It was so lovely to get this postcard through the mail recently, from my fellow film archivist chum Lawrence Napper.
He sent it when he heard that Rhonda had gone to the Hollywood in the sky, remembering that I had a special place in my heart for her. I got in touch with Rhonda in 2011 to tell her how much I had enjoyed her recipe for Hollywood Ham Loaf. She very kindly, without me asking, sent me another of her favourite recipes, Cowboy Caviar AND sent me this gorgeous photo of herself too.
Oh, that was such a lovely, lovely email to receive. It made my heart SING.
The Cowboy Caviar recipe became a firm favourite not only as it was sent to me personally, but also because it is absolutely delicious. It’s the cumin that does it. We can’t get shoe-peg corn here in the UK so I just use good old Green Giant.
Rhonda Fleming’s Cowboy Caviar
1 x 16-ounce can shoe-peg corn
1 x 16-ounce can black-eyed peas
1 or 2 avocados, cubed
2/3 cup chopped cilantro/coriander
2/3 cup chopped green onions/spring onions
1 tomato, seeded and chopped
cup olive oil
cup red-wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon cumin
Mix together the corn, peas, avocados, cilantro, green onions, and tomato.
For the dressing, mix together the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper, and cumin.
Pour the dressing over the vegetables, and toss to mix. Chill.
Serve with chips or on a bed of lettuce.
This is a fab salad to have alongside chilli, or huevos rancheros or quesadillas. Oh my, I feel a Mexican feast coming on! AH! Just remembered something REALLY GOOD. Dolores del Rio’s Enchiladas!
This would make a great salad for a barbie & keep your vegetarian and Vegan friends happy too ! I’d have mine as a side with a good burger !
I went past Rhonda Fleming’s apt building once on a trip to LA long ago, but that’s as close as I came . I’m so glad she replied to you . What a great picture . Do you know what film it is from ?
YAY! Surely this will all be over in time for us to all have a MASSIVE BBQ in my communal garden and I will make an enormous bucketful of Rhonda’s Cowboy Caviar. I don’t know which film the pic was from but isn’t it beautiful. I want a horsie!
I googled Rhonda to find the find the image and there was a link to this cool site, but I’m still not sure what movie, but could be ‘Bullwhip’ 1958. Which I’ve found on Youtube of course. Not sure if your communal garden is big enough for a horsey, but look forward to Barbecue.
http://www.owensvalleyhistory.com/at_the_movies19/page93r.html
Hahaha! I am going to HIRE A HORSEY for my BBQ – yeehaw!