Stan and Julie Simonik discovered the joy of huckleberries in the summer of 1983 after moving to northern Idaho from Hawaii. They found these delicious berries near Priest Lake, and the very next day, Stan entered a jar of gourmet huckleberry jam in the bake-off competition at the Priest River Huckleberry Festival. It won first prize in its category and second overall, marking a pivotal moment in their lives.
In 1997, while running the Huckleberry Haus Bakery & Gift Shop to support his ministry, Stan published the first edition of the Huckleberry Haus Cookbook, showcasing a variety of huckleberry recipes. The Simoniks left Priest Lake in 2000 to serve other congregations in Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska, and Texas, where Stan eventually retired.
Their passion for huckleberries was rekindled in August of 2023 during a visit to their son Albert, stationed at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho.
"Our visit would not have been complete without immersing ourselves in the beauty of the forest and searching for huckleberries. We found them quickly, and that evening I made a huckleberry pie, grinning from ear to ear."
Now, the Simonik family continues their annual huckleberry picking excursions to the Northwest, delighting in bringing some of their cherished berries back to Texas. Changing nutritional considerations motivated Stan to update the huckleberry recipes in the New Revised Edition of the Huckleberry Haus Cookbook, published last year.
"We love huckleberries and hope to share the joy with other huckleberry enthusiasts, inspiring them to appreciate the beauty of God's creation."
A gentle breeze whispers through the forest as huckleberry enthusiasts breathe in the refreshing piney air. Following the warm sunshine in search of luscious huckleberries, you enjoy a blessed tranquility that’s only interrupted by your child's excited voice, 'Dad! I found a jackpot!' With Huckleberry Haus Publishing sharing delightful huckleberry recipes, life is good ...