Fred McMurray's Chocolate Fudge Upside Down Cake

"Strangers are just friends you haven't met yet" the saying goes and it is so lovely that people neither Ruthie nor I have ever met are rustling up Silver Screen Suppers dishes in kitchens all over the world. So a big thankyou goes out to Shirley in Wisconsin for testing and devouring Fred's Chocolate Cake.

This recipe certainly holds a few surprises the first time it is made and I love the fact that Shirley said, "the cake unexpectedly rested on a sea of fudge" - doesn't that just make you want to try it immediately?! It definitely is a gooey, chocolatefest of the highest order so be prepared to make a mess if you have a go at this one! Shirley took some pix of the process which you can see on her fab blog here: http://supperseed.blogspot.com/2009/08/what-is-it.html

I also love the fact that Shirley felt a swell of state pride as she whipped up the cake, as Fred hails from her in-laws' hometown of Beaverdam, Wisconsin.

Wonderful! Don't forget that you can always have a bottle of Fred McMurray wine to go with your cake - still being produced at his former vineyard in California - www.macmurrayranch.com - yum!

Fred MacMurray's Egg Burger

I am in Ameriki! How fabulous. I am here with my sister of the skillet in La La Land after a riotous time at the Madonna Inn. The biggest jaw dropping moment was when we were having a Hollywood Martini in the bar and an elderly lady in a bright red pant suit was getting ready to give a show. Rosalind said, "That looks like Carol Channing" and what do you know, it was. She was giving a private show for Phyllis Madonna and we got to watch! Lots of fantastic moments including a superb impersonation of Sophie Tucker ("I not only lost the dice, I lost the stick man who went in after them") and some rather raunchy dancing for a lady who is 87 years of age. Ruthie and I went up for a chat when the show was over and had our photo taken with Carol. When we told her we were Film Archivists she told us a very bawdy story about Tallulah Bankhead. RASPBERRIES.

Today we are recovering from a night drinking Blood & Sand cocktails at the Dresden Rooms and a karaoke session at a crazy Thai bar called "Smog Cutter". Don't ask me what that means because I don't know. I gave a rendition of Joan Jett's "I Love Rock and Roll" with gusto. Our handsome host did some fast moves with the valet parking and before we knew it we were high in the Hollywood Hills with the most amazing view of the Hollywood sign. Ruthie's new beau (ha ha) recommended a diner called Fred 62 and lo and behold, on the menu was a Fred MacMurray Egg Burger. I had it - natch. I will have to find the entry that relates to the version Ruth made way back when in Delaware...

Fred MacMurray's Holland Brioche Cakes

"A cowboy actor needs two changes of expression - hat on and hat off."

Funnily enough I was just in the process of buying myself a self-tipping cowboy hat on Second Life when Max arrived on Sunday morning bearing a gift of two Brioche. They were a joy to behold on the breakfast table - beautiful plump little Birthday Brunch Brioche for Grace.

The spirit of bartering is alive and well in Walthamstow. When I bumped into Max at the Turkish supermarket a while back and loaned him the money for some basil I remembered he'd been given Brioche pans for Christmas. I asked if he would be a test chef for Fred's recipe and lo and behold they appeared. They were absolutely delicious. Another winner from Fred. Hmm, wonder if I could ask Max to rustle up some other numbers - I seem to have stalled somewhat.

I blame Mr Sombrero Delay who is turning out to be rather a pot sticker...

Fred MacMurray's Chocolate Fudge Upside Down Cake

"Suppose I bust out crying and put my head on your shoulder."

I'd give you a cuddle Fred.

It is the first post using my swanky new MacBook computer. I was seduced by the marketing campaigns but it sure is perty.

In advance of the MS Cake Break Day I made one of Fred's chocolate cakes for the girls. Luckily two hungry men turned up out of the blue to assist in its consumption because it was a great big lump of seriously heavy duty chocolate cake. I was most impressed by the way it turned out as it involved a weird process involving pouring cups of boiling water over the mixture. Bizzare but it worked.

Larry and Bogart sat on the sofa and chuckled away to themselves at the ways of the ladies in the Tri-Delta Sorority House. It seems to give them endless amusement and they made us laugh very loudly with their impressions and gags. There was much SHUSHING done when it was feared that an impression of Mr Pizzeria and his wife might be heard through the walls by them themselves next door.

Larry proclaimed of the cake, "Very ding dong!"

I shall make another today.

Fred MacMurray Wine

"The two films I did with Billy Wilder, 'Double Indemnity' and the 'The Apartment' are the only two parts I did in my entire career that required any acting."

Isn't Fred handsome?

The Summit has begun. I am in Delaware ("Small Wonder") with America's Sweetheart of Song and we are up and running. Kicking off the session with a wonderful dinner with her parents and a major new discovery. Ruthie's pa opened the wine list and the very first item that caught his eye was a MacMurray red. WHO KNEW that Fred MacMurray had his own vineyard? Not us! But we do now and a delicious fruity number it has produced too. We'll be seeking that one out again to accompany one of the many EGG dishes we have from the kitchen of Mr MacMurray

It is the first night of the cooking marathon and Marlene Dietrich's "Lamb Chops en Cassorole" are slowly cooking away in the awesome Frick Family Kitchen in Bethanay Beach. Ruth is tearing her hair out as she attempts to bash out the list of our top 50 stars/recipes. There has been much cussing. We have whittled down the list to one hundred and now the battle begins.

Luckily we have a KEG of beer to get us through the battle after we have finished the JUG of Pomegranate Gimlet. Bring it on.