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We all know we take our cultural cues from celebrities – what to wear, how to talk, what music to listen to, how to cut our hair, how to pose for Facebook profile pics, etc. Thing is, this has been going on since the dawn of celebritydom. Back in the Golden Age days of Hollywood, entertainment magazines were filled with little tidbits and tips from the stars, from how to get the perfect lip shape to how to decorate one’s home. This was also the time before personal chefs and fad diets, when movie stars still (GASP!) cooked their own meals for themselves and their families. Thus stars like Joan Crawford and James Stewart regularly offered personal recipes for these sacred tabloid tomes. And the public ate them up. Literally! ZING!

 

With this in mind, comedian and pop culture commentator Frank DeCaro (whom you might remember from regular stints on “The Daily Show” back in the day) put together a collection of these star-studded recipes for his book The Dead Celebrity Cookbook: A Resurrection of Recipes From More Than 145 Stars of Stage and Screen. (whew!) It is exactly what it sounds like, and it is just as tongue-and-cheek as it sounds like. But here’s the fun part – there’s also a special Christmas edition! With an even impossibly longer name!!!

 

The Dead Celebrity Cookbook Presents Christmas In Tinseltown: Celebrity Recipes and Hollywood Memories From Six Feet Under the Mistletoe is an abridged version of the original that focuses primarily on celebs that are not only deceased but starred in or are associated with holiday classics, like Bing Crosby (White Christmas), Judy Garland (Meet Me In St. Louis), Edmund Gwenn (Miracle on 34th Street), and even Dick Clark, and features a dish purportedly from that star’s own recipe book. In addition, each chapter is filled with reminisces from holiday movies and other intriguing tidbits. Also, most of the recipes are pretty simple (maybe even too simple – Lionel Barrymore offers up his recipe for Fettuccine Alfredo, which is basically just buttered noodles with parmesan cheese sprinkled on top… whatever, Mr. Potter!), so even the most novice of cooks could pull these off. It’s a great way to discover some last-minute, easy ideas to compliment or enhance your holiday feast!

 

As an example, here’s a recipe for Rosemary Clooney’s (yes, that’s George’s aunt) Viennese goulash! Enjoy!

 

 

2 teaspoons marjoram
1 teaspoon caraway seeds
1 teaspoon finely chopped lemon rind
1 clove garlic
¾ cup butter
1 teaspoon tomato paste
2 pounds onions, sliced
1 tablespoon sweet Hungarian paprika
2 pounds chuck, rump, or round beef, cut into large chunks
1½ cups water
Salt, to taste
¼ cup flour, optional

Using a mortar and pestle, or a small grinder, crush together the marjoram, caraway seeds, lemon rind and garlic.

In a Dutch oven, melt the butter, add the tomato paste and crushed seasoning and stir to combine. Add the sliced onions and, stirring constantly, sauté until golden. Add the paprika and cook for a minute more, stirring constantly. Add the beef, one cup of water, and salt to taste.

Cover and simmer until the beef is tender, about 90 minutes. Add more water during cooking, if needed. Before the goulash is done, add another half cup of water and bring the sauce to a boil. If more sauce is desired, sprinkle the meat with ¼ cup flour and add another cup of water and bring to a boil.

Serve the goulash with egg noodles or boiled potatoes. Serves 6.

 

 

Frank DeCaro’s Christmas In Tinseltown is available now from any fine book retailer. Happy Holidays, celeb watchers!

 

 

- Katie Marzullo, YH Staff Editor

katie@younghollywood.com