William Powell’s Vatrouskis
Silver Screen Suppers Towers is as clean as a new pin. My parents are coming to visit for the very first time tomorrow and I want to make a very good impression. It's a big deal for me have taken the step to find somewhere to live on my lonesome and I really hope...
John Wayne’s Cheese Casserole
While we are on the subject of THE DUKE, here's a report from Jeanne over there in the USof A on John's Cheese Casserole. Jeanne really liked this cheesy dish and proclaimed it to be not only delicious but FABULOUS. Her version turned out really light and much more...
John Wayne’s Mustard Steak
Back to business. I have come out of my funk, partly because Ruthie sent me some photos of us in matching aprons that were taken in Texas. I was laughing so hard at them that when the phone rang at work I could barely speak. You can see one on the About page. This...
Gary Cooper’s Buttermilk Griddlecakes
It is pancake day and that means tomorrow is the beginning of Lent. This year I have decided to give up MEN for Lent. 40 days and 40 nights without men. Do you think I can do it? I think I can. To be honest, although it may seem from this blog as though I spend a...
Greta Garbo’s Swedish Meatballs
Unlike Garbo I do not want to be left alone. I'd rather have a playmate at the moment. There was nobody to share the meatballs last night. I agree with another of our test cooks who thinks that dividing her meatballs mixture into 12 makes very LARGE meatballs. I...
Joan Crawford Canapes
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...
Joan Crawford’s Salami Hors D’Oeuvres
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...
March Cookalong – Anna May Wong’s Tea Cakes
Join us in making some AMW Tea Cakes sometime in March. I have been VERY industrious this evening. I have finished editing the demonstration movie, worked out how to put music on it, bunged it up on the YouTube and sent out this month's newsletter. Only...
Anna May Wong Tea Cakes
I feel a bit like that myself today Anna May. I am pleased to report that when I left for work this morning there was a MAN asleep in my bed. Ha ha! I wonder if he'll still be there when I get home? I'm not saying who it was but here's a clue. As I left I said,...
Groucho Marx Matzo Balls
I have had to establish a Silver Screen Suppers Witness Protection Programme for Mr and Mrs X in North London who have tested the Matzo Balls recipe for me. Before explaining why, I must say that the Matzo Balls are my nemesis. Can a Matzo Ball be a nemesis? Or...
Mae West’s Salada de Tuna
Fortified by some of Mae West's salad I made a big dent in the copyright clearance task last night. I'm having to approach all the copyright holders for these recipes (where known) and possibly the stars' estates too. I am quite looking forward to corresponding with...
Agnes Ayres’ Chocolate Mousse
I've been on holiday! Just back from a phenomenal trip to Blackpool for the Showzam Festival. Spent most of my time in the superlative Tower Ballroom and for the first time DANCED on the perfectly sprung floor. Saw three different hula hoop acts, some very...
Red Button’s Shrimp Tempura – Daring Cooks Challenge
Happy Valentine's Day my lovelies. I thought I was going to be like Charlie Brown all day, checking my mail box for Valentines and finding NOTHING however, I was THRILLED that I received one. Who from I wonder?! Also my diagonal desk mate told me that I was...
Jimmy Stewart’s Chicken Breast Italiano and Apple Pie
The lovely Arthur came for his birthday dinner and we had a Jimmy Stewart extravaganza. Although the provenance of the chicken recipe is dubious the apple pie is definitely Jimmy's own. Shame I forgot the cheese in the pastry but it was still delicious (and I didn't...
Gracie Fields’ Lancashire Hot Pot
Eee by gum. Charley proclaimed this to be probably the best Silver Screen Suppers dinner so far, and as he has been the recipient of so many, that is saying something. But even though I do say so myself, it was indeed delicious. What I love about so many of these...
Dolores Del Rio’s Arroz Con Pollo
Unexpected house guest this evening which was LOVELY. James was hoping someone would be up for a Friday night drink after work and because everyone was in hibernation except me, he came over for some chicken with rice and the first ever screening of a full length...
February Cookalong – Agnes Ayres’ Chocolate Mousse
Just a quick post to say that we have a new recipe of the month. I've just sent the newsletter out, subscribers get an extra treat - a link to a little demonstration film I made. I haven't made this available to the whole world because I'm constantly appalled at the...
William Powell’s Vastroukis
Oh what a weekend! A fantastic night out with Nazimova, Marijana, Sasha, Jasminka and many folk I haven't seen for a long while jumping up and down to the Penny Black Remedy - man they ROCKED! And to the other extreme, a photo shoot with three clasically trained...
Anna May Wong’s Chinese Almond Duck
Charley and Corinna came round for din dins last night and it was just lovely. I'd been so looking forward to catching up with them both. Anna's dish was good, but not as good as the time I made it for Edmund. I think I should have used more garlic so I'll put that...
Flora Robson’s Nutties
It's Burns Night tomorrow and I've just discovered a whole section on Scottish delicacies in one of my film star cook books. Am making Flora's Nutties to take to Paulette's where we will introduce 10 year old Shirley to the delights of Robbie and try and make her...
Mae West’s Salada de Tuna
Oh how I LOVE those Audio Gold boys. They are so kind to me. They found me some speakers and a GORGEOUS Ferrograph amp (who knew I'd need one of those too?) They fiddled around with the amp, cleaning all the connections, showing me the splendour of the inside with...
Anna May Wong’s Tea Cakes
There is a batch of Anna May Wong Tea Cakes in the oven as I am planning a little trip to Audio Gold this afternoon. Not just because I'd like to see the lovely men that work there and one of them has already confirmed that he has my stylus in my pocket but also...
Rita Hayworth’s Angel’s Food Cake
The plan tonight was to make a Claudette Colbert Cake for James Rumsey's homecoming. But I suddenly remembered James saying he didn't like lemony things so a Rita Hayworth Cake it is instead. It is smelling GOOD. Am very pleased to report a lovely date number 2...
Agnes Ayres’ Chocolate Mousse
I am halfway through a batch of chocolate mousse and am trying to make a little film demonstration showing how it is done to include in the next newsletter. LORD my face is lopsided, I never realised! It's something to do with seeing yourself on video rather than in...
Constance Bennett’s Spanish Chicken
Here's Constance "donning the silks" as I believe the Panther once put it and posing with a curtain. It's a good look isn't it? I might try it next time someone tries to take a photo of me. I've been putting off re-testing this recipe for ages and I don't know why...
Simone Signoret Cassoulet Day 3
This will be an extraordinary post almost entirely about cassoulet and not really about film stars (or my love life) as I'm reporting on my first Daring Cooks challenge. This is a monthly challenge where all over the world food bloggers make the same recipe and all...
2011 Testing Schedule
I've set myself a rigorous testing schedule for 2011 and can already see it's going to be hard to stick to it. I'm back in the wonderful world of internet dating and it is a right bun fight already! Paid my subscription on Monday and have been on two...
Simone Signoret’s Cassoulet Day 2
My flat is full of the delicious smell of beef dripping rendering! What a bizzare endeavour this cassoulet is proving to be. Today I went in search of "salt pork" with little hope of finding it but EUREKA the crazy butcher on Camden High Street (so out of place...
Simone Signoret’s Cassoulet
It's day one of a three day recipe. Tonight I salted the duck legs for Simone's Cassoulet which I'll be throwing together for Charley on Sunday night. I am making duck confit don't you know?! This is going to be quite a challenge. There are a lot of strange MEATS...
Cary Grant’s Tuna Fish Pie
Graham Crackers are in the house WHOOP WHOOP! The lovely Moya is here from NYC and brought me some in her handbag. I am very excited and have all kinds of plans for them. It was so great to see her, probably about 15 years since we'd caught up and...
Vincent Price Goulash
Ooooh Roland's Rissoles were GOOD! I have so much mixure left though. I may attempt to make little canape rissoles for tomorrow night's New Year's Eve extravaganza chez Charley and Corinna. I am so proud of myself. It's been a busy night. Fed Paulette's cats on...
Roland Young’s Rissoles
It's Rissoles Night, it's Rissoles Night, it's Rissoles Night! Well, it will be in about 15 hours time. I woke up at 4.15am and got so excited about the prospect of Roland's Rissoles I couldn't get back to sleep so have decided to rise and shine and just get on with...
Merry Christmas from Silver Screen Suppers
Oh what a week it has been! DJing at The Savoy AND Claridges in the same week. How very glam! Masses of free cocktails at the former and one each paid for at Claridges - four cocktails and a bowl of peanuts was £80. Not joking. We got some good photos though. All...
Charlie Chaplin’s Apple Roll
I'm going to have a big bruise on my bum after falling over at my humdinger of a birthday party last night. AGAIN I didn't get to bed until 4am. What a shocker. I'm going to make a list of who rocked up with their 45rpm singles last night but I think there must have...
Joan Crawford’s Charcoal Broiled Steak
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...
William Powell’s Vastroukis, Rudolph Valentino’s Secret Spaghetti Sauce and Agnes Ayres’ Chocolate Mousse
What a lovely lunch on Sunday. Jeanne was here from Atlanta - we had never met before but have corresponded about many Silver Screen Suppers recipes. She makes me laugh like a drain with her emails and pictures of things like Gene Kelly's Greatest Man Sandwich in...
Mae West’s Pumpkin Pie
Happy Thanksgiving to all our American readers (and everyone in fact). Today I am giving thanks for the fact that tonight I have my first proper date in approximately three years. And I'm also giving thanks for all the wonderful people who are test cooking these...
Loretta Young’s Walnut Loaf
Oh those LIPS Loretta. Lovely. The wonderful Will in Warrington has made Loretta's Walnut Loaf and it came as some surprise to me when I saw his pics with accompanying vegetables that it was a savoury dish. Even though I typed the recipe out for him at some point I...
Joan Crawford’s Cheese Straws, William Powell’s Vastroukis and Vincent Price Goulash
The Goulash has been in the slow cooker overnight and I'm about to construct a big batch of BISQUICK so that I can make some JC Cheese Straws as I have a BIG lunch party today. It's a bit of a welcome-back-the-newlyweds party for Grace and Douglas. Wedding guests...
Marilyn Monroe’s Stuffing Recipe
I knew it was coming, but I took my eye off the ball and here it is! (thanks for the tip off Jeanne!) The Holy Grail of Silver Screen Suppers recipes - a real Marilyn recipe. Until now the best we had was the fact that she liked to serve carrots and peas together as...
Vincent Price / Vilma Banky Goulash
Had a long conversation about how cold it gets on a houseboat with Jan at work. He has just bought one and I told him he would soon become obsessed with trying to keep the fire alight when he wasn't there. When I lived on the little floating caravan beside Swan...
Ginger Rogers Coffee Parfait and Joan Crawford’s Bisquick Cheese Straws
I'm off to Charley's for dinner tonight so have made some of his favourite pudding - Ginger's Coffee Parfait - and used up the last of my homemade Bisquick making some of Joan's cheese straws. I've eaten about 18 of those already, I think they are GORGEOUS. Hope I...
Gracie Fields’ Toad in the Hole
Ee by gum! It's Our Gracie's turn to host the recipe of the month cookalong. I made her Toad in the Hole when I lived on the houseboat and remember it being rather tasty. I'll have another go at it this week I think. It's that sausagey kind of time of the year......
Mae West’s Pumpkin Pie
Just about to jump on a plane with Rosalind for our annual "romantic mini-break". Boys never take us on one so we take ourselves once a year. We have done Wareham, France, Stroud, Berlin, Copenhagen and this year it is BUDAPEST. So I am handing over the blog todat...
Gary Cooper’s Buttermilk Griddle Cakes
Exhuasted but very happy after a trip to Bath for the wedding of the century 2. At the risk of breaking the hearts of classic Hollywood fans all around the world I have to announce that I was at the marriage of the lovely Matthew of Movietone News and the absolutely...
Mae West’s Pumpkin Pie a la Robert
Much good humoured hilarity this week when Nazimova brought in the "Pumpkin Pie a la Robert" she had made from this month's special recipe. Naz is from Belgrade and had sent me an email saying that she'd never had Pumpkin Pie so had no idea what it should look...
Joan Crawford’s Pork Chops With Apple Rings
Home Movie Day at the Cinema Museum in Kennington was fabulous. I spun the shellac for 3 hours in the afternoon as an accompaniment to some fantastic home movies. There were some 1960s chicks with some REMARKABLE hairdos up on the big screen for all to see! There's...
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 weigh...
Vincent Price’s Sweetcorn Fritters
Oh how I am loving the spinster life! Had a fabulous day today. Wallowed in bed with coffee and The Archers until 11.15 then made myself some Fritters for brunch. Yum yum yum. Mooched up to Alexander Palace to go and see my friend Shane's art installation. Fully...
Dorothy Lamour’s Strawberry Ice Cream
'Ave a banana! I am still singing "A Sweater, A Sarong and a Peekaboo Bang" after a lovely evening at Matthew and Angela's house for dinner on Friday. We watched this classic ditty performed by Paulette Goddard, Dorothy Lamour and Veronica Lake as we scoffed some of...