Classic Hollywood Recipes to Keep You Warm

Jean Harlow's Cottage Meat Pie

November brings to mind some of my favorite things…. Thanksgiving. Cozy sweaters. Scruffy men not shaving because of “No-Shave November.” Charlie Brown. Pumpkin everything. Oh, and let’s not forget a steaming hot cup of cider.

And with all that crisp autumn weather outside comes the need for recipes that require a bit of extra care, and that are perfect for staying warm. And Jean Harlow, classic cinema star, served just the thing at her parties.

Jean Harlow was even featured in a magazine recipe column!

Jean Harlow—Hollywood’s FAVE “Girl-Next-Door”

I am a tremendous fan of Jean Harlow -- not just her work, but the woman behind the silver screen. Harlow’s life was plagued by scandal and, in the end, tragedy, when she died at a the incredibly young age of 26.

But before that, she was the kind of film star who, if she happened to meet you on the street, might invite you to that evening's barbecue. She truly wanted to make her guests feel welcome, and was known as more of a tomboy than a glamour girl to those who knew her best -- more at home in pants than in sequined dresses, though she was immortalized for the gown she wore for Dinner at Eight.

Which is perhaps why I had to try out one of her recipes, in preparation for the upcoming colder months. 

Jean Harlow's Cottage Meat Pie recipe

You’ll Need:

21 ounces cooked beef roast (4 cups cooked pot roast or boiled beef, chopped fine)
1 teaspoon parsley, minced
2 tablespoons yellow onion, minced
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 pimento peppers
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Nutmeg, dash
4 tablespoons butter

For the Topping:
4 cups mashed potatoes
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon milk

Mix beef with the parsley, onion, Worcestershire, pimento, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Butter a baking dish and pour in meat mixture. Top with mashed potatoes (seasoned with salt and pepper), then smooth with knife dipped in milk. Use the knife to make cross lines with fork across.

Brush top with melted butter, then season.

Bake in moderate oven (Jean's words, this really means anywhere between 350–375°F) for 45 minutes or until golden.

This recipe speaks for itself, but I am reminded of something Jean Harlow famously said that probably resonate with a lot of women in her time (heck, with a lot of women nowadays as well!):

“For goodness sake! Can’t I get credit for anything except a wild head of hair and a low-cut dress?” – Jean Harlow

Jean, with a heart as big as yours and stew as freaking amazing as this one is, you sure get credit for a lot more in my book!

more on classic movies