I am very excited to announce that on the 30th November I’ll be introducing a screening of Mildred Pierce as my first Silver Screen Sippers event at the Electric Palace cinema here in Hastings. Joan’s Good-Bye Cocktail will be available as part of the ticket price (cocktail-free tickets also available) and I think a merry-old-time...

I’m thrilled to have been asked to celebrate the wondrousness of Joan Crawford at the Hippfest Silent Film Festival by introducing their Gala Screening of Our Dancing Daughters on Saturday 23rd March – Joan’s birthday! I’ll also be hosting a Cocktails and Canapés Workshop featuring recipes from Cooking With Joan Crawford on Sunday 24th March....

I’m excited to announce that the new version of Cooking With Joan Crawford is now available, wherever you are in the world. Here’s the link to the UK Amazon page, do switch to your own country if you are elsewhere for the correct pricing. Here’s a little glimpse inside… There are SIX NEW RECIPES from...

To celebrate the fact that Feud: Bette and Joan has its UK premiere TONIGHT  I thought I’d suggest her recipe for Danti-Chips as a fun snack for you to rustle up.  When I launched the Joan Crawford cookbook in 2014     I organised a virtual reality launch party and lots of folks all around...

I cannot believe that Feud: Bette and Joan is over already! That just flew past. I am a few episodes behind though.  I don’t have a TV, a friend at work grabs the episodes for me and puts them on a memory stick so that I can watch on my laptop in bed. DON’T TELL...

I finally got to see episode one of Feud: Bette and Joan and I LOVED IT. So utterly brilliant! It’s got me wanting to cook like Joan again, so I’ve pulled out my copy of the Joan Crawford Cookbook (a book what I wrote) and am getting inspired… The book is available from www.blurb.com or...

This soup has been a long time coming.  Like a bit of homework I’ve been putting off for months and months and months, it’s the penultimate Joan dish from the book to be photographed.  So here it is, in all its splendour, Joan Crawford’s Almond Soup: I did float some almonds on top, as Joan...

This recipe and over 30 more of Joan’s favourites can be found in Cooking With Joan Crawford – only available from Blurb. Are you having an Oscars party? Here in the UK it starts around midnight but I know quite a few people who will be pulling an all-nighter to watch the antics. I might...

Ah, I am quite sad that this will be the last post about the lovely Joan party, it was so much FUN!  But all good things must come to an end and I have to send special BRAVOS to Dottie and Stan (my mum and dad) and Greg of Greece for attempting the Crepes Suzette....

I love, love, love this photo of “Alfonse” at my folks place in Suffolk announcing the menu for their Joan Crawford Dinner Party.  My mum’s verdict on the steak: “Delish” seemed to be the universal reaction from around the world.  If you like blue cheese, mustard and butter you just can’t go wrong with this...

Next on the menu for the worldwide Joan-fest were Danti-Chips.  One of the proofreaders for my JC cookbook said that he’d searched high and low on the internet for a reference to Danti-Chips, so that he could check the spelling.  The only references brought him right back to Joan.  We can only surmise from this...

Kicking off my reports on the wild parties that went on all around the world to launch my Cooking With Joan Crawford cookbook, here are some lovely pix featuring the Joan Crawford Cosmo – a cocktail invented by yours truly to get the parties going with a swing. Before we begin, I take full responsibility...

If you like melon and you like proscuitto you’ll like these!  Joan also suggests slices of fresh figs or wedges of fresh pears for your present wrapping skills… As the mention of going to see The Specials seemed to spark a lot of interest on the Social Media Webs I’m going to post a picture...

If I am ever asked if there is anything I don’t eat, I usually say, “I’m a bit weird about mushrooms, aubergines and shellfish but everything else is fine”.  If I’d been around in the 1930s and 1940s I would have defintely added “and vegetables set in aspic”. This is just a thing they “did”...

Photos are coming in thick and fast from all around the world of Joan themed dinner parties and I am just so thrilled!  I’ve had pix from Greece, Australia, the US of A, the UAE, Devon, Cornwall, Walthamstow, round the corner in Muswell Hill and beyond! A preview of things to come, this fellow, known...

Joan’s recipe for Coleslaw appeared in the genius book “My Way of Life” and is a little bit vague.  This to my mind is always a sign that the person writing the recipe really knows what they are doing.  I am someone who likes to have every little detail spelled out – including how much...

Cutting the crusts off a loaf of bread then covering it with half a pound of butter sounds like a crazy thing to do right?  Yes, I thought so too.  When I told Mr R how much butter was involved in making this he made an exclamation that’s not fit for a family blog but...

It’s out!  My book is unleashed upon the world and naturally I am over-excited. You can check it out here, and if you click on the big picture when you get there,  preview the first few pages.  Aint it cute?! I am inordinately proud of it.  I hope Joan would have been happy with it...

See my cookbooks!  See my kitchen!  See my kitchen record player with glasses of champagne on it! Watch out, this starts off without sound then “Let There Be Drums” kicks in loud.

Every single man jack of you is invited to my Cooking With Joan Crawford book launch on Saturday.  As I can’t fit you all into my flat I’ve organised a virtual reality dinner party that everyone can participate in, wherever you are in the world.  I’ve been sending out invitations via my newsletter, Facebook page,...

Simple and classic.  Rye bread, smoked salmon, capers and lemon wedges.  I can’t remember where I got these lovely round rye bread slices but I think it might have been the beloved Scandikitchen. Or it might have been Budgens in Crouch End as they often have quite fancy-pants cocktail-hour foodstuffs.  So although definitely rye bread,...

Joan’s directions for this recipe were to put a tablespoon of mint ice in the bottom of a tall stemmed glass before adding strawberries and pineapple and dusting with powdered / icing sugar.  I wasn’t sure what she meant by mint ice so I froze some mint tea in an ice cube tray and then...

This is probably the weirdest thing I have made in over 8 years of trying the favourite recipes of movie stars.  Very weird indeed.  Did I eat it?  Well, I tried it.  I ate about half of one of these delightfully shaped cheese balls…   It reminded me of something my dad used to make...

It must be wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy past my bedtime because Janice Long is on the radio.  For young folks, or my chums who are not UK based, this is basically the equivalent of going to a really fabulous party, leaving, and then finding out that it’s light outside because it is MORNING.  I am not going to...

I’ve just spent a glorious weekend at the seaside with 4 very old and very dear friends.  This month marks a major anniversary of the year that we as fresh faced young idiots left our family homes and went to the esteemed University of Kent at Canterbury to muck around for 3 years. Don’t ask...

There was much sniggering in my open plan office when I made a phone call and said, “can I order three pigeons please?”  James who sits behind me said, “can’t you just get them from outside the railway station?”  Followed by, “will they each have one mangled foot?”  The idea of eating pigeon is a...

I had a day off work yesterday to finish the Cooking With Joan Crawford book.  Is it finished?  Sort of.  MAN it’s been a lot of work.  I have a renewed admiration for all cookbook writers and Frank DeCaro in particular.  Lord only knows how long it took for him to write the Dead Celebrity...

In my fading memory, Lemon Meringue Pie was something my mum made for us all when we were kids (I have four siblings) and in my mind’s eye I see massive peaks of meringue all browned on the edges like this one by James Martin… BUT, my mum used to work all the hours God...

Does anyone remember Ask The Family with Robert Robertson? My favourite thing about that show was the section where they showed an extreme close up photograph of an everyday object like a can opener, and the family had to guess what it was. They could have used this picture of Joan’s French Banana Salad. Of...

These are weird but I like them.  Alex James from Blur wasn’t keen though as you’ll see from my appearance on Market Kitchen a couple of years ago… Here’s one just about to go in the oven.  I couldn’t find any small white onions so I used little round shallots. Here’s one posing with its...

When I told Mr R that Crepes Suzette were on the menu his response was: “I’m not sure if I eat that” but when asked if he knew what it was, he admitted that he wasn’t sure. I said, “you make pancakes, then pour brandy over them, then set fire to them.” I am getting...

These are stupendous.  I defy anyone to make them and then resist eating at least 6 or 7 before guests arrive.  This is a photo reference for the Joan Crawford Cookbook when it comes out in November…  I’m working on it like a mad thing to get it ready on time. I’m trying to get...

It was the 10th anniversary of my book group last night.  10 years of about 6 or 7 books a year multiplied by about 7 or 8 bottles of wine consumed at each book group dinner = probably around 500 bottles of wine.  Ha ha.  Last night was no exception, except that as it was...

You know when you see recipes in a magazine and they specifically say that it’s something that is perfect for a weeknight dinner? Well this one definitely is. I got home at 7, rustled it up for me and my chum Heather, we ate it and washed up, and were both in our own homes,...

I’m writing this in the “Joan Zone” – Mr R’s name for the writing desk in my bedroom. I wanted to create a space that would help me to concentrate on all the many things I need to do before the book launch. I’ve moved away from “Columbo Corner” (the comfy sofa in the living...

I love this spinach salad.  It’s easy peasy, tasty and fairly healthy…  Reminds me of the Vincent Price Wilted Spinach Salad with Bacon Dressing I have made a few times.   Both lovely, although Vincent’s version includes eggs… My recipe for Joan’s Spinach Salad is from the awesome Joan manifesto “My Way of Life”.  This book...

Mmmmm – avocado, pineapple, cottage cheese…  Delicious! I’m gathering together all photos of Joan Crawford dishes already made and posting them here in the next few weeks. The Joan Crawford Cookbook will be published on Saturday 8th November (see here for a sneaky peek).  I will be hosting a virtual reality cookalong, sending out recipes...

This is the second in my flurry of Joan Crawford recipe pics.  This salad isn’t as photogenic as the Nice Salad for a Squab Dinner but it was almost as tasty.  I’m a bit obsessed with mandarin segments after making the previous salad.  The tinned fruit section of the supermarket is one I have never...

This is the first in a flurry of posts about Joan Crawford recipes ahead of the book launch – eek!  There are no food photos in the book, just pictures of the lovely Joan, so this is the place for them. First here’s an easy fresh salad – just lettuce and mandarin orange slices –...

Oh my days (as the kids say)!  The prototype for my Joan Crawford Cookbook arrived on Wednesday and I am so thrilled with it.  Would you like a sneaky peak?  Here’s the cover: and here is one of the recipe pages: Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!  I am beyond myself with excitement about it.  What do you think?  I’m...

I promised a little monthly update on book writing progress so here goes…  Like Elvis, my book has left the building.  It’s gone over to Lisa at Write the Freakin’ Book for a big picture edit.  Gulp.  Lisa will be the first person to read the whole thing apart from Mr Rathbone, and she is...

Wishing all my readers wonderful times with their friends and families over the festive season. More fabulous food and drink suggestions from Joan, Bette, Clark, Carole, Clara, Mae, Vincent and all my other favourites coming in 2014.  I raise a turkey leg and a glass of champagne to them all!

Surprise hit of the evening.  Tortilla chips with potted ham and cheese and gherkins.  Here they are just about to go in the oven: There was much fun in the kitchen making these as we imagined Joan INSISTING on perfectly shaped chips and going nuts if one of them broke while her helpers were spreading...

My photo of Joan’s steak was rotten so here’s a picture of one of the things that made it so gorgeous. Joan sure knows what she is doing on the steak front.  Roquefort, mustard and butter on top.  Oh yes, yes, yes.  I didn’t have Roquefort but I had Stilton – I am sure if...

It’s been a fabulous Christmas.  I was VERY pleased with my turkey. Vic and Corinna and Isaac came over and we had the traditional Xmas dinner with all the trimmings, fiery Christmas pudding, mince pies and a huge pile of cheese and biscuits.  Yum yum. We kicked of with Gin & Its in celebration of...

I ate quite a lot of rich food in Amsterdam including this: in honour of Vincent Price’s Hotchpotch of Curly Kale… so on Saturday I was craving a Joanie salad.  There has been a tin of pineapple slices in my cupboard for ages so I made this and it was absolutely delicious.  You can’t quite...

Hmm.  This was tasty.  I had it with a Vincent Price burger that I retrieved from the back of the freezer.  It had Roquefort cheese inside.  Mmmm… Here’s Joan’s simple but effective recipe: “Wilted Spinach Salad: I pour hot bacon grease and vinegar over the spinach leaves until they sag, and then sprinkle crisp bacon...

A mustard mystery of Miss Marple magnitude in Melton Mobray this weekend!  Oh my goodness the intrigue!  Trix, Jane and myself made a pilgrimage to the Great British Mustard Bash: a six hour round trip to see if my Colonel Mustard’s Mustard’s Chocolate Beer Mustard had pleased the judges – if only for its beautiful...

“Bedroom problems?  There is absolutely nothing in my bedroom that bothers me!” Me neither Doris, me neither! Although I WOULD like to have a white telephone beside the bed.  Ignoring the fact that I don’t actually have a land line… I am indulging myself on Valentine’s night with the biggest rib eye steak I could...

The recipe of the month is up.  I was thinking about what I would like to eat on Valentine’s Night.  I will treat myself to a nice juicy steak prepared Joanie style with a good bottle of wine.  I might watch Pillow Talk.   I love the scene with Doris’s heated blanket lead trailing along behind...

Christmas came early this year to The Palace of Solitude as yesterday I cooked Christmas dinner for three. Wow, what a lot of work! But it was worth it and I was very pleased with my Vincent Price “Roast Turkey Wayside Inn” which I’ll write about later on the Vincentennial Cookblog. For canapes I made...

Oh yum yum Joan Crawford did us proud today.  We had JC Cheese Straws, JC Salami Sandwiches and JC Peanut Butter and Bacon Canapes.  Main course was her legendary Meatloaf (delicious) with her own recipe for Green Peas (cooked with lettuce and spring onions) and some Vincent Price Potatoes Dauphinoise.  Dessert was the very, very...

I have a Vincent Price Quiche Lorraine in the oven and as this involves a large amount of bacon which provides a large amount of bacon fat I thought I’d have Joan’s spinach salad alongside. It’s hot bacon fat mixed with vinegar that makes her salad wilted. Mmmmmm….. I know that I shouldn’t praise my...

I got Tiger Blood man! Today I was feeling a bit sorry for myself. Then I thought, “What would Joan Crawford do?” and decided she’d cook herself a steak, have a glass of wine and get over it, which is exactly what I have done. To hell with it, Joan would put it all down...

Bee Boy came round last night with a lovely cardboard box full of 78s. He’d grabbed a batch from his local charity shop and there were some real gems. Favourite was a brilliant tango by Xavier Cugat and second fave an Ethel Smith rendition of “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps”. We devoured the leftover Vatrouskis, some of...

I’m holding my head a bit today Joan. Terrifically hungover. Last night was the annual and totally fabulous OSCARS party at Olivier and Nick’s house. This year we were 12 and everyone looked very festive and posh in their bow ties, fancy frocks, top hats and face paint… I made Joan’s Bisquick Cheese Straws (with...

I wish they still made stockings like this. My knees could do with some big old hearts to cover up the bruises got from falling over in the street last week. It was quite a spectacular one as I was holding a large open umbrella above my head. Mary Poppins I wasn’t… The ladies of...

OOh I am TIRED. I was out last night until 4 in the morning! Anyone who is aware of my sleeping habits will know this is incredibly late for me – usually asleep by 10pm. It’s my birthday week and I’ve been celebrating every single night. On Tuesday I saw Mr Winklepickers and got about...

Tonight I went on the first blind date I have been on in approximately 4 years I reckon (I’m not counting the George Clooney lookalike as he was a friend of Ava’s and therefore had a personal recommendation). Surprisingly, it was a highly enjoyable experience. I really liked the guy, he was good looking, lovely...