Yvonne De Carlo’s Salome Salad
Desmond Carrington is a national treasure. I am preparing a trifle and listening to his Radio 2 show. Who else could play George Formby, Eric and Ernie and Meat Loaf in the same half an hour? Last night I made the crazy sounding salad dressing Yvonne proposed which...
Joan Blondell’s Chicken Chop Suey
"It amazes me how some of these little numbers with dreamy looks and a dead pan are getting away with it. I'd hate to see them on stage with a dog act." Joan Blondell is without a doubt my absolute favourite actress and it was with great pleasure that I cooked up her...
Rhonda Fleming’s Hollywood Ham Loaf
My lovely ex boyfriend Charley came round for dinner last night. As the man who re-introduced me to the pleasures of carnivorism after 12 years as a vegetarian I knew he would appreciate The Queen of Technicolor's Hollywood Ham Loaf. A loaf made almost entirely of...
Errol Flynn’s Tomato Fest
"The public has always expected me to be a playboy, and a decent chap never lets his public down." Last night was Flynn Night on the boat. Radio 2’s excellent “Putting on the Style” was all about the swashbuckling “man’s man” so I cooked up some of his Devilled...
Ann Sothern’s Salad for the Sisters
"I finally realized the happy medium, 'honey blonde' was the correct color and line for me." Had my sistas over for lunch on the tub on Sunday and it was super. Very rare for Clara, Myrna, Veronica and I to all get together same place same time, so the frozen...
Penny Singleton’s Spaghetti Caruso
“If I wanted something badly enough, I’ve gotten it.” Apologies for the gap in the Silver Screen Suppers schedule which has occured due to intense courting on America’s Sweetheart of Song’s part, and a cat sitting stint in North London on mine. I’m hoping now that AS...
Anna Neagle’s Waldorf Salad
All good intentions of doing chores were swept away last night by the offer of a trip upstream to Richmond on S&N’s boat. It was a beautiful evening for a little chug past Eel Pie Island, multiple swans’ nests and riverside loafers. Still, I did manage to rustle...
Psycho Salad
"You're beautiful. You're a beautiful kid!" Rita Hayworth threw a "pot luck" party on Friday night for the writing circle. We all had to bring a little something to eat so I though it would be a chance for a Silver Screen Somethingoranother. As I was out all day being...
Jimmy Stewart’s Chicken Breast Italiano
"Not all of us were working at the same time, but enough of us. Hank Fonda knew how to cook rice. We lived pretty much on a rice diet." On Friday Rosalind came over to the tub bringing her lovely new beau Jimmy Stewart. I thought I should cook him something by his...
Joan Bennett’s Beetroot Salad
“I turned my hair dark and have received much better parts ever since." Omigoodness the day I had yesterday. I know just how Joan felt having to drag that dead body up the beach in "The Reckless Moment". I was completely shattered by a combination of tellings off,...
Rosalind Russell’s Garden Vegetable Salad
“Flops are a part of life's menu and I've never been a girl to miss out on any of the courses.” How right RR was – her salad was indeed a flop. The kind of salad an elderly relative might cobble together so that there is something “healthy” to have with cheap sausages...
Kim Novak’s Chili Rellenos
Lady Longhorn will be laughing into her corn chowder when she reads Kim's fanciful recipe for Chili Rellenos. Not authentic Mexican ingredients by any means. However, Groucho wanted "Mexican" food as the big match on Saturday night was Argentina v Mexico. The only...
Helen Twelvetrees’ Wakimoli Salad
"Between pictures I go away. I think that is the best way to achieve happiness in Hollywood, the only way to keep one's perspective. If you stay too close to the motion picture colony you lose your sense of values." Oooh the ladies did enjoy Helen's Wakimoli. It was...
Wakimoli Schmakimoli
Tonight is "ladies football night" at Paulette Goddard's place. Brazil are playing so we will have plenty to occupy our hearts and minds. We've all been asked to bring some grub so I thought it might be a good chance to try out Helen Twelvetrees' "Wakimoli Salad"....
Champion Toad In The Hole
Aha! It makes my heart glad to see that America's Sweetheart of Song is now cooking away out there in the Lone Star State. Go Ruthie! One re-run and one near disaster on the cooking front this weekend. I made Constance's chicken dish for the delight of El Pantero...
dick powell’s delightful corn chowder
This just in from my co-conspirator in Austin, Texas! in the scorching texas heat, which has not been under 100 degrees for over a month, one does not immediately think of HOT SOUP for dinner. that is, unless it is a corn chowder by the divine dick powell. yes indeed,...
Constance Bennett’s Spanish Chicken
“I'm a lot more sartorial than thespian. They come to see me and go out humming the costumes.” Delicious, delicious, delicious. Constance was spreading her cometary glory all around our island last night as we scoffed her Spanish Chicken on the fuel pontoon. After...
Touched By Her Cometary Glory
A change of plan for Edmund's dinner tonight as Carole's ribs take aeons to cook. Instead we will be having Constance Bennett's Spanish Chicken. E sent a textual message asking "will it be touched by her cometary glory like James Agate suggests?" Well we shall see...
Supper Smash
The Queen of entertaining Rosalind rustled up some superb Supper Smash last night. This is convenience food British style to rival the Bisquik. Those of a certain age on these shores will remember the "For Mash, Get Smash" advertising campaign and those a bit younger...
In The Middle Of The Thames
Much excitement Thameside as the boat is back in the water. But not in its usual spot - secured next to the FUEL PONTOON for a few days. And this means right in the middle of the river basically. Fab views with birdlife all around. Those crazy headed Grebe things dive...
Clark Gable’s Hunter’s Breakfast
"Hell, if I'd jumped on all the dames I'm supposed to have jumped on, I'd have had no time to go fishing. " The only kind of hunting I do at the moment is MANHUNTING but Clark's breakfast sure did set me up for the day yesterday. Tesco's came up trumps with their...
Dick Powell’s Trousers
Have spent a glorious day at the newspaper library in Colindale searching 1930s fan mags for silver screen recipes. Alas, zilch. Saw some fun things along the way though including a remarkable press photograph of Dick Powell in "Cowboy From Brooklyn" wearing the...
Hollywood Ham
I am hoping to rustle up a Clark Gable number on Sunday for the Panther. I wanted to follow Loretta's recipe with something from her secret lover as I've been reading about their tryst and resulting lovechild. Am awaiting a recipe from my fellow chef in the States for...
Loretta Young’s Peach Dessert
"As soon as I get home from a day of work, I bathe, brush my hair, put on fresh makeup, and slip into a hostess gown." On Saturday night the Black Panther came over and cooked me dinner on the tub. I should probably explain that he is not a member of the 1960s...
Eee By Gum – Gracie Fields’ Hotpot
Ee that hotpot were grand! I was rather bemused by the chunks of lamb the butcher had provided and had neither the correct implements nor the emotional wherewithall to get much meat from between bones, fat and things that looked like the cotton wool tubes dentists use...
Dripping? That’s All In The Past My Dear…
Trotted up to Kilburn High Road to buy meat products for Gracie's Lancashire Hot Pot in my lunch hour. Despite all Prince Charles' bleating about MUTTON you cannot buy it for love nor money round these parts. I settled for neck of lamb instead as the nice butcher man...
Gracie Fields Special
Oh the joy of rustling up dinner a deux on the boat with the sun shining in through the open doors and Desmond Carrington playing Perez Prado, Joyce Grenfell and Gracie Fields on his most excellent Radio 2 slot. Got super excited when he plugged his Friday night show...
Errol Flynn’s Baked Fish Havanaise
"It isn't what they say about you, it's what they whisper." Mm. That was GOOD and DID cure my malaise for a few minutes. Easy to prepare, looked great on the plate and had all the cats on the island trotting up the ladder and poking their heads through the door to see...
Havanaise to Treat Malaise
Suffering from a bad case of malaise at the moment. Have been wandering listlessly around Richmond trying to cheer myself up with small purchases - several hair clips and two plectrums in the shape of skulls - to no avail. Am going to attempt Errol Flynn's "Baked Fish...
Do Not Become Sister Ruth
I saw the newly restored classic "Black Narcissus" last night and realised that it was a perfect film for someone trying to get over a man who thinks he is the handsome-ist stud in town. David Farrar plays the part of Mr Dean like he just can't get over how...
Bette Davis’ Boston Baked Beans
"I am just too much." Ah, the beans were a great success. Rosalind even had two portions. John G (her ex) said they were good but he wasn't sure why they had to have been cooking for 8 hours. Made the whole flat smell of molasses though which on the whole was a good...
Dearth of Fat Salt Pork
The butcher that Rosalind remembers being on Berwick Street is alas no more. Had a lengthy conversation with two barrow boys on the market who told us that there are now NO BUTCHERS in the West End. They are all gorn. R has bacon in her fridge so I shall make do with...
Worth Eating?
Stomach is churning at the prospect of dinner tonight with Square Jawed Georgie who wants to meet up because he says "some things need explaining" and there are "some things you need to know". What, what, what, what, what? Is it fair to expect me to try and eat tapas...
Thelma Todd’s Caesar Salad
One good thing about being dumped is the way chums rally round to cheer you up. Had a long telephone conversation with the fabulous Gary last night. He was telling me a story about Thelma Todd and Caesar Salad which we must verify. Apparently Thelma was in a...
Pilchards on Toast
My good intentions at getting going on this project have been foiled by the fact I didn't read the recipe. Bette's Boston Baked Beans require 8 hours of cooking and I didn't get home until 6pm so methinks they will have to wait until next weekend. Instead of a gourmet...
The Cooking Must Begin
OK. I have spent the afternoon skim-reading the abridged handbag sized version of "He's Just Not That Into You" and I agree with everything those wise old yankees say. So time to stop wasting brain space on Dirty Scottish Georgie and get on with the project the...