Our cookbook, "Alligators and Artichokes: Recipes from the Historic Whittington Valley," is more than just a cookbook. It is part history book, coffee table art book, humor anthology and recipe guide.
Our cookbook is now out of print and no longer for sale. However, we continue to post recipes from the cookbook online, so in a sense the cookbook (or at least the recipes in the book), are readily available.
We encourage you to take a few minutes to read about our cookbook and look for a recipe that entices your appetite. Use the links in the "Table of Contents" (left) to navigate this page.
Latest Recipe
We routinely post a new recipe (or two) from our cookbook for you to use and enjoy. Be sure to check back frequently for updates.
As Julia Child would say, "Bon appétit!"
Want to Save or Print This Week's Recipe? Then click here.
Posted 3/3/16
Veronica’s Sour Cream Coffee Cake
1 stick butter
2 eggs (room temp.)
2 cups sifted unbleached flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup sour cream
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
Topping:
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
¼ cup white sugar
1 cup chopped nuts
Cream buffer and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and beat well. Sift together dry ingredients and stir one third into sugar/butter mix. Stir in half the sour cream. Repeat, and end with the last third of dry ingredients. Place half the batter into two wax-paper lined 8" round cake tins and sprinkle with half the topping mixture. Spread remaining batter on top, and cover with remaining topping. (Batter is very thick and you'll need to spread it carefully, patching tears as you go.) Bake at 350º for 35 to 40 minutes.
Note: This recipe was given to my mother by my great aunt and has delighted and challenged us for many years. Recently, I began buttering spring form pans for the cakes, which works fine, but it seems odd. So back to tradition and the wax paper.
Dorian Flanders
Recipe Archive
Listed below are all the recipes we have previously posted online. All recipe files are in pdf format and will open in a new window. To save the document, right click on the link and select "Save As."
Recipes
Open pdf Veronica’s Sour Cream Coffee Cake Posted online 3/3/16 (page 131 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Grilled Potatoes/Potato Soufflé (2 recipes) Posted online 2/15/16 (page 68 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Frito Chef Salad/Chili Stew (2 recipes) Posted online 1/8/16 (page 85 of our cookbook)
Open pdf English Muffin Loaf/Yeast Muffins (2 recipes) Posted online 12/4/16 (page 133 of our cookbook)
Posted online 8/15/15 (page 80 of our cookbook)
Posted online 3/29/15 (page 76 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Eggplant & Shrimp Casserole/Tuna Salad (2 recipes) Posted online 2/10/15 (page 81 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Herb Scrambled Eggs/Egg Casserole (2 Recipes) Posted online 5/27/14 (page 138 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Orange Roughly with Tarragon/Salmon With Lemon Oil (2 Recipes) Posted online 4/12/14 (page 78 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Chicken Fajitas/Fried Chicken (2 Recipes) Posted online 2/9/14 (page 97 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Patti Parnell's Party Egg Casserole/Sausage-Egg Casserole (2 Recipes) Posted online 11/10/13 (page 139 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake/Corn Fritters (2 Recipes) Posted online 9/28/13 (page 130 of our cookbook)
Posted online 8/5/13 (page 123 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Mexican Cornbread/Pumpkin Bread (2 Recipes) Posted online 4/7/13 (page 128 of our cookbook)
Posted online 2/17/13 (page 126 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Cloud Biscuits/Hardee's Biscuits (2 Recipes) Posted online 1/23/13 (page 125 of our cookbook)
Posted online 10/20/12 (page 122 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Seasoned Pretzel Snacks/Salsa (2 Recipes) Posted online 10/3/12 (page 23 of our cookbook)
Posted online 9/11/12 (page 121 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Green Spaghetti/Tortilla Pizzas (2 Recipes) Posted online 9/3/12 (page 120 of our cookbook)
Posted online 8/12/12 (page 126 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Lumberjack Macaroni/Vegetable Pasta (2 Recipes) Posted Online 8/6/12 (page 119 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Ham and Broccoli Stratra/Ham and Cheese Biscuit Bake (2 Recipes) Posted Online 7/29/12 (page 110 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Pork With Orange/Pork Ribs Marinade (2 Recipes) Posted Online 6/20/12 (page 113 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Squash Casserole/Tomato Medley (2 Recipes) Posted online 6/6/12 (page 74 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Taco Salad/Tamale Pie (2 Recipes) Posted online 5/20/12 (page 94 of our cookbook)
Open pdf M.M. Chicken Casserole/Chicken and Rice (2 Recipes) Posted online 5/12/12 (page 106 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Banana Bread/Beer Bread (2 Recipes) Posted online 5/1/12 (page 127 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Hot German Potato Salad/Potato Salad (2 Recipes) Posted Online 4/21/12 (page 67 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Easy Chocolate & Peanut Butter Crispy Bars Posted online 4/15/12 (Web-Exclusive: Recipe does not appear in our cookbook)
Open pdf Baked Chicken Spaghetti/Tandoori Chicken (2 Recipes) Posted online 4/10/12 (page 107 of our cookbook)
Posted online 4/1/12 (page 116 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Chris Weiser's Pancakes/Home Made Buttermilk Pancakes (2 Recipes) Posted online 3/ 24/12 (page 135 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Spaghetti With Sausage/Italian Bean And Sausage Stew (2 Recipes) Posted online 3/17/12 (page 114 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Chicken And Andouille Jambalaya Posted online 3/13/12 (page 104 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Andy Smith's Smith's Chicken Piccata Posted online 3/6/12 (page 103 for our cookbook)
Open pdf Chicken & Broccoli Macaroni/Mexican Chicken Casserole (2 Recipes)
Posted online 2/6/12 (page 105 of our cookbook)
Posted online 1/30/12 (page 102 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Milk Chicken/Chicken Oregano (2 Recipes)
Posted online 1/14/12 (page 101 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Candy-Cane Punch/E-"C" Punch (2 Recipes)
Posted online 12/31/11 (page 13 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Leta's Punch/Slush Punch (2 Recipes)
Posted online 12/26/11 (page 14 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Seasoned Lamb with Rice/Out of This World Liver (2 Recipes)
Posted online 12/11/11 (page 111 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Turkey Chili/Vegetarian Italian Meatballs (2 Recipes)
Posted online 12/2/11 (page 117 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Cranberry Pork Roast/Crock Pot Cranberry Pork (2 Recipes)
Posted online 11/17/11 (page 112 of our cookbook)
Open pdf King Ranch Chicken/Tropical Mango Chicken (2 Recipes)
Posted online 11/2/11 (Page 100 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Mark's Spicy & Cheesy Beans aka "Boiling Bean Lava"
Posted online 11/21/11 (Web-Exclusive: Recipe does not appear in our cookbook)
Open pdf Sausage Balls/Striped Bass Appetizer (2 Recipes)
Posted online 11/15/11 (Page 25 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Great Quick Soup/Country Potato Soup (2 Recipes)
Posted online 10/4/11 (Page 33 of our cookbook)
Posted online 9/23/11 (Page 28 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Cole Slaw For Freezing/Chicken Apple Salad (2 Recipes)
Posted online 9/10/11 (Page 42 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Aunt Pat's Marinated Salad/Bean Salad (2 Recipes)
Posted online 9/3/11 (Page 41 of our cookbook)
Open pfd Apple Dressing/Honey Apple Rings (2 Recipes) Posted online 8/28/11 (Page 53 of our cookbook)
Posted online 8/21/11 (Page 57 of our cookbook)
Posted online 8/13/11 (Page 58 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Celery Seed Dressing/Nola's French Dressing (2 Recipes)
Posted online 8/5/11 (Page 40 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Broccoli with Orange Sauce/Cabbage Picante (2 Recipes)
Posted Online 7/30/11 (Page 59 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Guacamole/Pita Bread Squares (2 Recipes)
Posted Online 7/24/11 (Page 22 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Whole Bean Dip/Tahini Cream Dip (2 Recipes)
Posted Online 7/10/11 (page 19 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Herbed Goat Cheese Spread/Hot Pepper Jelly Cheeseball (2 Recipes)
Posted Online 7/5/11 (page 16 of our cookbook)
Posted online 6/15/11 (page 44 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Broccoli Salad/Cabbage Cole Slaw (2 Recipes)
Posted online 6/4/11 (page 42 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Fresh Vegetable Dip/Water Chestnut Dip (2 Recipes)
Posted online 5/25/11 (page 20 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Steamed Artichokes/Artichokes & Spinach (2 Receipes)
Posted online 5/11/11 (page 54 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Homemade Hot Chocolate/Sugar Free Hot Chocolate/Kahlua (3 Recipes)
Posted online 5/1/11 (page 11 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Lavender Lemonade/Lime Slush (2 Recipes) Posted online 4/23/11 (page 12 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Baked Corn Pudding/Corn Cheese Pudding (2 Recipes)
Posted online 4/6/11 (page 62 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Cheese on the Cob/Mustard Greens (2 Recipes)
Posted online 3/35/11 (page 63 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Copper Pennies/Corn Casserole (2 Recipes)
Posted online 3/18/11 (page 61 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Cheese Grits/Black-Eyed Peas (2 Recipes)
Posted online 3/11/11 (page 64 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Spicy Black Eyed-Peas/Buttered Peas with Onion (2 Recipes)
Posted online 3/5/11 (page 65 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Maple Dill Carrots/Spicy Carrots (2 Recipes)
Posted online 2/16/11 (page 60 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Bean Bundles/Garlic Green Beans (2 Recipes)
Posted online 2/219/11 (page 56 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Garlic Chicken/Ginger Chicken (2 Recipes)
Posted online 2/13/11 (page 98 of our cookbook)
Open pdf Apricot Brand/Mulled Cider/Pineapple Cooler (3 Recipes)
Posted online 2/8/11 (page 9 in our Cookbook)
Open pdf Creamy Potato Soup/Potato Soup (2 Recipes)
Posted online 1/22/11 (page 34 in our Cookbook)
Open pdf El Torito's Salsa/Salmon Heloise
Posted online 1/17/11 (page 24 in our Cookbook)
Posted online 1/9/11 (page 37 in our Cookbook)
Open pdf Blanche's Sour Cream Pancakes/Potato Pancakes (2 recipes)
Posted online 1/2/11 (page 136 in our Cookbook)
Open pdf Turkey Gumbo/Avery's Kickin' Caesar Salad Dressing (2 recipes)
Posted online 12/26/11 (pages 38-39 in our cookbook)
Posted online 12/22/10 (page 10 of our Cookbook)
Open pdf Three Fruit Punch/Spice Tea/Apricot Crunch (3 recipes)
Posted online 1/21/10 (page 15 of our Cookbook)
Open pdf Smoked Sausage Soup/Creamy Shrimp Bisque (2 recipes)
Posted online 12/17/10 (page 36 of our Cookbook)
Open pdf Raspberry Cheese Spread/Cucumber Ribbon Sandwiches (2 recipes)
Posted online 12/10/10 (page 18 of our Cookbook)
Open pdf Creamy Tomato Soup/Santa Fe Soup (2 recipes)
Posted online 12/3/10 (page 35 of our Cookbook)
Open pdf Mushroom Chicken Soup/Onion Soup (2 recipes)
Posted online 11/24/10 (page 32 of our Cookbook)
Posted online 11/20/10 (page 30 of our Cookbook)
Posted online 11/11/10 (Web-Exclusive: Recipe does not appear in our cookbook.)
Open pdf Spicy Cheese Spread/Swiss Cheese Spread (2 recipes)
Posted online 11/4/10 (page 17 of our Cookbook)
Open pdf Vincent's Vegetable Soup/Lentil Soup (2 recipes)
Posted online 10/29/10 (page 31 of our Cookbook)
Posted online 10/22/10 (page 21 of our Cookbook)
Open pdf Tuna and White Bean Salad/Waldorf Salad (2 recipes)
Posted online 10/16/10 (page 51 of our Cookbook)
Open pdf Curry Spinach Salad/Strawberry Lettuce Salad (2 recipes)
Posted online 10/8/10 (page 50 of our Cookbook)
Open pdf Red Pepper and Garlic Salad/Portland Salad (2 recipes)
Posted online 10/2/10 (page 49 of our Cookbook)
Open pdf Goat Cheese Salad/Cranberry Salad Ring (2 recipes)
Posted online 9/26/10 (page 47 of our Cookbook)
Open pdf Rosemary Chicken Salad/Corn & Pea Salad (2 recipes)
Posted online 9/17/10 (page 46 of our Cookbook)
Open pdf Robin's Chicken & Spinach Salad
Posted online 9/4/10 (page 45 of our Cookbook)
Open pdf Korea Salad/Mandarin Salad with Sesame Dressing (2 recipes)
Posted online 8/29/10 (page 48 of our Cookbook)
Open pdf Honey Rosemary Chicken/Lemon Fried Chicken (2 recipes)
Posted online 8/22/10 (page 99 of our Cookbook)
Open pdf Festive Sweet Potatoes/ Peach Pecan Potato Casserole (2 recipes)
Posted online 8/15/10 (page 71 of our Cookbook)
Open pdf Hashbrown Casserole/Cheesy Potato Casserole (2 recipes)
Posted online 8/8/10 (page 66 of our Cookbook)
Open pdf Gayle's Asparagus/Mom's Baked Beans (2 recipes)
Posted online 7/31/10 (page 55 of our Cookbook)
Posted online 7/25/10 (page 29 of our Cookbook)
Posted online 7/18/10 (Web-Exclusive: Recipe does not appear in our Cookbook.)
Posted online 7/11/10 (page 27 of our Cookbook)
Posted online 7/3/10 (page 160 of our Cookbook)
Posted online 6/27/10 (page 155 of our Cookbook)
Open pdf Kahlua Cake/Mandarin Orange Cake (2 recipes)
Posted online 6/21/10 (page 152 of our Cookbook)
Open pdf Quick Fettucine for One/Baked Macaroni and Cheese (2 recipes)
Posted online 6/14/10 (page 118 of our Cookbook)
Open pdf Spinach Quiche/Chocolate Gravy (2 recipes)
Posted online 6/6/10 (page 141 of our Cookbook)
Posted online 5/30/10 (page 129 of our Cookbook)
Our Cookbook: A Little History
In 2008, members of the Whittington Valley Neighborhood Association decided to put together a fund-raising cookbook. Assembling, proofreading, and completing the cook book required a herculean effort by a small group of hardworking and dedicated volunteers and supporters. The end result is much more than a colletion of recipes.
Our cookbook recounts much of the Valley's colorful and storied history. It tells how, over the past one-hundred plus years, an eleven-acre strip of land in the middle of the Valley came to be developed by the National Park Service into a wonderful public park with walking trails, mature trees, and white arched pedestrian bridges. Learn how, as early as the 1880's, professional baseball teams held their spring training at now-lost Ban Johnson field in Whittington Park.
Discover the history behind Hot Springs’ oldest continuously-operating tourist attraction, an alligator farm (FYI--feeding times remain a popular draw to this day; the farm’s 170 plus alligators consume more than 600 pounds of chicken each week). Learn about the gone-but-not-forgotten Whittington Amusement Park which at one time held a staggering array of attractions, including "...miniature balloon ascensions (with uneasy monkeys as passengers)."
Our cookbook is also illustrated with eight original works of art by talented Hot Springs’ artists. For example, the cover of the cookbook shows a painting by Valley resident and Association member, acclaimed artist Robin Hazard-Bishop. Her stylize painting shows one of the white pedestrian bridges which populate Whittington Federal Park (a photograph of this same bridge is shown as a logo at the top of our web pages). Another example is the painting by talented artist Barbara Seibel entitled "A Whittington Beauty," displayed to the left. The painting, faithfully reprinted in our cookbook, shows the Charles Latta House (circa 1876), one of the many graceful and large homes to be built in the Valley during 19th century (and one of the few still standing to this day--and currently undergoing renovation by its new owners). For more of Barbara's work, visit www.seibelcreations.com.
There are occasional musings about parsley, garlic and other herbs in our cookbook. And there is advice on, among other things, making your own homemade cleaning products, Christmas tree preservatives and hummingbird nectar.
Then there are the recipes. Recipes for everything from "Potato Soufflé" (pg. 68) to "Mushroom Chicken Soup" (pg. 32) to "Caramel Apple Cheesecake" (pg. 147). And no, there are no recipes for alligator in the cookbook (the "Alligators" mentioned in the book’s title refer to those residing in the Valley’s Alligator Farm)--although there is a recipe for "Clay Pot Roasted Squirrel" (pg.115) and "Elk Kabobs" (pg. 109). As an added bonus, there is a sprinkling of humor throughout the book (see for example, the recipe for "Breakfast Bowel Bars," pg. 143).
Our cookbook is much like the Valley and its residents: colorful, informative, engaging and sometimes quirky with a dash of whimsy thrown in for good measure.
