Death Takes A Curtain Call

Murder, She Wrote - S1:E8

Jessica is excited about an invitation to Boston for an evening out on the town. She'll be attending a special performance by the Rostoff Ballet. After the show, she unexpectedly gets mixed up in the defection of "two Ruskie toe-dancers" (as Sheriff Tupper calls them!)

Veteran actor William Conrad plays Major Anatole Karzof of the KGB.

He teams up with Jessica to investigate a murder in which the defectors are implicated.

While the dancers are hiding out in Cabot Cove, the ever hospitable Jessica cooks a meal for them. When an unexpected visitor knocks at the door, she has to usher her secret guests upstairs. I'm guessing the large tureen she has just placed on the table contains her signature clam chowder.

Once the intruder has left, there is much conversation about how he is not who he says he is. I cannot help but feel anxious about Jessica's chowder getting cold.

As this episode opens, Jessica's chum Ethan is at her place eating pie. She's wearing a pinny and asks, "How is the pie?" Ethan replies, "It's delicious as always. I'd tell you if it wasn't." J.B. laughs, "I'm sure you would!" It's not clear what kind of pie this is; I am guessing apple. So, if you are the pie-making kind of person, why not rustle one up to scoff during the show.

Jessica also makes a mean muffin. When Sherriff Tupper visits, he snaffles one. As he returns from the kitchen, licking his fingers and chewing, J.B. catches him out and asks, "How did you enjoy the muffin?" Amos slightly sheepishly says, "Real good, Ma'am."

All of this points to Jessica being an excellent baker who loves to share her kitchen creations with her chums.

In The Cop Cookbook, this recipe is called Mr Wolfe's Salmon Paté. This is a reference to William's 1980s television role as Nero Wolfe, a crime-solving genius who loved gourmet food. I recently picked up this series on DVD and I am loving it!

William Conrad's Salmon Paté

2 envelopes plain gelatine

1 cup hot chicken broth

1 x 16-oz can salmon, drained

½ cup mayonnaise

2 heaping teaspoons chopped parsley

1 heaping teaspoon dill weed

½ medium onion, sliced

1 cup whipping cream

Salt and pepper

Crackers, plain, to serve

In a blender, dissolve the gelatine in the chicken broth.  Add the remaining ingredients, except the crackers, and blend for approximately 2 minutes.  Pour into a mould and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.  Serve with plain crackers.  Enjoy!

Makes about 5 cups

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Next week on Murder, She Cooked, a recipe from the kitchen of Diana Canova.

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More movie star recipes can be found over at the Silver Screen Suppers blog - 15 years and counting.

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Would you like to test a recipe for the forthcoming Murder, She Cooked book? Leave a comment on this post or drop me a line via this link to my contact page.

If you like Columbo, you might like my Cooking With Columbo cookbook

and if you have never been to a Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote live show, check out the amazing Tim Benzie’s website here. Tim did a private show for my hen night. Can you guess which episode we did?

My typewriter logo was designed by the divine Thom Kofoed - do check out his etsy shop for loads of great goodies.

Cheerio for now, tune in for another episode next week!