Ukulele Chanteuse Janet Klein joins me to make after-theatre food by Ginger Rogers.
Ginger Rogers is best remembered for her partnership with Fred Astaire, which led to ten films including "Follow the Fleet", "Top Hat", "Swingtime" and "Shall We Dance". Rogers also proved her mettle as a dramatic actress and took home the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in "Kitty Foyle".
The Recipe
In the past the companies that made stoves, refrigerators and food products often issued pamphlets or books to promote their products. The Ginger Rogers recipes that we made are from the brochure "Favorite Foods of Famous Stars", which was issued in 1934. The brochure also promotes the Norge Rollator Refrigerator aka "a true aristocrat of the kitchen".
Peanut Parsley Sandwiches
Ingredients
1/2 package cream cheese
1/2 cup salted peanuts, finely chopped
1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
bread
butter
Directions
Let cream cheese stand at room temperature until softened. Blend firmly chopped salted peanuts with finely chopped parsley, add cream cheese and mix well. Spread on buttered bread. Cover with another piece of buttered bread.
P.S.-A huge THANK YOU to my friend Darin Barnes and his husband for letting me borrow their original 1930s plate from the Ambassador Hotel for this episode!
Grape Mint Punch
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 quart water
1 bunch fresh mint or 1/2 teaspoon mint flavoring
juice of 5 lemons
juice of 2 oranges
1 quart of grape juice
1 quart of carbonated water
Directions
Dissolve sugar in water, add mint, let come to a boil and boil for 12 minutes. Strain, cool. Add the strained lemon and orange juices. Chill in Norge. When ready to serve, add carbonated water and ice cubes. (Serves 25)
Special Guest
Ukulele Chanteuse Janet Klein is a band-leader, musical archeologist specializing in rare and wonderful early jazz of the 1920s and 1930s.
Joined by some of her L.A.-based band members—The Parlor Boys—She and her band have recorded 10 CDs with their spirited renditions of Tin Pan Alley, early hot jazz, vaudeville, and Yiddish novelty tunes, ragtime, and other rare and rustic gems.
When live concerts and tours were curtailed in 2020, Janet kept the musical cheer and “time travel entertainment” going by creating an online series called “Hit of the Week Parlor Party" and "Parlor Party Cartoon Screening Room" with fellow musicians, artists & historian pals.
The Final Product
Ginger was right! This would be a perfect item to serve as a midnight snack or after theatre treat. Janet and I enjoyed both of these items and we have each made the grape mint punch several times since we filmed this episode. It is so refreshing. I used purple Welch's grape juice, but I plan to use white grape juice in the future.
We had a great time paying tribute to Ginger and will certainly make more of her recipes in the future.
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