Bette Davis’ Red Flannel Hash

Bette Davis’ Red Flannel Hash

I’ve launched a new THING over on Substack today.  A virtual reality star-spangled dinner and a movie club. It is something I’ve wanted to do for ages, and now it exists.  So exciting. Come and join us! Everyone is welcome, wherever you are in the world,...
A Bette Davis Cocktail

A Bette Davis Cocktail

During the first UK lockdown of the pandemic, me and Mr R made Friday night videos of the movie star cocktails we made when all the pubs were closed. It was loads of fun and we stuck all the videos on YouTube if you fancy having a look. Lots of cocktails were named...
Bette Davis’ Spinach Stuffed Fillets of Sole 

Bette Davis’ Spinach Stuffed Fillets of Sole 

Oh my goodness, this is the most delicious movie star favourite dish I have made in a LOOOOONNNNNNGGGGG time. Bravo Bette! Artist’s impression of Bette with a fish and a fag… This recipe is a winner. Despite having an ingredient that is not available here...
Happy 12th Birthday Silver Screen Suppers – my favourite dozen movie star recipes!

Happy 12th Birthday Silver Screen Suppers – my favourite dozen movie star recipes!

I can’t believe that I’ve been writing this blog for 12 years – goodness me.  So much has changed in that time.  When I began I was a broken-hearted singleton living on a houseboat on the Thames.  My tabletop cooker had to be turned on...
Cooking With Joan Crawford

Cooking With Joan Crawford

Date for your diaries UK based chums! Feud: Bette and Joan starts on BBC2 on Saturday, December 16th with a double episode – whoop whoop!  I got a sneaky peak of the series when it aired in the USA and I absolutely loved it. It’s event TV folks!...
Bette Davis’ Marmalade Mallard

Bette Davis’ Marmalade Mallard

Yesterday, after lovely separate family Christmases, Mr R and I had our own festive dinner, with a mallard from Pipers Farm.  Wrapped in swaddling clothes My motto for 2016 will be: “use it up and wear it out”, so in that spirit, I used some of my...
Bette Davis’ Marmalade Cake for Hippfest

Bette Davis’ Marmalade Cake for Hippfest

It was lovely to get a mention in The Scotsman last week… it put the wind up me a bit though…  I have no idea where they got the notion that I’d be making a Bette Davis Marmalade cake!  It’s not exactly going to be a “retro...
Bette Davis’ Boston Baked Beans

Bette Davis’ Boston Baked Beans

I’m thrilled to be featured on Emerald Street today.  So if you are visiting from there, welcome to the wonderful world of film star dining and drinking!  Check out your favourite stars from the side-bar or just have a roam around… As the article...
Bette Davis’ Marmalade Cake

Bette Davis’ Marmalade Cake

My lovely friend and colleague Julie celebrated 10 years with the AP last week so I thought it was high time I made her a cake.  For various reasons I had to make it a few days in advance so decided to make an Ottolenghi cake that I know would keep.  So from...
Book Test Cook 17 – Bette Davis’ Brown Bette

Book Test Cook 17 – Bette Davis’ Brown Bette

I barely lifted a finger last weekend as I was riddled with a cold and milking it. But on Sunday I did rustle up a Brown Bette to follow the slow cooked pork that we had for Sunday lunch.  I figured that pork and apples are a classic combination and so it was....
Bette Davis’ Red Flannel Hash

Bette Davis’ Red Flannel Hash

Last night I was eating grade 11 wagyu beef and tonight it was corned beef hash.  That is just the way I roll! there has been no jiggery pokery Instagram style with this picture – that is exactly the colour it was – it’s got BEETROOT in...
Bette Davis’ Scallops

Bette Davis’ Scallops

Most contemporary chefs would be alarmed at the amount of time Bette cooked her scallops for (30 minutes parboiled then 10-15 minutes under the grill) and I was a bit concerned they would be chewy, but they turned out fine.  Here are before and after shots of the...
Bette Davis’ Marmalade

Bette Davis’ Marmalade

Ah, the website has returned from its holiday at the seaside.  I was getting worried there.  5 years of blogging, over 500 posts about hundreds of film star recipe experiments – I thought it had all gone for ever.  I shall be lavishing care and...
Bette Davis’ Marmalade

Bette Davis’ Marmalade

Still time to enter my competition.  Prize?  A jar of Bette Davis Marmalade made by yours truly. All you have to do is answer this multiple choice question.  You can email me or put your choice in a comment.  Closing date Monday 31st October at midnight.  Overseas...
Bette Davis’ Brown Bette

Bette Davis’ Brown Bette

There is a vegan version of the Brown Bette in the oven making my whole flat smell delicious.  It is my offering for dinner tomorrow at Paulette’s with Angus & Clive (we must select Hollywood monikers for them) and I’m really looking forward to...
Bette Davis’ Brown Bette

Bette Davis’ Brown Bette

A gloriously silly evening at Paulette and Ivor’s house last night which involved Angus acting as sous-chef for the Brown Bette.  It turned out surpisingly yummy, especially considering that I was so drunk by the time I got around to making it I kept having to...
Bette Davis’ Boston Baked Beans

Bette Davis’ Boston Baked Beans

“I didn’t bring your breakfast, because you didn’t eat your din-din!” Happy Birthday Blog!  It is 4 years since this blog was stared and my goodness, what a lot has happened. A commemorative batch of Bette’s Baked Beans are in the...
Bette Davis’ Marmalade

Bette Davis’ Marmalade

Bette looks how I feel. Mildly pissed off that her marmalade yet again hasn’t set. I am beginning to come to the conclusion that it must be the ratio of fruit to sugar that’s to blame rather than my technique. I’m going to have to do some research on...
Bette Davis’ Finnan Haddie a la Davis

Bette Davis’ Finnan Haddie a la Davis

Oh I am having such fun this weekend. Doing a LOT of writing work and a LOT of cooking. Fab. It’s Sunday and so I decided to treat myself to Bette’s favourite Sunday morning breakfast dish. And delicious it was too. It’s the first time I have tried it but wanted to...
Bette Davis’ Hollywood Salad

Bette Davis’ Hollywood Salad

“That’s me: an old kazoo with some sparklers.” Ooh! A lucky shamrock charm bracelet. I want one! I’m feeling a bit like an old kazoo myself today so have cheered myself up by re-reading Rita’s verdict on the Bette salad recipe. I...
Bette Davis’ Marmalade

Bette Davis’ Marmalade

“Why am I so good at playing bitches? I think it’s because I’m not a bitch. Maybe that’s why Miss Crawford always plays ladies.” Bette or Joan? Bette or Joan? I am increasingly obsessed with both of them and just can’t decide who I...
Bette Davis’ Marmalade

Bette Davis’ Marmalade

“Everybody has a heart. Except some people.” I spent most of the weekend crying and making marmalade. It wasn’t the making of the marmalade that made me cry, it was, as usual a boy. A big cloud of woe hung over me whilst I stirred Bette’s...
More Bette Davis’ Hollywood Salad

More Bette Davis’ Hollywood Salad

“I will not retire while I’ve still got my legs and my make-up box.”   Me neither doll.William and Cary came over for tea and we polished off the Hollywood Salad for appetizers. Cary decided that the gherkins I placed on top of each salad smeared...
Bette Davis’ Hollywood Salad

Bette Davis’ Hollywood Salad

  “I didn’t forget your breakfast. I didn’t bring your breakfast.  Because you didn’t eat your din-din.” Bette is still coming up trumps with the recipes. There is just something GOOD about all of hers I think. And I do love the...
Bette Davis’ Split Pea Soup and Boston Baked Beans

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...
Dearth of Fat Salt Pork

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?

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...
Pilchards on Toast

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....

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