Old Hollywood Kitchen: Dennis Morgan

This post has been sitting in my drafts since April. At least now it's seasonably appropriate, especially since today's star is in one of my favorite holiday films, Christmas in Connecticut. Perhaps you need a warm, comforting dessert to enjoy while you watch...

Dennis Morgan's Apple Surprise

2 pounds green apples
1/4 lb. butter
1 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup flour
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon
Ice cream or whipped cream

Simple and satisfying like any fruit crisp, and an easy alternative to apple pie for less experienced bakers. Worth breaking out the best vanilla ice cream you can find, too. Stay safe and healthy, everyone, and happy eating!

"Ring twice."

It's been a long time (nearly two and a half years!) since I last posted about Edith Meinhard, largely due to a lack of new information, but I've been spurred on by recent social media activity to share more items from my collection. I thought I'd follow up on this post with photos from Voruntersuchung, a highly recommended film if you've only seen Edith in Diary of a Lost Girl. In addition to the DVD linked in that post, there is also a Spanish-subtitled version on the Internet Archive. The captions are translations of the snipes found on the back of each photo.

"The witnesses are waiting to be questioned." Edith is seated on the far left.

"Albert Bassermann (examining magistrate) interrogates Charlotte Ander (his daughter)."

"The accused before the examining magistrate."

"The real killer is caught in the courtroom."

"Sound film recording in the streets of Berlin. Under the microphone, Gustav Frohlich and Hans Brausewetter."

Page from the Voruntersuchung program, with Edith's Mella Ziehr pictured in a happier time.

The film has fine performances all around, particularly from Albert Bassermann. This was my introduction to Bassermann, and until I attended a nitrate screening of The Red Shoes two years ago I had no idea he acted in any English-language films! He's also great in Alfred Hitchcock's Foreign Correspondent, which now tempts me to rewatch with a giant bowl of popcorn...

Old Hollywood Kitchen: Zachary Scott

Well, 2020 hasn't given us much to cheer about so far. In the midst of necessary quarantine and social distancing, it can be difficult to drum up positive thoughts. Escapism is my go-to relief, and at the moment consists mostly of catching up on unwatched classic films; as I'm sticking with tried-and-true recipes (and those with minimal ingredients) to keep myself fed, I've been neglecting my stack of vintage cookbooks. It's high time I tackle my backlog of old recipe tests, starting with this comforting noodle dish:

Zachary Scott's Noodles Mecca

1 package medium noodles (I used egg noodles)
1 1/2 lbs. ground round steak
2 large onions, ground
2 kernels garlic
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. chili powder
1/2 lb. grated cheddar cheese
2 cans condensed tomato soup

In this first attempt I halved the ingredients for a smaller serving size, including the tomato soup; unfortunately this left the casserole a bit dry. The flavors and texture were good otherwise, though I'm wondering if green pepper wouldn't jazz this up some more. I definitely will use two cans of tomato soup the next time around.

Zachary Scott is perhaps best known for his work in Mildred Pierce, a great film all around, but I have to recommend the fun noir Flaxy Martin, which also features the wonderful Dorothy Malone. Whatever you choose to watch, I hope you and yours stay safe and healthy.

Old Hollywood Kitchen: Vincent Price

As I write this a full-day marathon of Vincent Price films has begun on Comet (they're calling it Super Ghoul Sunday, which I might turn into an annual tradition). House on Haunted Hill currently keeping me company, it's high time I reflect on a dish of his I made just before Halloween, with the then-newly-acquired Cooking Price-Wise.

Vincent Price's Beef and Cauliflower on Rice

1 lb. beef steak
1 small head of cauliflower
2 oz. butter or margarine (I used olive oil)
1 green pepper, cut in 3/4 inch squares
1 clove garlic, crushed
4 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tbsp. cornflour (corn starch)
4 tbsp. water
1/2 tsp. sugar (I omitted)
3 oz. sliced onion
1 lb. 2 oz. hot cooked long-grain rice

I had been eyeing Vincent Price's cookbooks for a while but felt they were out of my reach in terms of cooking skills; I was more at-ease once I saw how simple some of the recipes in Cooking Price-Wise could be to prepare.

This was a great first recipe to test; a nice, light stir-fry that's a satisfying mix of flavors and textures. I've since made it again with broccoli in place of cauliflower and it works just as well. I don't find myself craving it as much as my beloved Beef and Beans but I will definitely come back to this recipe in the future.

The Last Man on Earth is my film pick this time around, a dystopian thriller with plenty of screen time for Price. Pair it with this dish and you've got dinner and a movie; if you'd prefer to host your own Super Ghoul Sunday festivities, you could decorate the table with these wonderful creations (also from Cooking Price-Wise):

Happy cooking!