Unfinished Business

Murder, She Wrote S3:E3

Apr 10, 2024

Before today’s episode guide a quick word from our continuity announcer.

I have decided we should all celebrate the wonderful world of Murder, She Wrote to the MAX with a special day dedicated to the show. I hereby announce International Murder, She Wrote Day, which will happen on the anniversary of the day the show was first televised here in the UK—19th May 1985 - every year from now on, forever!

There will be an online watch party you can join wherever you are in the world - check here for the hour in your time zone.

and I invite you to join me in doing the Angela Lansbury workout live on Instagram at 5 pm - or just watch! I am @silverscreensuppers on Instagram if you don’t already follow me.

I will be wearing my chum Clive’s Don’t Mess With Jess T-shirt!

In my next newsletter, I’ll suggest other ways you might celebrate, but for now, back to the schedule.

Tonight, on Murder, She Wrote…

This time, our very own Dr. Hazlitt is implicated in a murder.

Seth! Just imagine that! Jessica goes into overdrive to clear his name, of course. This is a very cold case, but it hots up once our heroine gets involved

Most of the action takes place at the Juniper Lake Resort,

a venue for much hunting and fishing with lovely bijou cabins to stay in.

There's also a hokey café where many of the murder suspects gather. A lot of coffee is drunk,

plus whiskey too. So, you could serve either to get into the spirit of this show.

Hayley Mills plays the most glamorous of the potential killers who are cooped up together.

You could follow her Lentil Loaf Roast with a piece of peach pie if you have some around the place, as this gets a mention in the show.

Hayley Mills' Family Sunday Lunch: Lentil Loaf Roast

8 oz lentils

2 onions, chopped

1 clove garlic, crushed

Vegetable oil

2 cups wholemeal breadcrumbs

4 oz cheese, grated

1 teaspoon chopped thyme

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

2 free-range eggs, beaten

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Cook the lentils in three times their volume of water, which should take about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, fry the onion and garlic in the oil, and when soft, add them to the breadcrumbs in a mixing bowl. Add the cheese, herbs, salt and pepper to taste and mix. Finally, add the eggs and the cooked lentils and mix thoroughly. Place the mixture in a well-greased loaf tin and cook for 40 minutes, until firm.

Serves 4-6

Next month on Murder, She Cooked

Dinner and a Movie

This month’s Dinner and a Movie suggestion is the wonderful Pillow Talk with Doris Day and Rock Hudson.

Dinner and a Movie

Pillow Talk (1959) - our April movie

Ahh, remember the days before mobile phones? When folks had to have a telephone in EVERY ROOM in the house if they wanted to chat with their chums in the kitchen the bedroom…

a year ago · 12 likes · 9 comments · Jenny Hammerton

Skip over here to my other Substack for all the details.

Test cooking for volume 2 of Murder, She Cooked

My apologies to some lovely people I missed mentioning in my round-up of test cooks.

Bruce McMahon is a test cook I have actually met in person! A fellow member of the Guild of Food Writers, Bruce writes the excellent

The Lemon Grove

here on Substack, so naturally, when he volunteered to test, I chose him something featuring lemons! Lisa Darr’s Spicy Lemon Chicken Caper.

Julia G tested Sam Anderson’s Grilled Salmon and wrote, “That salmon was so good, I've made it multiple times since then!” which naturally makes me extremely happy.

How could I have forgotten the lovely Amy C, who sent great photos of Jane Withers’ Party Cake

Mariette Hartley’s Chicken Wonderful

Susan Clark’s Peach Salad

and Vera Miles’ Hot Cakes.

The aforementioned Brian of The Infinite Feast sent lovely photos of Tippi Hedren’s Lobster Mirin.

Woodie A made Leon Singer’s Milanese con Papas. My apologies, Woodie; I captured your feedback, but if you sent me photos, I cannot for the life of me find them. If, like me, you have approximately 4 million photos on your phone and you are good at finding specific ones, send ‘em on over, and I’ll pop into a forthcoming newsletter.

I cannot deny that anyone who sends photos that include “little helpers” absolutely makes my day, so thanks to Jen M, who sent this darling photo of her Sam Anderson’s Grilled Salmon test cook.

OK, I THINK that is everyone now, but again, if you haven’t spotted yourself either in this post or the previous round-up, do let me know.

I am going to have a recipe amnesty soon to see if there are any extras that need testing, so keep your eyes peeled if you missed the first callout for testers.

That’s all for now folks, my next missive from Murder, She Cooked will be all about Murder, She Wrote Day so keep your eyes peeled.