Author Jeremy Arnold of "Christmas in the Movies" joined me for this festive holiday episode.
Bing Crosby was a singer, actor and producer. His film career started in 1930 and lasted until 1974. He co-starred in seven Road movies opposite Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour. In 1945 he nabbed the Best Actor Academy Award for the film Going My Way. Crosby starred in the seasonal classics Holiday Inn (1942) and White Christmas (1954).
The Recipe
This recipe is from "The Dead Celebrity Cookbook Presents Christmas in Tinseltown Celebrity Recipes and Hollywood Memories from Six Feet Under the Mistletoe"
By Frank DeCaro.
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
2/3 cup vegetable shortening
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon orange juice
Grated rind of one orange
Sanding sugar
Directions
With an electric mixer, cream together the sugar, eggs, and shortening. Sift the flour, salt and baking powder together and add to the mixture. Blend on low speed until incorporated. Add the orange juice and grated rind. Beat until smooth and light. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill at least one half hour.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Roll the cookie dough out on a lightly floured board to one-quarter inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters, sprinkle with sanding sugar, and bake for 12 to 15 minutes.
Special Guest
Jeremy Arnold is a film historian, commentator, and author of Turner Classic Movies: The Essentials volumes 1 and 2 and Christmas in the Movies: 30 Classics to Celebrate the Season. His writing has appeared in Variety, the Hollywood Reporter, Moviemaker, and the Directors Guild of America magazine, and he has recorded audio commentaries for the Blu-ray or DVD releases of numerous vintage films. He lives in Los Angeles.
Video
The Final Result
These turned out really well. I thought it was odd that the recipe called for a bit of orange juice and orange rind, but it really worked well. Bing has a winner with this recipe!
There are tons of great Christmas movies on DVD and they will be shown all month in December on Turner Classic Movies.
Take a listen to Bing Crosby on the Kraft Music Hall Christmas Program of 1944.
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Thank you for watching and stay tuned for more food, fun and film history.