November 30, 2015

#SOTM - TCM's Star of the Month Dec. 2015 - Frank Sinatra



Frank Sinatra Fast Facts

Full name: Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra

Born: December 12, 1915 in Hoboken, New Jersey

Died: May 14, 1998 in Los Angeles, California (heart disease, kidney disease, bladder cancer)

Resting place: Desert Memorial Park, Cathedral City, California

Father: Anthony Martin Sinatra, born Saverio Antonino Martino Sinatra on May 4, 1892 in Lercara Friddi, province of Palermo, Sicily, Italy. Died January 24, 1969 in Houston, Texas

Mother: Natalie Catherine "Dolly" (Garavente) Sinatra, born Natalina Maria Vittoria Garaventa on November 25, 1894 (per FindAGrave.com) in Genoa, Italy. Died January 6, 1977 in the San Gorgonio Wilderness, San Bernardino / Riverside counties, California (plane crash)

Spouses: Nancy Barbato (February 4, 1939 - October 29, 1951) (divorced) (3 children)
Ava Gardner (November 7, 1951 - July 5, 1957) (divorced)
Mia Farrow (July 19, 1966 - August 16, 1968) (divorced)
Barbara Marx (July 11, 1976 - May 14, 1998) (his death)

Children: Nancy Sandra Sinatra (born June 8, 1940 in Jersey City, New Jersey)
Francis Wayne "Frank, Jr." Sinatra (born January 10, 1944 in Jersey City, New Jersey)
Christina "Tina" Sinatra (born June 20, 1948 in Los Angeles, California)

Granddaughters: (via Nancy Sinatra Lambert)
Angela Jennifer "A.J." Lambert Paparozzi and Amanda Kate Lambert Erlinger

Great-granddaughter: (via A.J. Lambert Paparozzi) Miranda Vega Paparozzi


Did You Know?

Sinatra was born a century ago in a small apartment in Hoboken, New Jersey. Because he weighed 13 1/2 pounds and labor had stalled, a traumatic forceps delivery was used. The forceps tore the left side of his face and neck, as well as his left ear. The doctor cut the cord and lay Frank – huge and blue and bleeding from his wounds, and apparently dead – by the kitchen sink, quickly shifting his efforts to saving the nearly unconscious Dolly’s life. Frank's grandmother picked him up, ran some ice-cold water from the sink over him, and slapped his back. He snuffled and began to howl.

His traumatic birth left him with a scar that ran from the corner of his mouth to his jaw line, a cauliflower ear, and a ruptured eardrum. As a child, he was nicknamed "Scarface." He also suffered a bad case of adolescent acne, which left his cheeks pitted. Self-conscious about his looks as an adult, Sinatra applied makeup to hide the scars. Even with the makeup, he hated to be photographed on his left side. The physical insecurities didn't end there. Sinatra also wore elevator shoes to boost his 5' 7" height.

He was exempted from service during World War II because of the ruptured left eardrum.


Nicknames: The Voice, Chairman of the Board, Ol' Blue Eyes, Swoonatra, The Sultan of Swoon, La Voz

Owned an extensive collection of electric toy trains. He had coveted electric trains as a boy and set up a track that wove through the path of his career. The train started at a replica of the Hoboken train station.

His signature drink was a mix of four ice cubes, two fingers of Jack Daniel's whiskey, and a splash of water. Frank cupped it in his hand, insulated by a cocktail napkin.

When Bela Lugosi died virtually penniless, Sinatra quietly paid for his funeral.

On May 10, 1964, Brad Dexter saved Sinatra from drowning during the production of None but the Brave in Kauai. Dexter was later awarded a Red Cross medal for his bravery. Sinatra never forgot it and the two stayed close friends for the rest of their lives.

Sinatra and Paul Newman are the only people to win an Honorary Oscar, a Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and a competitive Oscar.

Sinatra has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: One for music (1637 Vine Street), one for film (1600 Vine Street), and one for television (6538 Hollywood Blvd).

At his funeral, friends and family members placed items in his coffin that had personal references. These are reported to include ten dimes, several Tootsie Roll candies, a pack of Black Jack chewing gum, a roll of wild cherry Life Savers candy, a ring engraved with the word "Dream," a miniature bottle of Jack Daniel's whiskey, a pack of Camel cigarettes, and a Zippo cigarette lighter.

TCM's Star of the Month


8:00 p.m. - Color - 52 mins. - TV-G
Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music (1965)
was a one-hour television special, first broadcast by NBC on November 24, 1965, to mark the occasion of Frank Sinatra's 50th birthday. The special won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Program, and a Peabody Award. It was also nominated for two other Emmy Awards, as well as a Golden Globe.
Song list:
1. "I've Got You Under My Skin" 2. "Without a Song" 3. "Don't Worry 'bout Me" 4. "I Get a Kick Out of You" 5. "Nancy (With the Laughing Face)" 6. "My Kind of Town"
7. Medley: "It Was a Very Good Year"/"Young at Heart"/"The Girl Next Door"/"Last Night When We Were Young"
8. "This Is All I Ask" 9. "Come Fly with Me" 10. "The Lady Is a Tramp" 11. "I've Got the World on a String" 12. "Witchcraft" 13. "You Make Me Feel So Young" 14. "Put Your Dreams Away (For Another Day)"

9:00 p.m. - Color - 149 mins. - TV-G
Guys and Dolls (1955)
D: Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra, Vivian Blaine, Stubby Kaye, B. S. Pully, Veda Ann Borg, Sheldon Leonard, Regis Toomey. Lavish Hollywoodization of classic Broadway musical based on Damon Runyon's colorful characters with Blaine, Kaye, Pully, and Johnny Silver reprising their stage performances and Brando making a not-bad musical debut as gambler Sky Masterson. Tuneful Frank Loesser score includes "Fugue for Tinhorns," "If I Were a Bell," "Luck Be a Lady," Blaine's memorable "Adelaide's Lament," and Stubby's showstopping "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat."

11:45 p.m. - Color - 109 mins. - TV-14
Pal Joey (1957)
D: George Sidney. Cast: Rita Hayworth, Frank Sinatra, Kim Novak, Barbara Nichols, Hank Henry, Bobby Sherwood.
Sinatra is in peak form as a cocky nightclub singer who makes a move on every "dame'' he meets--including innocent showgirl Novak--but meets his Waterloo when wealthy, demanding Hayworth agrees to bankroll his dream of running his own club. Almost complete rewrite of the 1940 Broadway show based on John O'Hara's short stories, but entertaining just the same, with a great Rodgers and Hart score including "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered" (with sanitized lyrics), "The Lady Is a Tramp." Look fast for Robert Reed.

1:45 a.m. - Color - 131 mins. - TV-PG
Can-Can (1960)
D: Walter Lang. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Shirley MacLaine, Maurice Chevalier, Louis Jourdan, Juliet Prowse.
Lackluster version of Cole Porter musical of 1890s Paris involving lawyer Sinatra defending MacLaine's right to perform "daring" dance in her nightclub. Chevalier and Jourdan try to inject charm, but Sinatra is blase and MacLaine shrill. Songs: "C'est Magnifique," "I Love Paris," "Let's Do It," "Just One of Those Things."

4:15 a.m. - Color - 109 mins. - TV-PG
Marriage on the Rocks (1965)
D: Jack Donohue. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Deborah Kerr, Dean Martin, Cesar Romero, Hermione Baddeley, Tony Bill.
A couple divorces by mistake during a madcap Mexican vacation.

6:15 a.m. - B/W - 81 mins. - TV-G
Double Dynamite (1951)
D: Irving Cummings. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Jane Russell, Groucho Marx, Don McGuire.
Sinatra plays a bank clerk falsely accused of robbery. Flat comedy marked a career low point for all three of its stars. Filmed in 1948.

7:45 a.m. - Color - 120 mins. - TV-PG
Hole in the Head, A (1959)
D: Frank Capra. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Edward G. Robinson, Eleanor Parker, Carolyn Jones, Thelma Ritter, Eddie Hodges, Keenan Wynn, Joi Lansing.
Sticky story of a ne'er-do-well (Sinatra) and his son (Hodges) doesn't seem sincere. Only distinction is Oscar-winning song, "High Hopes."

10:00 a.m. - Color - 106 mins. - TV-PG
Assault on a Queen (1966)
D: Jack Donohue. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Virna Lisi, Anthony Franciosa, Richard Conte, Alf Kjellin, Errol John.
Complex caper film about an attempted robbery of the Queen Mary. Sinatra stars as an American who is hired by a rich Italian, Lisi, and her German partner, Kjellin, to help renovate a sunken German U-boat and use it to threaten to sink the luxury liner if the thieves are not allowed to board and plunder the ship. The producers tried to generate the same magic that made Sinatra's Ocean's 11 so popular. They didn't succeed but the results aren't too bad.

12:00 p.m. - Color - 91 mins. - TV-14
Dirty Dingus Magee (1970)
D: Burt Kennedy. Cast: Frank Sinatra, George Kennedy, Anne Jackson, Lois Nettleton, Jack Elam, Michele Carey.
Reviews ranged from ecstatic to putrid for this western comedy with Sinatra and George Kennedy top-billed. I'm in the middle. The film has plenty of action and a few funny lines, but it is an essentially empty exercise. Director Burt Kennedy lets Sinatra and the picture go too far with tawdry double entendres and many groaners. The script was by Tom Waldman, Frank Waldman, and Joseph Heller, author of Catch-22.


8:00 p.m. - Color - 75 mins. - TV-G
Sinatra Sings (2011)
Frank Sinatra performances culled from his TV specials and concerts. Narrated by Tina Sinatra.

9:15 p.m. - B/W - 118 mins. - TV-PG
From Here to Eternity (1953)
D: Fred Zinnemann. Cast: Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed, Frank Sinatra, Philip Ober, Ernest Borgnine, Mickey Shaughnessy, Jack Warden, Claude Akins, George Reeves.
Toned-down but still powerful adaptation of James Jones' novel of Army life in Hawaii just before Pearl Harbor. Depiction of Japanese sneak attack combines unforgettable action scenes with actual combat footage. Brilliantly acted by entire cast, including Sinatra in his "comeback'' role as the ill-fated soldier Maggio. Eight Oscars include Best Picture, Director, Screenplay (Daniel Taradash), Cinematography (Burnett Guffey), and Supporting Actors Sinatra and Reed. Remade in 1979 as a TV miniseries, which in turn spun off a brief series.

11:30 p.m. - Color - 126 mins. - TV-PG
Devil at 4 O'Clock, The (1961)
D: Mervyn LeRoy. Cast: Spencer Tracy, Frank Sinatra, Kerwin Mathews, Jean-Pierre Aumont, Gregoire Aslan, Bernie Hamilton, Alexander Scourby, Barbara Luna, Cathy Lewis.
Prisoners Harry (Frank Sinatra), Marcel (Gregoire Aslan) and Charlie (Bernie Hamilton) are flown to a small tropical island to serve the elderly Father Doonan (Spencer Tracy), who makes them work high in the mountains at a health clinic for local children. When a volcano erupts, the young patients are stranded, while the rest of the island's population flees. When Doonan offers to free the convicts if they help save the children, Harry leads his fellow convicts on a daring rescue mission.

1:45 a.m. - Color - 114 mins. - TV-PG
Detective, The (1968)
D: Gordon Douglas. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Lee Remick, Jacqueline Bisset, Jack Klugman, William Windom, Robert Duvall.
When a gay man is viciously slain, Detective Joe Leland (Frank Sinatra) is put on the case. Joe eventually tracks down the victim's roommate, who confesses to the crime and is sentenced to death; however, the outcome of the case doesn't sit well with the detective. Norma (Jacqueline Bisset), a distraught widow, visits Joe. She believes her husband's death was no accident, but the cops don't seem to care. Joe begins to investigate, and stumbles on a cover-up related to his previous case.

4:00 a.m. - Color - 112 mins. - TV-14
First Deadly Sin, The (1980)
D: Brian G. Hutton. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Faye Dunaway, David Dukes, Martin Gabel, James Whitmore, George Coe, Brenda Vaccaro, Anthony Zerbe.
Edward Delaney (Frank Sinatra) is nearing the end of his career as a New York City homicide detective. But, before he can retire, he picks up a case involving multiple brutal murders, the victims of which have nothing in common. With help from a museum curator (Martin Gabel), Edward starts to piece together the few clues the vicious killer has left behind. As he starts to close in on the killer, his wife, Barbara (Faye Dunaway), is diagnosed with a serious disease.

6:00 a.m. - B/W - 77 mins. - TV-PG
Suddenly (1954)
D: Lewis Allen. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Sterling Hayden, James Gleason, Nancy Gates, Willis Bouchey, Kim Charney, Paul Frees, Christopher Dark, Charles Smith.
Sinatra leads trio of paid assassins who take over house in small town where the President will pass on his way to a fishing trip. White-knuckle thriller, written by Richard Sale, with Sinatra excellent in thoroughly detestable role; rest of cast equally fine. "Suddenly," incidentally, is the name of the town.

7:30 a.m. - Color - 106 mins. - TV-PG
None but the Brave (1965)
D: Frank Sinatra. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Clint Walker, Tatsuya Mihashi, Brad Dexter, Tommy Sands, Tony Bill, Takeshi Kato, Kenji Sahara, Takashi Inagaki, Christopher Dark.
Crash-landed Marines (Frank Sinatra, Clint Walker, Tommy Sands) form an uneasy truce with forgotten Japanese soldiers on a South Pacific island.

9:30 a.m. - Color - 132 mins. - TV-PG
Pride and the Passion, The (1957)
D: Stanley Kramer. Cast: Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, Sophia Loren, Theodore Bikel, John Wengraf.
Miscast actioner involving capture of huge cannon by British naval officer (Grant) in 19th-century Spain. Spectacle scenes--filmed on location--are impressive; but most of the film is ridiculous. From the C. S. Forester novel.

11:45 a.m. - Color - 125 mins. - TV-PG
Never So Few (1959)
D: John Sturges. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Gina Lollobrigida, Peter Lawford, Steve McQueen, Richard Johnson, Paul Henreid, Brian Donlevy, Dean Jones, Charles Bronson.
WW2 action/romance tale; salty performances which make one forget the cliches and improbabilities.


8:00 p.m. - Color - 51 mins. TV-G
Frank Sinatra: Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back (1973)
Magnavox Presents Frank Sinatra (or Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back) was an NBC musical television special starring Frank Sinatra broadcast on November 18, 1973.  The special was written by Fred Ebb, directed by Marty Pasetta, and produced by Howard W. Koch. The announcer for the special was Ed McMahon. Gene Kelly, the guest star on the special, had last worked with Sinatra on the 1949 film On the Town.
Song list:
1. "My Way" (Instrumental) 2. "You Will Be My Music" 3. "I Get a Kick Out of You" 4. "Street of Dreams" 5. "I've Got You Under My Skin" 6. "I've Got the World on a String"
7. Saloon trilogy: "Last Night When We Were Young"/"Violets for Your Furs"/"Here's That Rainy Day"
8. "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" (Instrumental) 9. "I Begged Her" (Instrumental)
10. Medley with Gene Kelly: "Can't Do That Anymore"/"Take Me Out to the Ball Game"/"For Me and My Gal"/"New York, New York"
11. "Nice 'n' Easy" 12. "Let Me Try Again" 13. "Send in the Clowns" 14. "You Will Be My Music" (Reprise)

9:00 p.m. - Color - 98 mins. - TV-G
On the Town (1949)
D: Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen. Cast: Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Vera-Ellen, Betty Garrett, Ann Miller, Jules Munshin, Alice Pearce, Florence Bates.
Three sailors have 24 hours to take in the sights and sounds of N.Y.C. Exuberant MGM musical, innovatively shot on location all over the City, isn't much in terms of plot and discards some of the best songs from the Betty Comden/Adolph Green/Leonard Bernstein show on which it's based . . . but it's still terrific entertainment. Highlight: "New York, New York.'' Oscar winner for Roger Edens and Lennie Hayton's musical scoring. An impressive directing debut for Kelly and Donen.

11:00 p.m. - Color - 93 mins. - TV-G
Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949)
D: Busby Berkeley. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Esther Williams, Gene Kelly, Betty Garrett, Edward Arnold, Jules Munshin, Richard Lane, Tom Dugan.
Contrived but colorful turn-of-the-century musical, with Williams taking over Sinatra and Kelly's baseball team. "O'Brien to Ryan to Goldberg" and Kelly's "The Hat My Father Wore on St. Patrick's Day" are musical highlights.

12:45 a.m. - Color - 139 mins. - TV-G
Anchors Aweigh (1945)
D: George Sidney. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, Gene Kelly, Jose Iturbi, Dean Stockwell, Pamela Britton.
Popular '40s musical of sailors on leave doesn't hold up story-wise, but musical numbers still good: Sinatra's "I Fall in Love Too Easily," Kelly's irresistible dance with Jerry the cartoon mouse.

3:15 a.m. - B/W - 103 mins. - TV-G
It Happened In Brooklyn (1947)
D: Richard Whorf. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, Jimmy Durante, Peter Lawford, Gloria Grahame.
Hokey musical with Brooklynite Sinatra returning to his beloved borough after WW2; complications follow as he falls for music teacher Grayson. Some good songs, including "Time After Time'' and wonderful Sinatra-Durante duet, "The Song's Gotta Come From the Heart.''

5:15 a.m. - Color - 100 mins. - TV-G
Kissing Bandit, The (1948)
D: Laslo Benedek. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, Ann Miller, J. Carrol Naish, Ricardo Montalban, Mildred Natwick, Cyd Charisse, Billy Gilbert.
Frail Sinatra vehicle about son of Western kissing bandit who picks up where Dad left off; song "Siesta'' sums it up.

7:00 a.m. - B/W - 88 mins. - TV-G
Step Lively (1944)
D: Tim Whelan. Cast: Frank Sinatra, George Murphy, Adolphe Menjou, Gloria DeHaven, Eugene Pallette, Anne Jeffreys, Walter Slezak.
Brisk musical remake of Room Service with producer Murphy wheeling and dealing to get his show produced. Engagingly frantic, with sharp dialogue, funny contribution by Slezak as the hotel manager. If you blink you'll miss (brunette) Dorothy Malone as switchboard operator in lobby.

8:30 a.m. - B/W - 90 mins. - TV-G
Higher and Higher (1943)
D: Tim Whelan. Cast: Michèle Morgan, Jack Haley, Frank Sinatra (film debut), Leon Errol, Barbara Hale, Mary Wickes, Elisabeth Risdon, Marcy McGuire, Mel Tormé, Victor Borge.
On the verge of losing his home, former millionaire Cyrus (Leon Errol) and his driver, Mike (Jack Haley), recruit Millie (Michele Morgan), a beautiful maid, to pose as the fictitious heiress to Cyrus' now-spent fortune. With Mike's guidance, Millie courts the debonair Sir Victor Fitzroy (Victor Borge) in hopes of marrying him to obtain a dowry. But Victor may not be what he seems, neighborhood kid Frank (Frank Sinatra) wants Millie for himself -- and poor Millie doesn't love either of them.


8:00 p.m. - Color - 30 mins. - TV-G
"Happy Holidays with Bing and Frank" (1957)
was the tenth episode of The Frank Sinatra Show television series. The series aired on ABC from October 18, 1957 to June 27, 1958.
Aired December 20, 1957:  Guests: Bing Crosby, The Ralph Brewster Singers
Note: In this Christmas show, Frank sings "Mistletoe and Holly" (which he co-wrote), "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," and "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town." Bing croons "Away in a Manger" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." The two team up for "Jingle Bells," "Deck the Halls," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," "O Come, All Ye Faithful," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," "The Christmas Song," and "White Christmas." The Ralph Brewster singers perform "Here We Come a-Caroling" and "The First Noel." This episode was directed by Frank and written by Bill Morrow. Produced at the Samuel Goldwyn Studios using the drama episodes crew, it was shot in color but originally broadcast in black and white. At a 2001 Museum of Television and Radio seminar, producer William Self explained the rather unusual production method: "Crosby liked to pre-record and lip synch, and he preferred doing it in the morning. Frank liked to record live and do it in the evening. So these duets were sung about ten hours apart, and we put it all together. There was no orchestra there. Bill Miller, who was a wonderful pianist, played low so the mike would not pick it up - or very much. And then Frank would sing to the low piano. And then Nelson Riddle came in later and overrode the piano with the orchestra."

8:45 p.m. - B/W - 120 mins. - TV-G
Miracle of the Bells, The (1948)
D: Irving Pichel. Cast: Fred MacMurray, Valli, Frank Sinatra, Lee J. Cobb, Charles Meredith.
Contrived story of miracle occurring when movie star is laid to rest in coal-mining home town; often ludicrous, despite sincere cast. Screenplay by Ben Hecht and Quentin Reynolds.

11:00 p.m. - Color - 112 mins. - TV-PG
High Society (1956)
D: Charles Walters. Cast: Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Celeste Holm, John Lund, Louis Calhern, Louis Armstrong, Sidney Blackmer.
Fluffy remake of The Philadelphia Story is enjoyable, but has lost all the bite of the original. Kelly is about to marry Lund when ex-hubby Crosby arrives, along with reporters Sinatra and Holm. Cole Porter songs include "True Love,'' "Did You Evah?,'' "You're Sensational,'' plus Bing and Satchmo's "Now You Has Jazz.'' Grace Kelly's last acting role.

1:00 a.m. - Color - 123 mins. - TV-PG
Robin And The 7 Hoods (1964)
D: Gordon Douglas. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Bing Crosby, Peter Falk, Barbara Rush, Edward G. Robinson, Victor Buono, Tony Randall, Allen Jenkins.
Set in Chicago during Prohibition, the Rat Pack's take on the Robin Hood legend finds bootlegger Robbo (Frank Sinatra) and his cronies refusing to pay the greedy Guy Gisborne (Peter Falk) a cut of their profits after Guy shoots mob boss Big Jim (Edward G. Robinson) and takes over. When Big Jim's daughter, Marian (Barbara Rush), gives Robbo a large sum of money, believing he has avenged her father's death, the gangster donates it to an orphanage, cementing his reputation as a softhearted hood.

3:15 a.m. - Color - 111 mins. - TV-PG
Tender Trap, The (1955)
D: Charles Walters. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Debbie Reynolds, Celeste Holm, David Wayne, Carolyn Jones, Lola Albright, Tom Helmore, James Drury.
Silly romp of swinging, set-in-his-ways N.Y.C. bachelor Sinatra, who meets his match in determined, marriage-minded Reynolds. A real time capsule of 1950s attitudes toward men, women, and sex. Impeccable support from Holm and Wayne; memorable Cahn/Van Heusen title tune. Julius J. Epstein adapted the Max Shulman and Robert Paul Smith play.


8:00 p.m. - Color - 50 mins. - TV-G
Sinatra (1969)
Sinatra: Featuring Don Costa and His Orchestra was a 1969 Emmy nominated television special starring Frank Sinatra, broadcast Wednesday, November 5, 1969, on CBS. It was directed by Tim Kiley.
Set list:
1. "For Once in My Life" 2. "Please Be Kind" 3. "My Way"
4. Film clip medley with song highlights of: "I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night"/"You're Sensational"/"All the Way"/"(Love Is) The Tender Trap"
5. "Little Green Apples" 6. "Out Beyond the Window" 7. "A Man Alone" 8. "Didn't We?" 9. "Forget to Remember" 10. "Fly Me to the Moon" 11. "Street of Dreams" 12. "Love's Been Good to Me" 13. "Goin' Out of My Head" 14. "My Kind of Town"

9:15 p.m. - B/W - 119 mins. - TV-14
Man with the Golden Arm, The (1956)
D: Otto Preminger. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Eleanor Parker, Kim Novak, Darren McGavin, Arnold Stang, Doro Merande.
Then-daring film of drug addiction is now dated, but still powerful; Sinatra is the junkie, Parker the crippled wife. Memorable Elmer Bernstein jazz score.

11:30 p.m. - B/W - 126 mins. - TV-PG
Joker Is Wild, The (1957)
D: Charles Vidor. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Mitzi Gaynor, Jeanne Crain, Eddie Albert, Beverly Garland, Jackie Coogan, Sophie Tucker.
Sinatra is fine in biography of nightclub performer Joe E. Lewis, with Crain and Gaynor diverting as his two loves. Cahn and Van Heusen song "All the Way'' won an Oscar; in fact, the film was reissued as All the Way.

1:45 a.m. - Color - 136 mins. - TV-PG
Some Came Running (1958)
D: Vincente Minnelli. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Shirley MacLaine, Martha Hyer, Arthur Kennedy, Nancy Gates.
Slick adaptation of James Jones' novel about disillusionment in a small midwestern town in the late 1940s; more character study than narrative. MacLaine is especially good as luckless floozie who's stuck on Sinatra; Elmer Bernstein's music score also a standout.

4:15 a.m. - Color - 113 mins. - TV-PG
Sergeants 3 (1962)
D: John Sturges. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop, Henry Silva, Ruta Lee, Buddy Lester, Michael Pate.
Mike (Frank Sinatra), Chip (Dean Martin) and Larry (Peter Lawford) are three rowdy American sergeants stationed in Indian territory. Along with Jonah (Sammy Davis Jr.), a former slave who aspires to be a trooper, the trio attempt to fight back against an Indian chief (Henry Silva) who has conspired to unite all of the local tribes and kill any Americans in sight. But when the sergeants are taken prisoner, they must find a way to warn their regiment of an impending ambush.

6:15 a.m. - Color - 115 mins. - TV-PG
4 For Texas (1963)
D: Robert Aldrich. Cast: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Anita Ekberg, Ursula Andress, Charles Bronson, Victor Buono, Edric Connor, Nick Dennis, Richard Jaeckel, Mike Mazurki, Wesley Addy, Marjorie Bennett, Virginia Christine, Ellen Corby, Jack Elam, Joe DeRita, Larry Fine, Moe Howard.
In the 1870s, two rival businessmen, Zack Thomas (Frank Sinatra) and Joe Jarrett (Dean Martin), on a stagecoach heading to Galveston, Texas, must pull together to protect $100,000 from an outlaw named Matson (Charles Bronson). Once in Galveston, however, their rivalry continues, as Thomas joins up with Elya Carlson (Anita Ekberg) and Jarret with Maxine Richter (Ursula Andress). But Matson is still on the loose, and a scheming banker threatens both Thomas and Jarrett.


Frank Sinatra on Lux Radio Theatre

"Wake Up and Live" - February 21, 1944 - Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Maxwell, James Gleason, Bob Crosby, James Dunn, Cathy Lewis



"Magnificent Obsession" - November 13, 1944 - Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche. Frank Sinatra appears to promote his program.



"Anchors Aweigh" - December 29, 1947 - Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, Kathryn Grayson



"Miracle of the Bells" - May 31, 1948 - Fred MacMurray, Frank Sinatra, Valli





Frank Sinatra Christmas Music

The Sinatra Family Wish You a Merry Christmas is a 1968 Christmas album by Frank Sinatra and featuring his children, Nancy, Frank, Jr. and Tina.

"I Wouldn't Trade Christmas" (with Nancy, Frank, Jr. and Tina)



"The Bells of Christmas (Greensleeves)" (with Nancy, Frank, Jr. and Tina)



"The Christmas Waltz"



"The Twelve Days of Christmas" (with Nancy, Frank, Jr. and Tina)



"Whatever Happened to Christmas?"



Frank Sinatra - Christmas Dreaming

"White Christmas"



"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town"



"Christmas Dreaming"



"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"



"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"



"Jingle Bells"



"It Came Upon a Midnight Clear"



"O Little Town of Bethlehem"



"Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful)"



"Silent Night"





Frank Sinatra on Television

The Frank Sinatra Timex Show (October 15, 1959)

The first of four specials hosted by Frank Sinatra and sponsored by Timex. His guests are Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Mitzi Gaynor, and Jimmy Durante. Also known as Bing Crosby and Dean Martin Present High Hopes.



The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: An Afternoon with Frank Sinatra (December 13, 1959)

The second of four specials hosted by Sinatra and sponsored by Timex. His guests are Peter Lawford, Hermione Gingold, Juliet Prowse, The Hi-Los, and Ella Fitzgerald.



The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: To the Ladies (February 15, 1960)

The third of four specials hosted by Frank Sinatra and sponsored by Timex. His guests are Lena Horne, Mary Costa, Juliet Prowse, Barbara Heller, and Eleanor Roosevelt.



The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: Welcome Home, Elvis! (May 12, 1960)

The fourth of four specials hosted by Frank Sinatra and sponsored by Timex. His guests are Elvis Presley, Nancy Sinatra, Joey Bishop, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford, Tom Hansen Dancers, and Leona Irwin.



Recipes by Frank Sinatra

Sinatra's Chicken Vesuvius

One 3 1/2-pound chicken, cut into pieces
4 or 5 small red potatoes (about 3 ounces each)
1 small red bell pepper
1 small red onion
1 small white onion
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
Minced fresh parsley for garnish

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Place the chicken in a 13-by-9-inch baking dish.

Quarter the potatoes. Seed the bell pepper and cut it into 8 pieces. Quarter the onions through the root ends.

Add the vegetables to the chicken and sprinkle with pepper flakes, salt and pepper, and toss to coat. Smooth out the vegetables, and make sure the chicken pieces are skin side up. Bake until the chicken is browned and the skin is crisp, about 40 minutes. Poke holes in the chicken skin so the juices flow. Stir so the vegetables are glazed. Continue baking until the vegetables are tender and the chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes longer.

Arrange on a serving platter and spoon the juices on top. Sprinkle with parsley. Makes 4 servings.

Frank Sinatra's Eggplant Parmigiana

Tomato Sauce:
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped celery
1 small clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can tomatoes, cut up
1/3 cup tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1 bay leaf

Eggplant:
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 medium eggplant, peeled and cut crosswise in 12-inch slices
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup (1 1/2 ounce) grated Parmesan cheese
6 ounces mozzarella cheese

Prepare "Tomato Sauce" and set aside.

Combine flour and salt. Dip eggplant in egg, then in seasoned flour. Sauté eggplant slices in hot oil in large skillet for 3 minutes on each side, adding more oil if necessary. Drain slices well on paper towel. Place 1/2 of eggplant in single layer in a 10 x 6 x 2-inch baking dish, cutting slices to fit. Sprinkle with 1/2 of Parmesan cheese, 1/2 sauce and 1/2 mozzarella cheese. Cut remaining mozzarella into triangles. Repeat layers. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees F. for 15 to 20 minutes or until hot. Serves 6.


Frank Sinatra's Sausage and Peppers

3 green peppers
3 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper (optional)
1 lb. hot Italian sausages
3/4 cup red wine

Remove stems and seeds from peppers and cut into large chunks. In an ovenproof baking dish that can be used on the top of the stove, saute green peppers in oil until they begin to soften. Sprinkle with a little salt. Lift the green peppers out of the dish and set aside. Brown the sausages in the same baking dish. When browned, add 3/4 cup red wine. Cover the pan with foil and bake the sausages in wine in a 350 degrees F. oven for 40 minutes. (Ovens vary, so cook until the sausage is no longer pink.) Uncover and add the sauteed green peppers. Bake for an additional 30 minutes and serve in same baking dish. Serves 4.

Sinatra's Spinach

Sinatra loved this dish because it isn't fattening and he believed the olive oil was good for his voice.

1 (1-pound) can whole-leaf spinach
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup finely chopped sweet onion

Drain the spinach and place in a serving dish. Drizzle with the oil and toss to coat. Sprinkle with the onion. Makes 4 servings.

Recipes by Dolly Sinatra


Dolly Sinatra's Marinara Sauce

This amount is for 1 pound of pasta.

1/2 cup olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes with puree
1 sprig fresh oregano, finely chopped
1 teaspoon dried basil, crumbled
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, crumbled
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until the oil is fragrant and is seasoned, about 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and puree. Heat to simmering. Cook on low heat until the sauce thickens, about 20 minutes.

Add the oregano, basil, and Italian seasoning. Mix well. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook on low heat for another 15 minutes or so as it thickens. Makes 4 servings.

Serve with a green salad topped with sliced tomatoes and dressed with Italian dressing, and sliced Italian bread.

Dolly Sinatra's Meatballs

1 lb. ground beef
2/3 lb. ground veal (or pork)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 eggs
1/4 lb. freshly grated Romano cheese
1/3 cup chopped Italian flat leaf parsley
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 cup stale Italian bread, crumbed
6 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons lukewarm water
olive oil

(Makes approx. 18-20 meatballs depending on size.)

Combine the ground beef and veal in a large bowl. Add the garlic, eggs, cheese, parsley, salt and pepper. Blend bread crumbs into meat mixture. Slowly add the water. The mixture should be moist but firm enough to make meatballs. Shape into meatballs. Heat olive oil in a large frying pan. Fry 5-6 meatballs at a time until browned and cooked. Place on a paper towel to drain off excess oil.

November 29, 2015

Recipes of Old or Dead Famous People


I asked a friend's seven-year-old daughter to come up with a title for my recipe posts. She said, "You like dead famous people a lot. Can you use that in the title?" I replied, "They're not all dead. Some are just old." She said, "Old or dead famous people. Use that." So that's what I did:

Here's a collection of recipes from celebrities who were also handy in the kitchen. (List of recipes is in alphabetical order by celebrity last name.)

(This is a work in progress and I need your help. Please leave a comment to add recipes.)


Alan Alda's Che-Cha

14 good-size Italian plum tomatoes or 2 (14 ounce) cans plum tomatoes
2 handsful fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/3 pound reduced fat mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 tablespoon olive oil
10 ounces fusilli (corkscrew macaroni) or your choice of noodle

Fill a pot with enough water to cover tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Add tomatoes to boiling water. Remove after about 10 seconds.

Mix the tomatoes, basil, garlic and cheese with the olive oil. Let stand in a covered bowl for at least 3 hours (or overnight) refrigerated.

Cook fusilli. Drain. Add sauce to hot pasta. Mix well and serve warm.


Ed Asner's Balsamic-Roasted New Potatoes

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 pounds small new potatoes, washed, patted dry and quartered; or, if using larger potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced shallots
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon minced rosemary
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Place baking rack in lower third of oven.

Heat olive oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add potatoes, garlic and shallots. Toss in skillet until well mixed. Add thyme, rosemary and nutmeg. Toss well. When potatoes are hot, transfer to baking pan and spread in single layer. (This part of the recipe can be made several hours ahead of time.)

Place pan in preheated oven on lower rack. Roast potatoes until golden and just tender, about 25 minutes, turning once midway.

Add vinegar. Toss well. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Return to oven until sizzling, about 7 minutes. Serve immediately. Makes 6 servings.


Barbara Bush's Barbecued Chicken

2 1/2 to 3 pound broiler-fryer chicken, quartered or 5-6 pieces of chicken
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
2 1/2 cups water
1 cup coarsely chopped onion
1/2 to 3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/3 cup prepared yellow mustard
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 1/2 cups catsup
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
6 to 8 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper (or less, to taste)

Place chicken in a plastic zip top bag. Set in a shallow dish. For marinade, stir together 3 tablespoons lemon juice, cooking oil, salt 1 /2 teaspoon black pepper, and garlic. Pour over chicken. Close bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, turning often.

In a saucepan, combine water, onion, sugar, butter, mustard, vinegar and 1 /2 teaspoon pepper. Bring to boiling, reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Stir in catsup, Worcestershire, 6 to 8 tablespoons lemon juice, and red pepper. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered for 50 to 60 minutes or until reduced to about 4 cups.

Meanwhile, drain chicken, discarding marinade.

In a grill with a cover, arrange preheated coals around a drip pan. Test for medium heat above the pan. Place chicken, bone side down, on grill rack over drip pan. Cover and grill for 50 to 60 minutes or until chicken is done. Brushing often with barbecue sauce the last 10 minutes of grilling.

To serve, pass around additional barbecue sauce with chicken. Makes 4 servings.

Barbara Bush's Mushroom Quiche

1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/4 pounds mushrooms, sliced
3 green onions, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
3 shallots, minced
1 3/4 teaspoons oregano
1 3/4 teaspoons basil
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon marjoram
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
4 eggs
3/4 cup skim or whole milk, or half-and-half

Prebake the pie shell until golden brown and then glaze with an egg white and/or mustard before filling. Then put pie on top of cookie sheet or baking sheet on lower 1/3 part of oven. This will keep crust from getting soggy.

Position rack in lower 1/3 of oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.

Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the mushrooms, onions, garlic, and shallots together. Stir in seasonings and cook 2 minutes until liquid is evaporated. Let cool 5 minutes.

In a medium bowl combine eggs with milk or half-and-half and beat well. Stir in mushroom mixture and pour into pie crust. Bake until filling is puffed, set and starting to brown, about 35 to 45 minutes. Yield: 6 servings.


Sebastian Cabot's Truita a la Marguery (Trout a la Marguery)

For fumet (fish stock):
1 pound chopped raw fish (bones and trimmings)
1 small yellow onion, chopped
bouquet garni (2 sprigs parsley, small bay leaf, pinch thyme tied in cheesecloth bag)
2-inch piece peeled carrot, chopped
1 1/2 cups dry white wine
1 1/2 cups water
6 peppercorns
good pinch salt

Break up bones and put in stock pot with other ingredients. Bring to boil, simmer uncovered about 45 minutes or until reduced in volume one-third. Strain to use.

Preparation of mussels and shrimp:
1 1/2 dozen mussels
1 1/2 dozen small green shrimp
2 cups dry white wine
4 sprigs parsley, chopped
2 small pinches thyme
1 small yellow onion, chopped
8 crushed peppercorns

Wash and beard mussels scrubbing well under running water; drain well on paper towels. In a saucepan put 1 cup wine, pinch thyme, half chopped onion and 4 peppercorns. Bring to boil; add mussels, cover, cook only until shells start to open. Drain well an discard any shells that fail to open.

Wash, drain shrimp on paper towels. Using remaining ingredients, simmer stock, add shrimp, cover, cook about 4 minutes (or until shrimp turns pink). Drain, cool, remove shells and devein.

To assemble:
4 cleaned rainbow trout, each weighing 3/4 to 1 pound
4 pats sweet butter
salt
cayenne
2/3 stick sweet butter
1/4 cup fumet
3 tablespoons dry white wine
3 egg yolks

Clean fish well, leaving heads and tails intact. Dry well with paper towel. Rub inside cavity and outside of each trout well with pat of softened butter. Salt inside and outside skin of each trout, sprinkle with few grains cayenne. Place trout in shallow, ovenproof platter (or copper baking dish). Cover loosely with a piece of buttered aluminum foil (or buttered paper). Bake in preheated 300 degrees F. oven for about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile prepare sauce as follows:
Combine fumet, wine and remaining butter in top of double boiler. Cook over hot, but not boiling water until butter melts. Add egg yolks one at a time, beat into wine mixture after each addition. Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce is consistency of thick cream. Arrange cooked mussels and shrimp around baked trout, spoon sauce over all. Return to oven to glaze lightly. Serves 4.


Abby Dalton's Lamb Stew with Parsley Dumplings

Lamb Stew:
1 1/2 to 2 pounds lean boneless lamb from leg or breast, cut into cubes
well-seasoned flour
vegetable oil
lamb bones, reserved from leg or breast
1 cup celery, chopped
1 onion, peeled and chopped
1 bay leaf
4 sprigs parsley, chopped
10 to 12 bruised peppercorns
salt and pepper to taste
water
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can chicken broth, optional
3 or 4 carrots, scraped, cut into large pieces
3 large stalks celery
2 large onions, peeled and cut in large pieces
1 cup frozen or fresh peas

Parsley Dumplings:
2 cups sifted flour
2 teaspoons double-acting baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon butter
3/4 cup parsley, minced
2 egg yolks
1/2 cup cold buttermilk
chopped parsley, optional

Trim all fat from lamb; dredge in seasoned flour. Brown in hot vegetable oil in skillet on all sides. Set aside browned lamb.

Meanwhile, simmer bones with chopped celery, onion, bay leaf, parsley, peppercorns, salt and pepper to taste and water to cover. Cover and simmer (do not boil) 3 to 4 hours, until stock is well flavored.

Strain stock; discard vegetables and bones. Add strained stock, a little at a time, to hot lamb. Loosen cooked flour mixture, stirring with wooden spoon. Add enough chicken stock if necessary, to make a very light gravy. Add remaining ingredients except peas and dumpling mixture. Cover and simmer (do not boil) until vegetables are almost tender. Add peas and dumpling mixture. Cook until dumplings are done, about 12 minutes. Serve piping hot!

Parsley Dumplings:
Sift together dry ingredients. With knife, cut in butter until mixture resembles corn meal. Work in chopped parsley. Beat egg yolks with buttermilk in separate bowl; add quickly to flour mixture with fork. Do not beat mixture. Drop dough by small teaspoonsful into simmering stew. Cover tightly, cook 12 minutes without peeking! Serve hot. Dust with additional parsley if desired.


Barbara Eden's Chicken and Rice Supreme

Chicken and Rice:
3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
1 onion, chopped
2 cups mushrooms, sliced
1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken, cubed
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 (10.5 - 10.75 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon curry powder
4 cups cooked rice
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup green onions, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Topping:
1 cup Cheddar cheese, grated
1/4 cup dry bread or cracker crumbs

In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat: cook onion and mushrooms until softened. Remove to mixing bowl. Add remaining tablespoon of oil to hot saucepan and cook chicken pieces (skin removed) until golden brown; remove to bowl. Add wine to skillet, stirring to deglaze pan; add soup, broth, sour cream and curry powder, whisking together until blended. Stir into chicken and mushroom mixture along with cooked rice, peas and green onions; mix until well blended. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer mixture to greased 10-cup baking dish or casserole. Top with a mixture of cheese and crumbs. Bake uncovered in 350 degrees F. oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until mixture bubbles and topping is golden brown. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Barbara Eden's Company Green Beans

1 1/2 pounds green beans, ends trimmed
2 tablespoons butter
1 clove garlic, minced
1 sweet red pepper, thinly sliced
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds

Cook the beans in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes. Drain the beans and set aside. Dry the pot: add butter and melt over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper strips; cook, stirring often, until softened, about 1 minute. Return the reserved beans to the pot and toss until vegetables are well mixed and beans are reheated. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with almonds. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Barbara Eden's Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms

24 large mushrooms
2 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
4 tablespoons grated Romano cheese
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 tablespoons bread crumbs
4 ounces crab meat, rinsed and tossed with 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 1/2 teaspoons Cognac
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Remove mushroom stems. Combine 2 tablespoons of the Romano cheese with remaining ingredients in a bowl; beat with mixer for 5 minutes. Fill mushrooms with a 1/2-inch crown left on top.

Lightly butter a large baking sheet and arrange stuffed mushrooms with a space between. Bake 10 minutes. Remove mushrooms from oven; sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons Romano cheese. Heat broiler.

Place mushrooms under broiler until cheese melts and is golden. Yields 24 servings.


Betty Ford's Buttermilk Pancakes

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 large eggs, separated
3 cups buttermilk


Mix together all ingredients except egg whites. Beat egg whites until stiff. Fold beaten egg whites into pancake mixture. Cook pancakes as usual.

Betty Ford's Chinese Pepper Steak

2 pounds flank steak
2 tablespoons shortening
3 green bell peppers, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1 package onion soup mix
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 cup sherry
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Cut steak lengthwise into 1/2-inch strips and then into 1-inch pieces.

Melt shortening in skillet and fry steak just long enough for it to change color. Remove meat and sauté the green pepper. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a large pot. Add onion soup mix and continue to boil for 10 minutes.

Stir in the meat and green pepper and simmer for 30 minutes.

Add the soy sauce, sherry, cornstarch (diluted in a little water), salt and pepper. Cook until slightly thickened. Serve over steamed rice. Serves 4.

Betty Ford’s Curried Tuna Casserole

6 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons minced shallots
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 medium red peppers, julienned
4 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons curry powder
3 cups hot chicken stock
1 cup hot milk
2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
pinch of salt
10 ounces small pasta shells
2 cups drained tuna
1/4 cup dry sherry
6 saltine crackers, crushed
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a 3-quart casserole dish.

Melt butter in a 2-quart saucepan; add shallots and garlic, and sauté lightly for 1 minute. Do not brown. Stir in red pepper strips and sauté for 2 minutes. Stir in flour and curry powder; cook, stirring constantly, until flour is well absorbed.

Add hot stock and bring to a boil; stir until smooth. Add hot milk, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes; keep warm.

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta for 7 minutes. Drain well and transfer into the prepared casserole dish.

Flake tuna into small pieces and spread evenly over the shells. Slowly pour the sherry over tuna, then top with the warm sauce. Sprinkle with cracker crumbs and grated cheese.

Bake on middle shelf of preheated oven for 30 minutes or until heated through and lightly browned on top.


A.J. Foyt's 500-Mile Chili

3 pounds stewing beef, cubed
1 pound chorizo
2 large onions, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
3 jalapeno peppers, peeled and diced
3 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
3 tablespoons chili powder
3 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups water
1 can Mexican beer

Brown meat, onions, garlic and jalapenos together in olive oil. While mixture is browning, add cayenne and chili powder. Stir often. Add tomato sauce, salt, water and beer. Cover and cook on low heat for 30 minutes, stirring often. Uncover and simmer for 2 hours. Serves 6 to 8.


Aretha Franklin's Queen of Soul Ham

1 (12 to 14 pound) fully cooked, bone-in ham
cloves
1 (16 ounce) box light brown sugar
3 tablespoons French's mustard
1 (8 ounce) jar maraschino cherries, drained
1 (12 ounce) ginger ale (preferably Vernor's)
1 (20 ounce) can pineapple rings
baker's coconut for garnish, optional

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Using a paring knife, score the ham, creating a diamond pattern. Insert cloves into the corners of each diamond. Place the ham on a rack set in a 12 x 15-inch roasting pan. Cover loosely with foil and bake until ham appears juicy, about 30 minutes.

Place brown sugar and mustard in a medium bowl. Stir to combine. Gradually add ginger ale to brown sugar mixture until a pourable consistency is achieved; you may not need the whole can. Remove ham from oven and remove foil. Pour brown sugar mixture over ham, and, using a pastry brush, coat the sides. Cover ham with foil, return to oven, and cook for 1 hour, basting every 20 minutes. Remove foil for last 20 minutes. Serves 12.


Annette Funicello's Steak in a Bag

2 pounds top sirloin steak, cut 2 1/2 inches thick
2 tablespoons garlic spread
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned pepper
1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup bread crumbs

Trim fat from steak. Make a paste from garlic spread, vegetable oil, salt and seasoned pepper. Spread on both sides of steak.

Combine cheese and bread crumbs; pat on steak. Place steak in brown paper bag (large enough to fit steak comfortably). Seal loosely with paper clips. Bake in preheated 375 degrees F. oven for 30 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees F. and bake steak for 15 minutes longer. Unseal bag to serve.

For easy handling, place bag on cookie sheet during baking. Annette advises, "You can bake steak early in the day, then bake at 425 degrees F. just before serving. The steak is out of this world." Yields 6 servings.


Cary Grant's Oven-Barbecued Chicken

1 (4 1/2 pound) whole chicken (cut into pieces)
1/2 cup oil (vegetable oil, for frying)
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup A-1 sauce
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 (8 ounce) yellow onion, peeled and diced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons cornstarch (or more if needed)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium till hot. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Fry the chicken pieces in the hot oil in batches until browned. Place browned chicken pieces in a 9 x 13 baking dish.

In a saucepan, combine ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, water, A-1 sauce, sugar, cider vinegar, onion and garlic. Whisk together over medium heat until warm.

In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tbsps. cornstarch with 2 tbsps. cold water until smooth. Slowly add the cornstarch mixture to the barbecue sauce, whisking until incorporated. Continue to whisk over medium heat until the sauce is hot, bubbly, and thickened. Remove from heat. Pour the sauce evenly across the top of the chicken pieces.

Cover the roasting dish with foil. Bake the chicken for 60-75 minutes, or until the meat is tender and well cooked. Remove from the oven.

If you'd like to serve extra sauce with the chicken, skim the fat drippings from the top of the sauce.

To thicken the leftover sauce, pour it into a saucepan and heat over medium heat.

Mix together equal amounts of cornstarch and water, a half tablespoon at a time, and slowly whisk into the sauce. Heat and add the cornstarch mixture, stirring constantly, until desired consistency is reached.

Serve chicken warm with the thickened barbecue sauce on the side.


Andy Griffith's Favorite Blue Bird Diner Ground Steak Sandwich

2 pounds beef chuck, ground (80/20 is crucial to the success)
1 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons mayonnaise
Coleslaw (prepared, 1 cup)
(2 tomatoes, sliced)

Start by browning the beef in the pan, chopping up so the meat takes on a "sloppy joe" appearance. Drain ground meat. Pepper meat liberally! This is supposed to be redolent in the taste of ground black pepper.

Whisk together flour, water, and salt. Add to skillet, and allow to come to a boil. Lower heat and simmer until mixture has thickened.

Serve on buns with mayo, your favorite coleslaw, and a slice of tomato.


George Harrison's Lentil Soup

1 red chili
1 tsp. cumin seeds
2 large onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic
1 cup lentils
2 large tomatoes, chopped
2 green peppers, chopped
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat a small amount of oil in frying pan. When oil is hot, add chili and cumin seeds. When seeds stop sputtering, brown onions and garlic in heated oil.

Wash lentils well and cover with water. Add browned onions and garlic to pan of lentils. Add tomatoes, peppers, bay leaf, plus salt and pepper. Bring to boil, cover, lower heat. Soup's on for 4 in an hour.


Alfred Hitchcock's Quiche Lorraine

Tart Pastry:
2 cups pastry flour
1/2 cup butter
1 egg yolk
salt
1/4 cup cold water

Filling:
2 or 3 slices cooked diced ham
2 onions, sliced
4 eggs
dash of cayenne pepper
light grating of nutmeg
2 cups hot milk

Tart Pastry:
Work lightly together the pastry flour, butter, egg yolk, a pinch of salt and cold water. Chill the dough for 1 hour or until needed. Roll out half the dough to line the pie pan. Prick randomly with the point of knife and crimp the edge with the tines of a fork. Save remaining pastry for another pie.

Filling:
Scatter diced ham on the crust. Sauté sliced onions in butter until they are soft, but not brown; spread over ham. In a saucepan, beat four eggs with a good pinch of salt, cayenne and nutmeg. Gradually add hot milk, beating continually with a wire whisk. Continue to beat the mixture over a low fire until the custard begins to thicken. Pour it into the tart shell and bake at 375 degrees F. for 30 minutes or until custard is set and the top is golden. Serve hot.


Bob Hope's Favorite Chicken Hash

2 chicken breasts, broiled
2 slices bacon, crisply fried and crumbled
1/2 small onion, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon dry sherry
2 tablespoons sour cream

Cut chicken into thin strips. Combine chicken, bacon, onion, salt, pepper, lemon juice and butter in skillet. Cook until onion is tender. Stir in sherry and sour cream. Cook just until heated. Serve immediately.


Ann Landers' Bootlegger Beans
(Ann Landers = Esther Pauline "Eppie" Friedman Lederer)

3 ounces bacon (3 strips)
1/4 cup yellow onion, chopped
1 can (28 ounce) pork and beans
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons ketchup


Dice the bacon and fry in pan. When about 1/2 way done, add the onion. Pour off most of the grease. Add the rest of the ingredients, stir well and cover. Let this simmer for at least 30 minutes. It is better when simmered for 2 hours, even better when baked.

Ann Landers' Meatloaf
(Ann Landers = Esther Pauline "Eppie" Friedman Lederer)

2 pounds ground round steak
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs
3/4 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon Accent flavor enhancer
1/2 cup warm water
1 package dry onion soup mix

Mix all thoroughly and put into a loaf pan. Cover mixture with 2 bacon strips. Pour an 8 ounce can of tomato sauce over meatloaf and bake for one hour at 350 degrees F. Serves 6.

Ann Landers' Noodle and Spinach Ring
(Ann Landers = Esther Pauline "Eppie" Friedman Lederer)

8 ounces dry egg noodles
1 package (10 ounce) chopped frozen spinach
1/3 cup bread crumbs
1 cup American cheese, grated
2 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Cook noodles in salted water. Drain.

Cook spinach in 1/2 cup salted water only until thawed. Drain.

In a buttered 2-quart ring mold, alternate layers of noodles, spinach, crumbs and cheese.

Combine other ingredients; pour over casserole.

Set in a pan of hot water and bake in a 350 degrees F. oven for about 45 minutes.


Angela Lansbury's Power Loaf

2 cups boiling water
1 1/2 cups cracked wheat
3 tablespoons shortening
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon salt
2 packets active dry yeast
2/3 cup warm water
4 cups stone-ground wheat flour
1 cup bran flakes
3/4 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup wheat germ

In large bowl, pour boiling water over cracked wheat and stir. Stir in shortening, honey and salt; let cool to lukewarm.

Sprinkle yeast into warm water; let stand until frothy; add to wheat mixture. Gradually stir in 3 cups flour. Stir in bran flakes, oats and wheat germ. Mix very well and cover bowl with damp cloth. Let rise, about 1 hour, until doubled in bulk.

Punch dough down. On floured surface, knead dough until smooth and elastic, blending in as much of remaining flour as needed if dough is sticky. Divide dough in half and place in 2 greased loaf pans. Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled.

Bake in 350 degrees F. oven for 45 minutes or until loaves are well browned and sound hollow when tapped. Makes 2 loaves.


Anne Meara's Fettuccine

1 pound fettuccine, cooked and drained
8 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 pound bacon
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 pound finely shredded cheddar cheese

Fry bacon and drain. Add to cooked, drained noodles along with cheeses and cream. Heat for 5 minutes, or until cheese melts.


Leonard Nimoy's Cold Soup

1 can (10.75 ounce) condensed cream of celery soup
2 cups water
1 whole cucumber, diced
3 green onions, minced
1 green bell pepper, minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup sour cream

Mix all together and chill overnight before serving.


Dolly Parton's Corn Pone

2 cups cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons bacon grease
About 1 cup milk (enough to make stiff batter)

Mix all ingredients together. Form pones by hand and put on greased baking sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes at 425 degrees F. Makes about 1 1/2 dozen, depending on size.

Dolly Parton's Cowboy Beans

1 pound ground beef
2 medium onions, chopped fine
1 small bell pepper, chopped fine
2 (16 ounce) cans pork and beans
2 cups catsup
1 teaspoon vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 teaspoons prepared mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Brown ground beef, onions, and pepper in a 10-inch skillet. Add remaining ingredients. Pour into baking dish and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes or until mixture is bubbly. Serves 8 to 10.

Dolly Parton's Five Layer Dinner

2 cups sliced potatoes
2 cups extra lean ground beef
1 cup onions, sliced
2 cups cooked tomatoes
Salt and pepper
1 green bell pepper, sliced

Layer potatoes, beef, onions and tomatoes in a 2-quart casserole. Season each layer with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with sliced green peppers. Cover and bake for 2 hours at 350 degrees F. Serves 8.


Burt Reynolds' Beef Stew

3 slices bacon, cut into small pieces
4 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 pounds boneless beef round, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (8 ounce) can beef broth
1 cup dry red wine
1 bay leaf
Pinch of thyme
2 carrots, coarsely chopped
2 stalks celery, coarsely chopped
3 potatoes, cut into bite-size pieces
6 to 8 fresh mushrooms, sliced

Cook bacon until crisp in a Dutch oven; reserve bacon fat, and drain bacon on paper toweling.

Combine flour, salt and pepper in a plastic bag; shake beef in flour mixture to coat completely. Brown beef in bacon fat, turning often. (Add a little more vegetable oil if needed.) Add onion and garlic; cook 3 minutes. Add tomato sauce, broth, wine, bay leaf, and thyme. Cover; lower heat, simmer 1 1/2 hours.

Add carrots, celery, potatoes, and mushrooms. Uncover and cook until meat and vegetables are tender. Sprinkle with reserved bacon. Serves 4.


Dinah Shore's Zucchini Stuffed Chicken

8 to 10 chicken pieces (with skin on)
2 zucchini, washed and shredded
4 cups bread, shredded
2 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons chicken seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder)*
(* 2 tablespoons combined spices)
1 large onion
1 to 2 cup water

Wash and clean chicken.

Mix all stuffing ingredients except water. Add water, a little at a time, until mixture is soft but of a fairly firm consistency. Place 2 to 3 tablespoons of mixture under the skin of each chicken piece and place on baking tray. Bake at 375 degrees F for 40 to 50 minutes. Drain off fat and serve.


Elizabeth Taylor’s Chicken with Avocado and Mushrooms

1 dark-skinned California avocado (Haas), peeled and cubed
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 (21⁄2-pound) chickens, cut into serving pieces
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1⁄4 cup butter

Sauce:
3 finely chopped shallots
3 tablespoons cognac
1⁄3 cup dry white wine
1 cup whipping cream
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup chicken stock
Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Sprinkle avocado with lemon juice. Cover and refrigerate.

Season chicken with salt and pepper. In a large heavy skillet, over low heat, heat 3-4 tablespoons butter and saute chicken until juices run yellow when it is pricked with a fork, about 35-40 minutes. use two skillets if necessary, adding more butter as needed. Transfer cooked chicken to a serving dish. Cover loosely with aluminum foil. Keep warm in a 300 degrees F. oven for 15 minutes, while preparing sauce.

Add shallots to skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring and scraping sides and bottom of pan with wooden spoon. Add cognac and wine and bring to a boil. Boil until mixture has almost evaporated. Add cream and boil 5 minutes longer.

In a saucepan over high heat, saute mushrooms in 3 T. butter.

Add chicken stock to cream mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick. Add the mushrooms, remaining cognac and avocado cubes. Stir until well blended. Pour over chicken. Sprinkle with parsley. Enjoy! Serves 6-8.

Elizabeth Taylor's Salad

1 cup mixed salad greens
1/4 cup watercress, chopped
1 slice deli turkey, julienned
1 slice deli Swiss cheese, julienned
1 slice deli salami, julienned
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon oil

Mix the greens with the watercress. Layer the deli items on top. Mix vinegar and oil. Pour dressing over top.


Alex Trebek's Tourtiere Trebek

1 pound ground pork
3/4 pound ground veal
1 large onion, chopped
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup red wine, beef stock or water
1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
Salt and pepper
Pastry for double-crust pie (9 inch)
Milk or lightly beaten egg

In large pan, combine meat, onions, seasonings and wine; cook over low heat for 1 hour.

Drain fat. Stir in bread crumbs, and salt and pepper to taste. Let cool for about 45 minutes.

Roll out pastry and line a 9-inch pie plate. Spoon in filling; cover with pastry. Cut steam vents in top and seal edges. Brush lightly with milk or egg. Bake in 350 degrees F. oven for 1 hour or until pastry is golden brown.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.


Leslie Uggams' Baked Stuffed Bluefish

3 tablespoons soft sweet butter
1 tablespoon minced Bermuda onion
2 tablespoons minced celery
2 cups unseasoned bread cubes
1 1/2 teaspoons minced parsley
pinch poultry seasoning
pinch ground sage
1/2 teaspoon salt
few gratings freshly ground pepper
1/3 cup dried apricots
3/4 cup water
2 1/2 pounds cleaned bluefish
1/2 lemon

Melt one tablespoon butter over low heat. Saute onion and celery in butter until limp. Place in bowl with bread cubes, parsley, poultry seasoning, sage, salt and pepper.

Simmer apricots in water 5 minutes; drain, retaining cooking juice. Chop apricots slightly and add to seasoned bread cubes. Heat 1/2 cup apricot juice to boiling, pour over stuffing in bowl. Toss lightly to blend well.

Line shallow baking dish with aluminum foil. Rub fish inside and out with butter. Stuff cavity of fists, press top and bottom together to close (or secure with skewers). Bake in preheated 350 degrees F. oven 15 minutes or until fish starts to flake. Pour lemon juice over fish during baking. Run under broiler to brown skin. Serve at once with parslied potatoes and cooked string beans. Serves 2.

Leslie Uggams' Summer Potato Salad

1 pound small white new potatoes
water

2 tablespoons wine vinegar
1 tablespoon melted hydrogenated fat (or salad oil)
1 teaspoon salt
2 sweet gherkins, chopped
1/4 cup minced celery
1 hard-cooked egg, chopped
1 tablespoon minced white onion
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
few gratings freshly ground pepper

Cook potatoes in jacket in boiling water until tender; drain, peel, dice, place in bowl. Mix together vinegar, melted fat (or salad oil), salt and pepper; stir to dissolve salt; pour over potatoes in bowl, mix well. Cover, refrigerate several hours.

Add gherkins, celery, egg, onion and mayonnaise to potatoes. Mix well. Serve chilled on lettuce cups with chicken salad, sliced garden-ripe tomatoes, crackers and tall glasses of iced tea. Serves 2-3.

Leslie suggests: "Make chicken salad from left-over chicken. Prepare sauce by using mustard thinned with a little milk, boil to reduce. Add vinegar (white), seasonings to taste, put over chicken pieces with diced pickles, celery and mayonnaise. Chill well before serving."