Keep The Home Fries Burning

Murder, She Wrote - S2:E14

Apr 05, 2023

Before the show, a little announcement. I am starting a virtual reality club for Murder, She Wrote fans. These monthly episode guides and recipes will always be free, but if you like what I do, and would like some extra Cabot Cove energy in your life, why not join the club?

President - Ideal Molloy (Tim of Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote)

Secretary - Eve Simpson (yours truly)

Anyone kind enough to contribute to the Cabot Cove Club coffers can choose their own persona from the show. Who do you fancy being?! A list of characters already assigned can be found here.

TONIGHT ON MURDER, SHE WROTE!

A kitsch tourist trap restaurant called the Joshua Peabody Inn has opened on the outskirts of Cabot Cove.

It has poached the Dixon Diner’s best waitress and most of its clientele too.

Sheriff Tupper is Joshua Peabody’s biggest fan, so a restaurant named after “Cabot Cove’s revolutionary war hero” is naturally going to be his new favourite dining place. He announces, “You know what they say, where Sheriff Tupper goes, so goes Cabot Cove.” Dr. Hazlitt yells, “Who says THAT?” “Everybody,” says the sheriff, “when it comes to food!”

Two hoity-toity out-of-town ladies wear Italian suede and laugh at the themed dishes on the menu of this new eating establishment. The idea of a “Benjamin Franklin-Furter with Beans” makes one of them chortle heartily.

“Eggs Benedict Arnold” also raises a titter. But alas, the food causing them so much merriment will also cause them to fall ill, along with many others.

There is a great moment when Jessica demonstrates her knowledge of French cuisine to prove that the chef of the Joshua Peabody Inn is an imposter. He is most put out to be “humiliated by the Julia Child of Cabot Cove.” Genius!

Anne Francis is great as State Health Officer Margo Perry. You could have her gazpacho with this episode (see the entry for The Murder of Sherlock Holmes), but really, it’s a perfect excuse to have a huge brunch, the kind that Sheriff Tupper would enjoy. It must involve ham and marmalade but go light on the strawberry preserves.

Have some of Sharon Acker’s Oatmeal Crisps on the table too. You could call them Joshua Peabody Crisps, or even better, Cabot Cove Crisps!

Sharon Acker's Oatmeal Crisps

¾ cup butter
1 cup dark brown sugar
¾ cup wholewheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
¼ cup wheat germ (optional)
½ teaspoon each of grated orange and lemon rind
½ cup raisins (optional)
(Chopped pecans or chocolate chips are also interesting options)
Preheat oven to 350 ℉.
Cream the butter and sugar. In a separate bowl, sift the flour with a pinch of salt and the baking powder, then add to the butter and sugar mixture. Add all the other ingredients and mix thoroughly.
Drop by spoonfuls on lightly buttered cookie sheets and press to flatten gently. Bake until nicely browned (they will spread and be very thin). Cool for 2 minutes before lifting. Place on a paper towel for about five minutes to remove any excess butter oil.
Makes 5 to 6 dozen cookies

Next time on Murder, She Cooked a recipe from the kitchen of Craig Stevens.