa

Northwest Meat Seasoning

Coming up with a Northwest Meat Seasoning that would stand out in line with all the other Meat Seasoning on the market, needless to say was a challenge; but we did it. We named our Meat Seasoning, Cornet Bay “Best Steak and Seafood Seasoning”; you can find it on the seasoning shelves in over 75 QFC grocery stores. One of the things I’ve always strived for in our Cornet Bay food business is to come out with a product that not only works wonders on meat but also works on Seafood as well; our Meat Seasoning does just that. 

I’ve got two good pals I always run a new product by. They’re good judges, but not for one who wears’ their heart on their sleeve, their testing can be unmerciful; if you don’t want the answer, don’t ask them the question. One will try anything, the other, if it’s got any kind of heat to it he pretty much backs off, but he loves our Meat Seasoning, even with the pepper in the ingredients, says it has a permanent home on his kitchen table. He uses it on all his meats, fish, poultry, even on vegetables! That, my friends’, coming from him is one great testimony.

Our Meat Seasoning is a chunky full flavored seasoning that takes all meats, seafood poultry, you name it, to another level, its’ wonderful on roasted vegetables, give it a try,  here’s the recipe:

1-cup sliced Cauliflower

1-cup sliced Broccoli

½ cup sliced Mushrooms

½ cup largely sliced Sweet Onion

3 cloves finely diced fresh Garlic

Kolymvari Olive oil

Joanne’s Special Seasoning

Best Steak and Seafood seasoning

Parmesan Cheese

In a large bowl include together Cauliflower, Broccoli, Mushrooms, Onions, Garlic. Drizzle on a good amount of the Kolymvari Olive Oil, gently toss. Sprinkle with Joanne’s Special Seasoning, Best Steak and Seafood Seasoning, gently toss. Place tinfoil over a shallow cooking pan; rub with olive oil, spread out all ingredients. Place in oven at 350 degrees; roast until broccoli ends begin to turn brown. Remove from oven, sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese and serve. There you have it, roasted vegetables with our Meat Seasoning. Try this: After it’s served, splash with our White Lightnin’ Pepper Sauce, MMMmmmm!

                                                                                                                                                                     Every year my pals and I pack up the horses for the annual fishing trip to around 5000 feet into the Cascade Mountains. No cell phones, no computers; fly fishing the high lakes is a blast. Eating freshly cooked trout over an open fire smothered with olive oil, Joanne’s Special Seasoning ... our Meat Seasoning is what gives it the finishing flavor, what can I say, it is wonderful!

                                                                          
For some great recipes and a fun read about how our Cornet Bay Company came to be, Click the on the title and order my book today.

“The Singin’ Salmon Man from Cornet Bay”

                                                                                

Or send a $16.00 check (includes S&H) to:

Cornet Bay Company

251 Cornet Bay RD

Oak Harbor, WA 98277 

To order you can also email: 
joanne@cornetbay.com

                                                                                                                  

 

 

Chapter 17 - The Accident: A Huge Life Lesson

Back in 1958, when I was seventeen, I had this 1957 Chevy Bel Air sport coupe. It was turquoise-colored, two-door hardtop, and it was just beautiful. It could also flat-out fly.  

We were flying down the road, and we got to a turn that the car just didn't make. They say the car went end over end three times or so and rolled over as well.

Washington Seafood Seasoning

When Joanne and I moved home to Whidbey Island from Nashville TN she had no idea that she would one day be able to say she has created a Washington Seafood Seasoning; this seasoning now sits on shelves in over 75 QFC stores. Born and raised in Nashville TN with a career in human resources, moving to Cornet Bay on Whidbey Island was quite a change, one she’s never regretted, Cornet Bay is beautiful. In the food business one never stops creating, it’s part of life. This Seafood Seasoning made our Kroger labeled Artichoke Shrimp dip taste phenomenal.

Folks from all around would say “why don’t you put that Seasoning on the market? It’s wonderful.” Easier said then done. The idea sounded great but our products have always had to prove themselves before adding them to our line. The Seafood Seasoning worked great in the seafood dip, but, could it stand on its own on tables along side the salt and pepper? So the test began. Sample after sample of the new Seafood Seasoning along with suggested recipes was given away to friends, grocery store buyers, people who we met during our Cornet Bay food demos, asking them to give it a try.

All reports came back positive; Joanne’s Seafood Seasoning was added to our Cornet Bay product line. Over the years this wonderful Seafood Seasoning has proven itself again and again to be not only fantastic on, fish, crab, shrimp and clams; actually, it’s great on all kinds of seafood, soups included, but, as an addition to salads, hot or cold sandwiches, beef, pork and poultry, well, it’s a treat. I use it all the time as a rub; it’s in our pork Shoulder recipe.

It’s a good feeling to know that Joanne’s Seafood Seasoning is one of those seasonings that folks simply fall in love with.

When you’re shopping in a QFC store go to the seasoning aisle, look for Cornet Bay Seasonings, the one that Joanne created has the green label titled Joanne’s Special Seasoning, credit goes where credits due; you can’t miss it. Buy a bottle for your table, I promise you your foods will love her Seafood Seasoning, you will too. From Nashville’s human resources to Whidbey Island’s Cornet Bay food business then to the development of a Seafood Seasoning, amazing, yep, I’m proud.

On tables across the country a new Washington Seafood Seasoning wearing the name of Joanne’s Special Seasoning, is holding its own.

You can read more about our Cornet Bay seasonings in my book titled:

“The Singin’ Salmon Man from Cornet Bay”

To order my book email joanne@cornetbay.com or send a check of $16.00 (includes tax, S&H) made out to: Cornet Bay Company

Send to:

251 Cornet Bay Road, Oak Harbor, WA 98277

Thank you for reading my blog, folks, I’ve enjoyed our visit.

Arnie





Northwest Canned Smoked Salmon

Northwest Canned Smoke Salmon

Being raised in a commercial fishing family in Cornet Bay, Northwest Canned Smoked Salmon seemed only natural to add to our Cornet Bay product line. My dad, Oliver Deckwa, was laying nets out on the west side of Whidbey Island, just around the corner from Deception Pass Bridge before I was born. In those days he pulled the nets in on the boats he built, by hand. It was a very strenuous physical job, but one he loved. My mother, Rena, cooked Salmon every way imaginable. Salmon was a regular staple at our dinner table. When the day came for both my parents to smoke salmon, that’s when folks would come  from all around.

The Deckwa pantry shelves were always filled with Canned Smoked Salmon along with regular Salmon. Coming from a family that has been in the seafood industry for over seventy years Canned Smoked Salmon is simply a part of life, as it was in my grandparent’s home that was across the field, a short distance away. Behind their house is where dad built his commercial smoker, a building that measured around twelve by fourteen feet. It was set up to hot smoke salmon over an alder wood fire along with cold smoked salmon, a process he had down to perfection; it was mouth watering.

I was a young boy then, but I can still remember that wonderful smell of salmon smoking away in that old wooden smoker. It was always exciting to see mom’s face light up with happiness when visitors would ask if she’d open a jar of her wonderful Canned Smoked Salmon. It’s taken a long time to place three different flavors of our Cornet Bay wild Coho Canned Smoked Salmon onto the QFC store shelves, but we’ve finally accomplished it.
 

Our Canned Smoked Salmon is no longer smoked in that old wooden building that dad once had, it’s long gone, but I know that my parents would be very proud of the three flavors we’ve created and now sit on the QFC shelves; they are delicious.

Cornet Bay Jalapeno Canned Smoked Salmon, Red Pepper Canned Smoked Salmon, Classic Canned Smoked Salmon, has been a Puget Sound favorite of folks here and across the country. So stop in to your local QFC store and pick up a can, you'll be glad you did. If you would like to read more stories about Salmon fishing around Cornet Bay, look for them along with many of our great recipes in my book titled:

“The Singin’ Salmon Man from Cornet Bay”

To order my book email joanne@corntbay.com or send a check of $16.00 (includes tax, S&H) made out to: 

Cornet Bay Company

251 Cornet Bay Road

Oak Harbor, WA 98277

Thank you for reading my blog, I’ve enjoyed our visit.

Arnie



Chapter 16 - Another Attitude Adjustment

My mother's father Henry Sterkel was in his seventies, and I guess I wasn't taking him seriously. I figured I could handle this old Russian man.

Book review by Peggy V

Only one problem with the book . . . . I couldn't put it down once I started reading it!

--Peggy V., Johnsonburg, PA

Book review by Peggy V

Only one problem with the book . . . . I couldn't put it down once I started reading it!

--Peggy V., Johnsonburg, PA

Northwest Pork Shoulder Recipe

This year I used my favorite North West Pork Shoulder Recipe to feed one hundred folks who came to our home in Cornet Bay to help us celebrate our 3^rd annual 4^th of July celebration and along with the help of Cornet Bay imports, no one left hungry.

My Pork Shoulder recipe was used for grilling 66 pounds of pork shoulders marinated for 18 hours and grilled on our Cherry Wooden Cooking Planks over charcoal and a cherry wood fire.

Pork Shoulder recipe is as follows and it’s simple.

After trimming off some excess fat and piercing the meat with a fork, rub the shoulders with two of our Cornet Bay Seasonings: Joanne’s Special Seasoning and Garlic Pepper, (a 50 - 50 mix) along with a little added sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper.

Pour and rub onto the pork our famous All Purpose Louisiana Marinade along with some Kolymvari Olive Oil that is brought in from the island of Crete.

Place each shoulder in a plastic freezer bag, add a little more All Purpose Marinade, seal and refrigerate for a minimum of 12 hours.

I created the Pork shoulder recipe for grilling however it works very well in the kitchen oven, on planks in a shallow cooking pan with a temperature of not more 350 degrees. 

Note: Soak Cooking Planks for a minimum of three hours.

For this Pork Shoulder recipe I soaked the Planks in water for six hours. They can also be soaked over night, in apple juice is wonderful, wine is good; be creative. 

Remove the shoulders from freezer bags and tie with butcher string (compared to a rolled roast) and place onto the soaked cooking Planks.

Place planks and shoulders on grill over a charcoal and cherry wood fire with indirect heat at 225 to 250 degrees, alternating the shoulders from the ones closest to the heat. Bring shoulders to 155 to 160 degrees and base several times one hour before removing from grill with our great selling Sweet Bourbon Glaze.

My Pork Shoulder recipe cooking time for 66 pounds was 8 ½ hours.

Helping to make our day a huge and wonderful success with this Pork shoulder recipe was 50 pounds of oysters being grilled on a second grill and served with our Cornet Bay Louisiana gourmet Pepper Sauce and as usual, they were a hit along with the Dungeness crab served with our Cocktail Sauce.

Look for our Cornet Bay Seasonings, All Purpose Marinade, Sweet Bourbon Glaze, Louisiana gourmet Pepper Sauce, Cocktail Sauce and Kolymvari Olive Oil on the condiment, seasonings and olive oil shelves in QFC. This Pork shoulder recipe is new but many more wonderful recipes can be found in my recently released book:

“The Singin’ Salmon Man from Cornet Bay”

To order my book email Joanne@cornetbay.com or send check of $16.00 (includes S&H) Made out to: Cornet Bay

Send to:
Cornet Bay                                          

251 Cornet Bay

Oak Harbor, WA 98277                                    

          

Chapter 14 - Life lessons from somebody who used to be cool

For a while in the mid-1950's, as James Dean and Elvis were just making their marks on the culture. I began turning myself into the epitome of the Whidbey Island hipster. I had my hair greased and combed back into a perfect ducktail, engineer boots polished and shining like a brand-new car, Levi's pulled down just a skosh for that perfect fit. Then, to set it all in motion, there was my leather jacket. Ah, yes, the jacket.

 

 

Book review by Mary Pippert

"I recently bought the book, "The Singin' Salmon Man from Cornet Bay" by Arnie Deckwa and thoroughly enjoyed it.  It was easy reading and each chapter was a different adventure of Arnie's -- and he had many.

He lived, and continues to live, life to the fullest.  It was one of those books that was hard to put down and after reading it, I ordered three more books for my sisters."

Mary Pippert
Overland Park, Kansas