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Orange Posset & Blackberry Compote

Orange Posset & Blackberry Compote by Cathy nelson arkle

If you haven’t tried a posset, I encourage you to try this easy dessert that has an incredible WOW factor built in. I usually put all of my energy into appetizers and the main course when I entertain, which means I usually find myself “spent” by the time it comes to dessert. So when I find a recipe that I can make in advance with minimal effort that commands rave reviews from my guests, I call that recipe a keeper.  And that is exactly what this recipe is for me. I hope you enjoy it as much as my company does. Continue Reading →

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Animal Cracker Soup

photo by cathy nelson arkle
In honor of National Animal Cracker Day (April 18th) I decided to use creative license to craft a recipe from one of my favorite childhood classic songs, “Animal Crackers in My Soup” sung by Shirley Temple in the 1935 film Curly Top.

barnum-animal-crackers box

If this movie was before our time, most of us remember the Barnum animal crackers from our childhood, which are alive and well, with 40 million circus train boxes sold each year.  Long gone are the days that a box sold for just 5 cents back in 1902. Today a box costs around $1.25. Continue Reading →

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Berry Healthy Muffins

cathy nelson arkle

When my girlfriend Alice offered me her “paleo-friendly” grain-free, gluten-free and sugar-free muffins, my first instinct was to pass on her “free“ offer.  I am glad that I didn’t because flavor-free they are everything but!

I make these every two weeks to make sure there are always a couple available in the freezer. If not, I hear about it from my husband… who loves these crazy muffins!  After talking with Alice, it appears her husband loves these peculiar muffins as well.  I almost called them the “Men-Magnet Muffins”.  My Uncle Bill, who proclaims that muffins are girly food, has since converted to a muffin man after munching one of these ugly, yet substantial treats. Continue Reading →

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Killer Kale, A Cat Tale…

cathy nelson arkle

I have a confession. My cat, Dante, likes kale better than I do.  I am trying to take his lead and eat more of it.  So when I find a recipe that makes kale tasty, I get a little excited, even if I have to fight my cat for the green stuff.

Maybe Dante knows that kale has one of the highest levels of antioxidants of any vegetable. Its richness shines in: antioxidant nutrients, anti-inflammatory nutrients, and anti-cancer nutrients. This should up the ante for eating more kale.

As for Dante… here is the kale tale. Continue Reading →

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Easy Eggplant with a Simple Sauce

cathy nelson arkle

Now that the holidays are over and I have cooked my fill of complex and fattening recipes, I am taking a break to cook simple and healthy foods. Today’s inspiration comes from one of my favorite chef/teacher/cookbook authors, Susan Herrmann Loomis. Her roasted eggplant with fresh local cheese recipe fits the bill. While I was at her school in Normandy I had the privilege of watching her “throw” this dish together for dinner.

Photo by Cathy Nelson Arkle

Some of my favorite meals she made were very simple. They were as easy as finding a vegetable, picking some herbs from her garden, and a dash of this or that. She works with such grace and flair it makes me believe I can cook with such style someday. Continue Reading →

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