As partially recounted here, I just moved into an apartment complex. In the laundry room of this complex is a modest stack of books and magazines you can read whilst awaiting your fresh laundry. In that stack I today found a trade-sized paperback, entitled, “Pilar Wayne’s Favorite and Fabulous Recipes” (1982, PAX Publishing Company, Costa Mesa, CA). Pilar Wayne, I read, was married to Hollywood icon John Wayne, from 1954 to 1976. Besides being married to America’s Cowboy, she was also apparently quite the cook.
And she had signed the book, too! There was her name, right below, “And to my children for testing the recipes and being my most severe critics.”
Evidently, one of the things that Pilar particularly enjoyed making was the fish dish above, which I’m sure is delicious. The recipe is below. In glancing through it I saw the intriguing ingredients, “2 envelopes unflavored gelatin,” “1/2 cup mayonnaise,” and “tabasco,” but that was all I had time to read before my clothes were ready and I had to leave.
Stick a fork in him; he’s done.
Oh my gosh. This is too bizarre! That’s exactly what I fixed for dinner tonight, howbeit with light Mayonnaise and A1 Sauce in place of Tabasco.
Family recipe. Always a big hit, especially the salmon mousse sandwich left-overs the next day.
Now if you’d actually read the recipe, Anita, you’d have no doubt been happy to learn that Pilar, too, uses low-fat mayonnaise. Just one of the many things I’m sure you and her have in common….
I…. dont think I like food that smiles at me…
Reminds me of the great “Gallery of Regrettable Food” at James Lileks site, which include a complete guide to Gel-Cookery from the 60s. Be warned though, some of the recipes there are the type of thing that one can’t unsee.
It looks creepy. Must be related to Mr. Bill.
Yes, it’s … Mr. Gill.
Hey, Lucas. HILARIOUS SITE! Yikes. And you’re right: some of those images are permanently seared into my brain. So now I have to kill myself.
Lucas - that site is crazy funny…
Check it out everybody and be sure to allow yourself at least a half hour there to maximize the yucks…
Anita- if what you made in any way resembles John’s picture then I’m going to have to barf for you. Just kidding, I’m sure it’s quite tasty.
Betcha the Duke didn’t eat it. Salmon mousse? Maybe Steer Puddin’ sandwiched between two strips of rawhide.
John,
You think spam would work instead of the salmon?
The Mr. Gill remark was hilarious.
-Sam
“Steer Pudding.” Yum.
I DID find another recipe in the book for something I could see the Duke eating. It’s called, “Three ‘C’ Casserole (Corn, Crackers and Cheese.)” It’s:
2 cups canned creamed corn
1 cup crushed soda crackers
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 cup cheddar cheese
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs, beaten
1.5 cups milk
2 tablespoons melted butter
Mix all together. Bake at 350 for one hour.
Spam optional.
You know Wayne (John, not Pilar) was a huge fraud who avoided military service in WW2 when many of the other Hollywood stars went to war.. and then spent his entire career making movies that glorified the killing he was too chickenshit to do himself and otherwise making a general ass of himself.
Which is all to say, he probably did eat the damn casserole..
And the mousse too..
Really, Anita? Really??
C’mon, Anita. Inquiring intestinal tracts wanna know.
Brian, I don’t think it was quite that simple. A lot of stars did, and I lot didn’t go to war. Nothing is that black and white. And you are right - it probably takes guts to eat that ugly thing.
Because I’ve never had any interest in him as an actor, I’m afraid I know zilch about John Wayne. NOW, through Pilar’s cookbook, I know a little more. Sort of.
[...] June 5, 2008 Posted by John Shore in Food, entertainment. trackback First I shared with you Pilar Wayne’s recipe for Salmon Mousse (which, obnoxiously, I referred to as “Smiling Gelatinous Fish Log”), taken from her [...]