For a post-Oscar palate cleanser, we decided to explore the numerous actresses who have played the role of "Dolly Levi" on stage and screen.
This recipe is from "The Beautiful Wives Cookbook" by Mrs. Earl Wilson and Ruth Pool. It was published in 1970. You can also find this recipe at Jenny Hammerton's blog SilverScreenSuppers.com
The Recipe
Ingredients
1 stick of butter
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup of walnuts
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9 x 9 inch baking pan.
In a medium bowl, combine graham crackers, chocolate chips, walnuts and coconut. Pour melted butter over the dry ingredients and stir. Press into prepared baking pan. Drizzle the condensed milk over the top. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes, until lightly colored on top. Let cool before cutting into bars.
Notes from Mary Stanford:
- I half this & make it in a 8x8 brownie pan. It works great & makes plenty of cookies.
- Keep a close eye on the oven. Because of the sweetened condensed milk, the edges can burn quickly if you let it go too long. It will keep baking as it cools in the pan.
- It doesn't matter if you use butter or a butter substitute, but I tried coconut oil & it didn't work.
- It's very sweet, so I like using unsweetened coconut.
- Feel free to play around with using whatever nuts or kind of chocolate you like. I made a version with walnuts & milk chocolate that was fabulous.
Special Guests
Mary Stanford is a Los Angeles based theatre historian and singer who celebrates the music, stories and style of the Golden Age of musical theatre and the American Songbook. Her Facebook and Youtube "quarantine cabaret" series, The Mary Stanford Show, has raised $2,000 for charity since the pandemic began. Visit maryjstanford.com for more information.
Danny Miller is a journalist, editor and film history expert. He also co-authored the book "About Face: The Life and Times of Dottie Ponedel: Make-up Artist to the Stars" with Meredith Ponedel.
Lara Gabrielle is a writer and film historian. Her new book Captain of Her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies from UC Press is slated for release in September of 2022. She writes book reviews, festival coverage, and pieces on the history, theory and culture of film on her blog Backlots.
The Final Result
"Hello Dolly" collage artwork by Cherie Savoie Tintary.
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