Gary Cooper’s Buttermilk Griddle Cakes
Well howdy doody there Coop! Nice cowboy stance you great big hunk you! The lovely Will up there in Doncaster made Coop's Griddle Cakes the day after he tried out Veronica's Spiced Beef and Peas. The result being that he felt that he was, "as big as a house"! It...
Veronica Lake’s Spiced Beef and Peas
It's time for me to get back on track writing up test cook reports on recipes. My mind has been scattered to the four winds with all this moving business but it feels like heaven to be in my new place and all kinds of new resolutions are being made. So, as I am about...
Johnny Weissmuller’s Apricot Meringue Pie
Johnny’s pie was a flop. I think that I overcooked the custard and under whisked the meringue. It tasted good but it was such a floppy consistency it would have made a perfect custard pie in a Mack Sennett movie. A lesson learned – do not attempt to make an apricot...
Maurice Chevalier’s French Onion Soup
My first proper dinner for friends in my new flat was TERRIFIC! Progress on the jigsaw was made and Rosalind found a bag of coins that had emerged from the lock up and decided to see how much money I had forgotten about. She made neat piles of 1ps, 2ps,...
Carole Lombard’s Barbecued Spare Ribs
Oh Carole! Lounging poolside on a fur rug, only YOU could get away with that! Well on Saturday the entire contents of my lock-up were transported in a van and carried up four flights of stairs by two beefcakes for hire and 5 true and trusted friends. Everything is...
William Powell’s Beets Piquants
Oh the lovely William. His moustache puts me in mind of Charley’s. I am so, so, so loving my new home. Boxes everywhere and lots of scrabbling going on every time I need to find anything but I’m loving it. 10 year old Shirley popped in for a snoop...
Stan Laurel’s Yorkshire Pudding
Stan looks how I feel, somewhat frazzled! I am moving house tonight. Yes tonight! Everything I own is going to be in one place. I can hardly believe it. I will be installed in my 1930s Palace of Solitude behaving like I am in an episode...
Rudolph Valentino’s Secret Spaghetti Sauce
Is Rudi on board a boat here? I think he might be, in which case I am happy. For I am off on a boat trip later myself. A blind date with someone called Oliver. I am breaking all dating rules by not meeting on neutral ground. What if he is...
Rita Hayworth’s Angel Food Cake
Oh my goodness Rita was so gorgeous. Here's a picture for fans of "opera gloves" - there is a whole site dedicated to film stars wearing opera gloves somewhere in this crazy world that is the internet. There's an Angel (Dust) Food Cake in the oven. I'm...
Joan Crawford’s Turkey and Noodles Alfredo and Bette Davis’ Brown Bette
"I only want to talk about the nice things." A superb afternoon and evening incorporating much Joan and Bette madness was had today. The noodles were very strange but tasty. Incorporating half a pound of cheese (a whole standard supermarket portion plus a bit...
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 slow cooker - it was the very...
Rudolph Valentino’s Chicken From Parma (Pie)
Rosalind has always been an inventive cook. Once she invited me over for dinner and we drank so much wine that all she could manage in the end was a square of chocolate melted into a bowl of creamed rice. Last night she excelled herself though. She had...
John Wayne’s Cheese Casserole
“Women have the right to work wherever they want, as long as they have the dinner ready when you get home” Hmm. Thanks for that Duke! Well the clue should have been in the title of the dish – but that was VERY, VERY cheesy. As someone who hasn’t...
Clark Gable’s Stuffed Pork Tenderloins
Did anyone see me on the tele last night? Market Kitchen was on twice and I watched it with two different bunches of chums. The first screening (with champagne and crisps) was at Paulette’s place and it was so weird seeing myself on the box. The food...
Jean Harlow’s Stuffed Celery a la Shrimp
Just back from a wonderful weekend in Stroud with Gary C and chums. Two days of belly dancing, eating a vast amount of delicious food and consuming a vast amounts of red wine and fruity cocktails. Fabulous! Just wanted to write a quick blog entry before the site goes...
Janet Gaynor’s Ice Box Cookies
Oh what FUN it was to be on Market Kitchen! They had cooked up 4 dishes to be sampled but I was so nervous I didn't take a bite of any of them! Alex James from Blur was on the show too and my favourite moment was seeing the look of horror on his face when he cut into...
Cary Grant’s Tuna Fish Pie
My lovely work colleague Kim came over last night for a trying on session and Cary's Pie. We are going to an awards ceremony next week and Kim wanted something vintage to wear. My wardrobe was raided, many frocks were paraded up and down the landing and a decision was...
Jimmy Stewart’s American Apple Pie
Tonight's post is a slow process because to be frank, I am absolutely sloshed. Usually a fast touch typist, tonight this is like typing underwater... My lovely Walthamstow chums have been over for lunch and it was supposed to be a dinner and a movie affair - Barbara...
Rudolph Valentino’s Secret Spaghetti Sauce
My lovely friend Gary C is coming to stay for a couple of nights next week so I have made a batch of Rudi's spaghetti sauce for us to have one night for dinner. I couldn't get the Italian sausage I usually get for this dish so bought Sicilian sausage instead. I hope...
Dolores Del Rio’s Arroz Con Pollo
"Beauty does not come with creams and lotions. God can give us beauty, but whether that beauty remains or changes is determined by our thoughts and deeds." Wow, Dolores you are a wise, wise woman. I shall only think beautiful thoughts and do beautiful deeds from now...
Gloria Swanson’s Butterless Devil’s Food Cake
Oh my goodness! It is with much excitement that I report that the first edition of Vintage Life magazine is out and it has my article on GLORIA in it. Oh how very lovely! I am going to try and link to it here......
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 preserves. It was...
Gloria Swanson Frock Competition – RESULT!
Well, the competition has closed and the winner has been announced. The answer to the question, "Which fruit did Gloria Swanson regularly keep in her handbag?" was AVOCADO. Quite a few of you guessed correctly, and everyone amused me greatly with their reasoning for...
Claudette Colbert’s Claudette Colbert Cake
I've been putting off testing this as it looked like a bit of a challenge. It was, but it was worth it! Basically I made a Rita Hayworth's Angel Cake then followed Claudette's instructions for fancifying it with home made lemon curd filling and lemony frosting. Oh...
Cary Grant’s Tuna Fish Pie
Mmmm. The Tuna Pie was good. Little pastry biscuits on top. Yum, yum. I'm looking for an alternative Cary recipe for the book to replace the apple pie. He's got some good ones too. He's a man who loved his fish. This could be the one. Chicken of the Sea in a pie. It's...
Thelma Todd’s Scripture Cake
Lolita over at Lolita's Classics has done some lovely work colourizing some pictures of Thelma Todd. Wish I knew how to do that, I'm sure I could spend many a happy hour colouring in! One of her readers left a link to a brilliant song and dance routine featuring Hot...
Irene Dunne’s Shrimps and Rice
"Years ago the public used to hound me but now I can go shopping in peace." Brand new test cook Kim sent over a report on her cooking of the shrimp dish. She also, much to my delight, sent a photo of the finished result which I shall load up to the Flickr site (you...
Boris Karloff’s Steak and Kidney Pie
"The monster was the best friend I ever had." Aw Boris, that's so SAD! I am so lucky that I have such wonderful friends. And some who REALLY love the Silver Screen Suppers project too. King loves it so much that he made a great big gorgeous pie for us last night...
Silver Screen Sunday – Now Voyager
"...don't let's ask for the moon. We have the stars." It's a good point Bette, we just CAN'T have it all... As someone once said, you can't expect to have a great job, a great relationship and a great place to live all at the same time. You can only have maximum two...
Bonita Granville’s Gingerbread
Bonita, Bonita, Peanut Eater. OK, I am going to try and channel the spirit of Bonita this evening if I ever get it together to get out of the house and go to the Rock 'n' Roll night at the Music Palace. I will be going on my own and won't know a single person there...
Jean Arthur’s Chocolate Fudge
"It's a strenuous job every day of your life to live up to the way you look on the screen." I admit that this week I've let it all go a bit! It's been sooooooo busy and stayed at Paulette's last night and the night before. This resulted in my wearing the same...
Katharine Hepburn’s Eggplant in Casserole
"If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased." Cheer up then Katharine, you look like you are in a right old strop! Oh alright then, please yourself.... Gadzooks, just when I think I can drop Katharine's recipe from the book I get a report from...
Janet Gaynor’s Ice Box Cookies
Oh what joy, home in time for Desmond Carrington on R2 with nothing to do but listen in. Got up early to get Janet's cookies in the oven. I broke my own rule and made them with spreadable butter. Mistake. They weren't all firm and crisp like they should be, but soft...
Oliver Hardy’s Spaghetti Sauce
Ah, Sunday afternoon and Columbo on the tele. Heavenly. Again, I have a humdinger of a hangover and red wine lips. Temperance month is not really happening is it? I'm cooking some of Ollie's Spaghetti Sauce in an attempt to feel better. It was a wonderful evening last...
Janet Gaynor’s Ice Box Cookies
I'm very excited about Olivier's Oscars party tomorrow. He has the whole thing on tape and a bunch of us are going to pretend we are watching it "as live" whilst chowing down on a few Silver Screen Supper specialities. I'm doing the canapes and cake and will report...
Gena Rowland’s Spinach and Rice
Gorgeous! What a babe! This week I have had a bit of an "emotional gust". Luckily for me, on the night it happened Paulette was still up when I walked past her house and so I went in and had a cry. She gave me a big hug, some sound advice and a bag of spinach. THAT is...
Anna May Wong’s Tea Cakes
I missed the Movie Memorabilia Bazaar at the Cinema Museum the other weekend because I was too hungover to leave the house. But lovely Dorothy was there, not in her usherette uniform this time, but still working the Silver Screen Suppers magic nonetheless. She made...
Greer Garson’s Guacamole
"Do what you feel you have a flair for doing, and if you are good enough at it, the money will come.” I do hope so Greer, because I am stony broke! I think about my Glasgow chums every time I try and preserve my curls by wearing the spotty shower cap they gave me for...
Rita Hayworth’s Angel Food Cake
Hello Sailor! Definitely feeling full of the joys of spring now that I have successfully made an Angel Food Cake. There is a picture of it on the flickr site - I personally have never seen anything like it! http://www.flickr.com/photos/fritzyritz/4414358525/ The...
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...
Dick Powell’s Corn Chowder
Ah bliss. A night in with some of Dick's Chowder, a bottle of expensive wine and "Stella Dallas" on DVD. The expensive wine is my new plan. I am going to see if I spend less money on booze if I buy GOOD wine and only drink a glass of it each night rather than downing...
William Powell’s Baked Artichokes With Cheese
“Cultivate solitude and quiet and a few sincere friends..." I wholeheartedly agree William as I pursue my weekend of self-imposed solitude. There has been much cooking and much writing already and tomorrow I will speak to no-one. I've done enough talking this week,...
Shirley Temple’s Mammy’s Pecan Squares
Apologies for my ranting and raving yesterday. I felt so bad about leaving the blog open on a downer like that I got up early to make some of Shirley's Pecan Squares before work. I believe that my sister of the skillet refers to these as "Shirley Temple's Goddamn...
Sonja Henie’s Scandanavian Cookies
Oh what a night! As is my custom I rushed home tonight in order to be stationed by the stove in time to listen to Desmond Carrington's amazing Tuesday night radio show on R2. It's a weird and wonderful thing that this show links me to my ex flatmates Ginger and Grace...
Gloria Swanson Frock Competition
This month I have decided to run a competition. This dress - designed by Gloria Swanson for her "Forever Young" label is the prize. It still has the original tag and so presumably has never been worn. Very stylish with a lovely bow detail on the shoulder. I think it...
Clark Gable’s Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
My lovely ex Charley is on his way over for a birthday dinner so I gotta be quick. I've made Clark's Stuffed Tenderloins which look pretty darn impressive I have to say - and a Carole Lombard Cherry Pie to follow - a nice little combo to reflect their great and...
Gloria Swanson’s Caviar Canapes
"They took the idols and smashed them, the Fairbankses, the Gilberts, the Valentinos! And who've we got now? Some nobodies!" Oh Lord, I have an almighty hangover. The ladies of the book group came round last night and I think I drank 5 times as much as the rest put...
Rudolph Valentino’s Secret Spaghetti Sauce
Last night I took some of Rudy's Spaghetti Sauce over to Hackney where Ava is convalescing after a double foot operation. YIKES. Her account of the ordeal they put her through has almost put me off wearing high heels, absolutely horrific! We had two bowls of Rudy's...
Ida Lupino’s Lemon Mousse
FROCK! And big powder puffs to lean on. And a gasper on the go... Loverleeeeeeeeee. Ida's Mousse is setting in the freezer for Friday - the ladies are coming over for dinner and I've been slaving away to get things pre-prepared. That Lemon Mousse is every dieter's...
Rudolph Valentino’s Chicken from Parma
Early morning in the Russell-Stewart household after a late night watching the Grey Gardens double bill. Rosalind and I amused ourselves by sitting on the sofa in headscarves enjoying the antics of Big Edie and Little Edie. My favourite quote was, "I'm pulverised by...
