Bebe Daniels’ French Dressing
Sometimes you don't see a dressing for ages, and then three come along at once... On the left, we have Angela Lansbury's Mustard Vinaigrette. On the right, we have David Soul's Torino Dressing, and in the middle, a French Dressing. When I needed some of this for the...
Barbara Stanwyck’s Stuffed Pimento Salad and Vegetable Meatloaf
The film for this month's Dinner and a Movie is Ball of Fire (1941), and the suggestions for accompaniments are Barbara Stanwyck's Meatloaf, her Pimento Salad and a cinnamon-based cocktail I have named after her character in the movie, The Sugarpuss O'Shea. As I am...
Joyce Grenfell’s “149 Special” Salad
We are having a mini heatwave here in the UK, so thoughts turn to salads. I am becoming quite a fan of chicory (or endive, depending on where you are in the world) because it turns out to be the kind of thing that will last a while in the fridge when you have...
William Gaxton’s Gaxiola Cocktail
I have no idea who William Gaxton is, but I LOVED his cocktail invention. We toasted the much-loved Tina Turner with one of these, and if you want a few minutes of pure joy, watch Ann-Margret having the time of her life performing Nutbush City Limits with the best...
Rue McClanahan’s Wonder Women Cookies
I'm organising a Murder, She Wrote Watch Party on Sunday - everyone is welcome, wherever you are in the world! All the details are in this Substack post if you'd like to join in, it's going to be loads of fun. The episode we are watching features the fabulous Rue...
Ruta Lee’s Lasagne
I am revving up to move house, and I have a four-drawer freezer full of things to eat up. I am also in a state of mild panic about all the people I want to see before I leave London. I am not going a million miles away, just around 70 miles as the crow flies (110...
Jane Russell Cocktails
It's Gentlemen Prefer Blondes month over at Dinner and a Movie! Join us if you fancy watching the film sometime in June and then sharing your thoughts on it. There are a few recipes from the Kitchen of Jane Russell for you to rustle up in this post, and here are a...
Susan Saint James’ Barley Casserole
I have had a huge jar of pearl barley on my kitchen counter for around 5 years. I look at it on a regular basis and think, "I must use that for something", when I probably should be thinking, "I am going to throw that away." But here comes Susan Saint James'...
Jane Russell’s Chili
I've selected Gentlemen Prefer Blondes for June's Dinner and a Movie, so if you fancy joining the fun, grab yourself a copy of it and watch it in your own time, on your own sofa sometime in June. There will be chit-chat about the film in our virtual reality cinema...
David Soul’s Torino Dressing
I'm knuckling down to writing the Cooking the Detectives book, and next week is POIROT week. But which screen representation of Poirot? Chatting to some friends about Miss Marple, we all agreed that everyone has their favourite Marple, but I'm guessing the big Agatha...
Vincent Price’s Asparagus Milanese
Asparagus season here - yippee! The minute I spotted some, I grabbed it, with this lovely luncheon in mind. Sometimes when I'm working from home I fancy something fancy and this feels fancy. Egghead would approve! It's so quick and easy too. I don't cook my...
Telly Savalas’ Spanakopita
For the forthcoming Cooking the Detectives book I'm trying to work on one sleuth per week. Last week it was KOJAK! I'm writing a guide to a "taster episode" for each show and there will be a recipe from the kitchen of the actor who plays the main character (or...
Sunset Blvd. Extra Recipes – Gloria Swanson, Cecil B. DeMille and William Holden
Greetings to those dropping by from Dinner and a Movie for some extra recipes suitable for serving alongside a screening of Sunset Blvd. First up, possibly the maddest thing I have ever made William Holden's Lime Gelatine with Carrots, Nuts and Olives. Yes, this is me...
Dennis King’s Saratoga Cocktail
God bless the King. Dennis King. Another classic cocktail from the brilliant Bottoms Up! cocktail book, published in 1928. This copy, with the original corkscrew still attached, is available to buy for a cool £4,000. The Saratoga is a classic for a reason, the...
Fanny Brice’s Coronation Cocktail
I've been saving this for Coronation weekend and here it is. In case you don't know, there's royal stuff going on in the UK tomorrow so if you are going to be toasting the new King or any other regal person in your life, here's the ideal libation. Here's what you'll...
Tom Selleck’s Tuna Melt
Cor! This was good. But no wonder, it's got loads of things I love in it. Plus I made it with fancy truffle mayonnaise. I think Tom would be proud of me. Here's what you need. Under construction (I used an ice cream scoop as instructed). Voila! Easy peasy and...
Lauren Bacall’s Spinach and Sesame Salad
What has happened to this year? Are we in some kind of accelerated time warp machine? Today I thought to myself, "I must check when the The Great Muppet Show Co-Star Caper is happening so I can write about Lauren Bacall's spinach salad recipe" (as you do) and what...
Stanley Tucci’s Pasta Alla Norma
This was a bit of a "two-recipes-in-one" job as one of the ingredients in Stanley's recipe is a marinara sauce. Luckily, the way Stanley makes his is all over the interwebs, so I made a batch to this recipe to incorporate into the aubergine mix. Aubergine? Yes....
David Suchet’s Leg of Lamb
It's traditional to have roast lamb over Easter here in the UK, so David's recipe was plucked from the "to test" pile for Good Friday. It's a bit of a strange one, and I'm not sure it will make it into the Cooking the Detectives book, but I'm sharing it here in case...
All About Eve – Dinner and a Movie virtual reality cinema bar is open!
Hello chums - I've just opened the doors to the Silver Screen Suppers Club virtual reality cinema bar so join us for a chat about All About Eve - the chatroom is open 24/7 on the Substack app. It's effectively our opening night and it's all new so let's see how it...
The Charlie Chaplin Cocktail
I am a big fan of Richard Godwin's online cocktail emporium The Spirits. Recently I was delving around in there, reading about Apricot Brandy and I spotted this comment on the Charlie Chaplin cocktail. "The original recipe of this from the Old Waldorf Astoria bar...
Efrem Zimbalist Jr.’s Lemon Chicken on Spinach Leaves
For Christmas one of my gifts from Mr Rathbone was an offer to test cook three dishes for the forthcoming Cooking the Detectives book. The first one he went for was Robert Wagner's Chili and on Friday night he rustled up the second. It was LUSH. The sauce is...
Arthur Brest’s Carrot Loaf
Apparently yesterday was International Carrot Day - have you got any around the place? Now is the time to cook 'em up! It's been a while since there's been a FAIL in the Silver Screen Suppers kitchen and this wasn't a total write-off but it wasn't as delicious as I...
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, whether you...
David Niven’s Fishcakes
How I love a homemade fishcake, and how I love David's recipe for making them. Because basically, it's a fishcake template. I am sure David wouldn't mind you putting in whatever you have around the place. Here's his recipe, in his very own words. Take any old piece...
Julia McKenzie’s Courgette Casserole
Well this one was a pleasant surprise! I thought this would be a soufflé affair, but actually it turned out to be a much more veggiecentric dish which was surprisingly delicious. This was on the "to test" list because Julia McKenzie is one of the Miss Marples I want...
Dinner and a Movie – Announcement
I'm excited to announce that I'm launching an online dinner and a movie club. I'll be proposing a classic movie each month and suggesting appropriate movie star recipes for you to try alongside. Watch and cook in your own time, indulging yourself in an evening of...
Audrey Hepburn’s Potato Balls – Hampstead – The Great Bear – Stop #18
On our tour around the stations of the Northern Line, carrying film star foodstuff, I am always on the lookout for something appropriate to scoff on the platform. Hampstead is renamed Audrey Hepburn in Simon Patterson's genius reimagining of the map and the cute...
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...
Ann Blyth’s Blueberry Muffins, Lee Meriwether’s Peanut Butter Cookies, Jack Carter’s Fresh Fruit Kuchen, Yvonne de Carlo’s Salome Salad, Marsha Hunt’s Ham With Love, Robert Vaughn’s Stuffed Zucchini, Jayne Meadows’ Bean Curd
What's been cooking over at Murder, She Cooked? Quite a lot since I last did a round up. If you are a Murder, She Wrote fan, skip over to the Substack for episode reviews and companion recipes. Here's what's been going on in Cabot Cove - clicking on the recipe title...
Vincent Price’s Hotchpotch of Curly Kale
I had two frankfurters leftover from the Richard Basehart Frankfurters and Beans extravaganza written about here and that could only mean one thing. Hotchpotch of Curly Kale. I was determined that this recipe go in the Supper with the Stars book as I love it so....
Eartha Kitt’s Crocked Rabbit With Winter Vegetables
This recipe has been right at the top of my "I wanna cook" list since it first appeared in Greg Swenson's brilliant Recipes for Rebels book. Mostly because it is cooked in a CHICKEN BRICK and this is one of those things I bought for a specific movie star recipe and...
Raquel Welch’s Wonder Soup
Thanks to my lovely chum Peter Fuller of the Vincent Price Legacy UK for making this wonderful recipe illustration. I was so sad to hear that Raquel has gone to that Hollywood in the sky. I've had a girl crush on her for ages. There follows a blog post I wrote in...
Robert Wagner’s Chili
For a Christmas gift Mr Rathbone pledged to test 3 recipes for the forthcoming Cooking the Detectives book for me. What a lovely present! This was the first one ticked off the list. A very tasty chili courtesy of Robert Wagner. The above pic was taken before the...
Spencer Tracy’s Cod Chowder – Recipe of the Month – February 23
I went back to an old method of selecting which star to focus on for my recipe of the month. Mr R bought me a fabulous pack of movie star playing cards for the first birthday we celebrated together. I cut the pack and Spencer Tracy was presented to me right there on...
The Heinz 57 Challenge – with movie star specials!
Mr Rathbone and myself decided to celebrate spending 57 years on this here planet by attempting to consume 57 Heinz based meals in a year. Did we manage it? YES! It was loads of fun as we sourced lots of Heinz things that aren't on the supermarket shelves here in...
Joan Crawford’s Potato Salad
I'm working on an exciting project to kick off 2023 - a reboot of my Joan Crawford cookbook. This has been available on Blurb since 2014 and was the first movie star recipe collection I published. I had lots of vintage JC postcards and over 30 of her recipes and I...
Gina Lollobrigida’s Wreath Cookies
I was sad to hear that Gina Lollobrigida has headed off to that Hollywood in the sky. As a tiny tribute to Lo Lollo, here's her recipe for wreath cookies. These were recipe of the month way back in December 2012 and they were so cute. I guess they are designed to be...
Joan Hickson’s Cod in Cider – Recipe of the Month – January 2023
What a treat this was! Such a simple recipe, but utterly delicious. I only have two recipes for Joan in the collection, the other is for marmalade. I was going to try both, to see which one would be best suited for the forthcoming Cooking the Detectives book, but...
Grace Kelly’s Pissaladière – Golders Green – The Great Bear Project – Stop #17
Ah, the beloved Great Bear Project! Our bid to cook our way through the 21 movie star stations as imagined by artist Simon Patterson on the two top spurs of the Northern Line is done. BUT, I still have to write up 5 of them. I am playing catch-up. What can I tell...
Shelley Winters’ Caesar Salad
Happy New Year! I spent Christmas with my mum and watched a lot of telly. For ages I have been trying to remember the name of a game show I accidentally watched once that had me crying with laughter. I just couldn't for the life of me remember the name. When we...
Lynda Day George’s Fresh Peach Omelet
I love a pleasant surprise when I make a movie star recipe thinking, "this is going to be weird." Because yes, this did seem weird to me, but also, it was absolutely delicious. It also felt indulgent and cheeky because I made it for myself for a weekday breakfast and...
Clark Gable Salad
It is TOO COLD for salads at the moment here in London and the thought of having one makes me shiver. But it's hot elsewhere in the world right?! Years ago, in 2013, I came upon a mention of this on the internet. The Clark Gable Salad, on the MGM commissary menu,...
Murder, She Wrote Watch Party Tonight!
Tonight's the night my fellow Cabot Covians! Join me for a fun watch party wherever you are in the world. Fans of Murder, She Wrote will all watch the episode together in their own homes and natter about it via a private chat room hosted on my Substack -...
Christopher Plummer’s Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
When Gill of Reelweegiemidget Reviews announces a movie star blogathon, I immediately check my movie star recipe spreadsheet to see what I have for the person in question. In the case of Christopher Plummer, in my whole collection of over 8,000 star-spangled...
Jane Asher’s Salmon Fishcakes and Joanna Lumley’s Bean Pâté
I think a New Year Resolution for 2023 will be to write up movie star din-dins experiences IMMEDIATELY after I have had them. Because I am sitting here racking my brains about a dinner party we threw in January and the brain is not being very forthcoming. I know that...
Sharon Gless’ The Blonde’s Beans
The beans I used in Richard Basehart's Frankfurter and Beans were Heinz Beanz pimped up thanks to a Sharon Gless recipe, so that dish was a kind of Columbo/Cagney & Lacey mash-up. I've made Sharon's beans before and they are GOOD. A shortcut to beans cooked in...
Recipe of the Month – Gene Tierney’s Pork with Fruit
I love my local butcher, he really makes me laugh. When I went into The Hampstead Butcher in Muswell Hill to buy the pork for this recipe he was on top form. I told him I was working with Gene Tierney's recipe from the 1940s. When I described her instructions for...
Dinner at the Crossroads Motel
This event has been a long time coming. Ever since Angus tipped me off to the existence of the Crossroads Cookbook I've been promising a night of delights from its pages. For those not familiar with this iconic British soap, I did a bit of a summing up when I made...
Raymond Burr’s Chili Supreme
I am never going to use dried beans again (unless a movie star specifically tells me to). They never, ever go soft for me, no matter how long I cook the little beggers. I cooked the beans for this chilli as Raymond directed me to, with salt pork (in my case...
Richard Basehart’s Frankfurters and Beans
Ever since we embarked upon the Heinz 57 Project I've been thinking that I must make this again. It's in the Columbo Cookbook as Richard Basehart is in the Dagger of the Mind episode, and I had a feeling Mr R would love this one. If you are a carnivore, you probably...
Murder, She Wrote Watch Party – Everyone Welcome
I'm hosting a free Christmas watch party event on Sunday 18th November at 7pm GMT - everyone welcome, wherever you are in the world. All the details are in this Substack post - tell every single Murder, She Wrote fan you know (there are a lot of us about) it's going...
Cary Grant Mushroom Canapés – Brent Cross – The Great Bear – Stop #16
I had to bite the bullet and get over my horror of the mushroom for the next of our Great Bear adventures. One of the requisites of creating a movie star dish appropriate to the station stop on Simon Patterson's reimagined Northern Line is that it can be eaten on a...
Una Stubbs’ Home-made Muesli – My Top 100 Movie Star Recipes #94
The breakfast smoothie season is over. I have transitioned to overnight oats and it will soon be porridge a go-go. I live in a very drafty 1930s flat and it gets so cold here in the winter I need HOT FODDER for breakfast for most of November through to March as I...
Christmas is coming!
Every year the lovely Columbophile mentions my Cooking With Columbo book as a nice thing to buy for a Columbo fan as a gift. This year I get to return the favour by recommending HIS brilliant book, which is brand new and fabulous. The Columbo Companion - any Columbo...
Richard Arlen Recipe Round-up
STOP PRESS - just stumbled upon a new Richard Arlen recipe (July 2024) - Shrimp a la Maryland! I sent this over to Dave (see below) and by return post, he sent me this! Fabulous! Here's my post from 2022... Richard Arlen is trending! Well, he's trending here at Silver...
Paul Michael Glaser’s Curried Squash Soup
When I was a pre-teen, everyone at my school went bonkers for Starsky & Hutch. We begged our parents to let us stay up and watch it and all girls of my age either fancied Starsky or Hutch. Same with Donny Osmond and David Cassidy, you had to state your allegiance...
Stanley Tucci’s Frittata, Tomato Salad, Spaghetti con Zucchine alla Nerano, Lamb Chops and Roast Potatoes
I was in the same room as Stanley Tucci recently. OK, I was in the same room with him at The Barbican with 1153 other people, but I BREATHED THE SAME AIR. Myself and my kitchen companion Battenburgbelle were in heaven listening to Stanley talk about all sorts of...
Recipe of the Month – Angela Lansbury’s Walnut Date Bread
So much has been written about beloved Dame Angela in the last few weeks. An enormous amount of love for her was expressed by so many people in the media. The internet was a better place for a few days. She will live on through her movies and TV shows of course, and...
Donald Pleasence’s No-Name Curry
When this much anticipated book written by the Grand Poobah of Columbo, arrived on my doorstep on Donald Pleasence's birthday, it seemed PORTENTOUS! I use the term Grand Poobah very much in a respectful way as per the first definition below, not the second definition...
Marilyn Miller’s Bronx Cocktail
My lovely friend Sasa reminded me at the Murder, She Cooked launch party that I had vowed to write a book gathering together all the movie star cocktails I know of. It's on the list, Sasa! Our conversation also reminded me that I hadn't yet dipped in to a fabulous...
Ron Masak’s Recipes
I was so sad to hear that Ron Masak had travelled to that Hollywood in the sky this week. He was my favourite of all the Murder, She Wrote co-stars, playing the wonderful character of Sheriff Mort Metzger. I am picturing Ron and Angela chatting over a cup of tea and...
Charlie Drake’s Cottage Pie
Hello my darlings! Those of you who know Charlie Drake will hear his voice ringing through your head saying that line, I'm sure. When researching Heinz recipes for the Heinz 57 Challenge, I stumbled upon something BRILLIANT. A promotional film split into two parts...
Angie Dickinson’s Honeymoon Sandwich
Now that the Murder, She Cooked book is out in the world I have a bit of breathing space and I'm rummaging around in the blog drafts archive for things I hadn't quite finished. Here's a LONG one about our Covid postponed honeymoon for those who would like a sneaky...
Feeling Thankful
After the very sad news this week that our much loved Angela Lansbury has gone to that Hollywood in the sky, I thought I would share some joyful photographs of my book launch. I truly hope that anyone who owns a copy of my Murder, She Cooked book can see it was...
Agnes Moorehead’s Macaroon Delight
Just a quick post to let you all know I have a little spot on the Hollywood Kitchen Show today. I’ll be demonstrating how to make Agnes Moorehead’s Macaroon Delight as featured in Supper with the Stars. Here’s the lowdown from Karie who hosts the show on her Facebook...
Murder, She Cooked – Book Launch Day Tomorrow!
It's book launch day tomorrow and I am stupidly excited. Just to let you all know that I'll be doing some Instagram Lives throughout the day as I'll be Living My Life Like Angela Lansbury for the third time! Come and hang out in the Silver Screen Suppers kitchen or...
Piathalon #9 – Sagittarius Hamburger Pie
Yippeee it is the favourite day of all food bloggers everywhere. Pieathalon Day! It's the 9th year of this bonkers escapade where a bunch of us send weird and wonderful pie recipes to Yinzerella of Dinner is Served 1972 and she dishes them out for each of us to...
(Potentially) Marilyn Monroe’s Cheese Lasagne
Excitement is mounting about the movie Blonde. I haven't had a chance to see it at the cinema so I'll be tuning in on Wednesday when it premieres on Netflix. It's been a long time since I've had a bit of event TV in the diary and I'm going to hook my computer up to...
Jerry Stiller’s Chicken Soup With Kreplach
One night I said to Mr Rathbone over, and over and over again, "This is the funniest film I ever saw" about The Independent starring Jerry Stiller. The next day I could remember nothing about it. Zilch. Nada. So we resolved to watch it again on "Stiller Saturday",...
