When I think of Jean Harlow, I always think of her like this…

so when I saw that my lovely internet chum Samantha of Musings of a Classic Film Addict was co-hosting a Jean Harlow Blogathon

I thought to myself, I’m going to spend a whole day in bed wearing a sequined negligee, eating chocolates and gazing at myself in an enormous hand mirror.

It didn’t quite turn out that way, but I did have a delightful lunch comprising three Jean Harlow inspired recipes.

Celery a la Shrimp sounds like the dainty kind of dish Jean would eat before going out to a party, just to keep her strength up. I’ve made this delicious snack a few times, I always sprinkle a tiny bit of paprika or cayenne pepper over the top.

I think these would be lovely cut into smaller bite-sized bits to serve with cocktails.

Jean Harlow cocktails perhaps?

The Jean Harlow Cocktail

  • 2 ounces light rum
  • 2 ounces sweet vermouth
  • Lemon peel garnis

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes, shake well, strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with lemon peel.

I changed into a white suede hostess gown to make my lunch salad of course. I loved the serving suggestion for this tomato and orange dish, although tomatoes aren’t really at their best in the UK at this time of year. My cack-handed attempt at not cutting right through to the bottom of the tomato wasn’t successful but the salad still looked pretty.

But the triumph of my day, was the cream puffs.

I had never made such a thing before and it was great fun peeking through the oven glass and seeing these puff up like profiteroles. I sweetened some whipping cream with icing (confectioners) sugar and got ye olde piping bag out.

My GOODNESS these were good.

I ate a couple of these (OK I ate four) as I had a self-indulgent Saturday afternoon watching Dinner At Eight. Man, I love that film! I know that one of the other blogathon partipants is reviewing this classic, so all I’ll say here is that Joan is terrific as Kitty in this film, and the interchange at the end with the Marie Dressler character is pure genius.

Kitty:
I was reading a book the other day.

Carlotta:
Reading a book?

Kitty:
Yes. It’s all about civilization or something. A nutty kind of a book. Do you know that the guy says that machinery is going to take the place of every profession?

Carlotta:
Oh, my dear. That’s something you need never worry about.

It was great fun eating a la Jean for a day, so thanks to Samantha at Musings of a Classic Film Addict and Virginie at The Wonderful World of Cinema for hosting the Jean Harlow Blogathon. Can’t wait to read all the other entries over coffee and a slice of toast…

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