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Lucy Lean

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in Meat· RECIPES· sandwiches and burgers· Soup

Lauren Bacall and Dean Martin Recipes for Blogger Prom 2010

We all know what Lauren Bacall would have worn to Blogger Prom but curious to know what she would have cooked?   What would Dean Martin crave once the fedora was on the hatstand and the tie hung in his closet? Not surprisingly an evening in with Martin involved red meat, booze and a TV tray…

Last Wednesday Yamashiro Hollywood was transformed as the Rat Pack were emulated by the Tweet Pack at Blogger Prom 2010. At Play Clothes Vintage Hollywood on Magnolia in Glendale I found the perfect cream gown, with a pleated chiffon skirt, from the 1950s. With two vintage diamond pins, a cocktail ring, ruby bracelet, heels and a white feather boa I was ready for my close up.  The lovely ladies at the shop also helped me find the perfect dark brown fedora and 1950’s silk tie for hubby who is after all the ultimate accessory! Very Rat Pack and SO dashing and handsome.

My handsome date for Blogger Prom

What struck me was how beautiful everyone looked – the feathers, fur, diamonds and pearls on top of satin and silks bought out the best in every woman regardless of size and shape. Tall and short, fat and thin – everyone looked FABULOUS. The men, not to be out done by their sparkling dates, showed up in fedoras, ties, well cut suits and a head held high swagger.  Oh, if only we could all make more of an effort and dress up more often.

Guests sipped Pinky cocktails, ate tuna tartar canapés and excitedly complimented their fellow bloggers on how gorgeous they all looked. Oscar for best dressed went to the committee – all decked out to the nines and obviously happy to have got through the planning and all important goodie bag stuffing.

Two things were missing to make it really authentic – cigarettes and dancing… maybe next year?!

As the evening came to an end and we all waited for the valet I began to think about what these glamorous people would have eaten back in the 1950s. A little research and this is what I found: Lauren Bacall’s recipe for watercress soup and Dean Martin’s burgers… both from my favorite little book The Celebrity Cookbook– a gift from my friend Artcook.

From The Celebrity Cookbook

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Potage Cressoniere (Watercress Soup)

From Lauren Bacall

Here is my recipe:

1 lb potatoes
1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ pints milk
one bunch of watercress
1 oz butter

Servings 6 – 8

Peel the potatoes, quarter them and boil them in salted water until tender. Drain, crush them with a potato-masher, and when free from all lumps add the boiling milk and salt. While the potatoes are soaking, wash and pick the leaves off the watercress and chop roughly. Add to the soup and cook for 5-6 minutes. Take off the fire and add the butter. Pout into a hot tureen and serve.

This recipe has been chosen by me as a favorite recipe for the simple, logical reason that I had it for the first time on my first trip to the most beautiful city in the world, Paris. It was a happy time, as it always is in Paris, so I pass this on hoping that a flvor of the city of the chestnut trees will be felt by all who have Potage Cressoniere.
Cordially
Lauren Bacall

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From The Celebrity Cookbook

[print_this]

Dean Martin

Martin Burgers

1 lb. ground beef
2 oz bourbon — chilled

Preheat a heavy frying pan and sprinkle bottom lightly with table salt. Mix meat, handling lightly, just enough to form into four patties. Grill over medium-high heat about 4 minutes on each side.
Pour chilled bourbon in chilled shot glass and serve meat and bourbon on a TV tray.

Dean Martin

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Note to self: Find a TV tray and order some personalized Smythson’s stationary.

Filed Under: Meat, RECIPES, sandwiches and burgers, Soup Tagged With: Blogger Prom, Burgers, Dean Martin, Hollywood Glamour, Lauren Bacall, Rat Pack, The Celebrity Cookbook, Watercress Soup, Yamashiro

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Comments

  1. Miss Whistle says

    September 26, 2010 at 7:25 pm

    Thank you for the watercress soup recipe. It’s perfect.
    And may I say that you and your beloved look glammed out to the max — so gorgeous!
    Love,

    Miss W

  2. famishedfoodie says

    September 27, 2010 at 8:30 pm

    Love the pic, looks like a total throwback. You are so fabulous!

    • Lucy says

      September 27, 2010 at 9:14 pm

      You are pretty fabulous too – and love your blog – oh and those SHOES! I noticed them as you arrived….

  3. Nan@tastingoutloud.com says

    September 28, 2010 at 12:39 pm

    My partner in life is a Dean Martin junkie and a Bourbon junkie. Can’t think of a more appealing recipe for him than the Dean Martin Burgers… thanks!

    • Lucy says

      September 28, 2010 at 1:46 pm

      And not much too it – he seemed more concerned about the temperature of the bourbon!

Trackbacks

  1. Frank Sinatra’s Favourite Burgers and Rock Hudson’s Hot Buttered Rum: Old Hollywood Recipes Worthy of a Rat Pack Party! says:
    April 8, 2014 at 3:02 pm

    […] Bacall whipped out her signature watercress soup at dinner […]

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I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watc I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watched the moths fluttering among the heath and harebells; listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass; and wondered how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers, for the sleepers in that quiet earth.  #WutheringHeights #EmilyBronte the in between - How it started How it ended - bedroom monochromatic light at 7am this morning to 7pm tonight and cocktail time with Tink gin and @david_austin_roses post parents evening and then in the middle I went on a walk with @chloescotland - actually it was an adventure to find the prettiest 13th century church with a moat and a graveyard filled with snowdrops and the tiniest grave - a child? And headstones that were leaning over - I thought tipsy Chloe thought giving up and I was reminded of the Brontë passage about #unquietslumbers #ghostsinmygarden swop harebells for snowdrops - the peace and quiet of a tiny graveyard with a moat and lopsided headstones and peace and quiet - a moment of calm and hope as the #inauguration looms large and as we keep to the rules of lockdown #stayhome #staysafe
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