Today history lovers, we are celebrating the first airing of the TV show Happy Days, on 15 January 1974, with a lovely cocktail, called appropriately enough, Happy Days.
But before we get to that, just a little explanation. I originally shared this post way back in 2016. However, due to some gremlins in the machine, it ended up back in my drafts file. Over the Christmas break, I started working on an index page for this blog. In doing so, I was horrified to see how much content I had that was unavailable.
Oh, and the index is coming. It is much harder to do than I thought it would be!
One of my aims for 2025 is to bring this content back. So, apologies if this looks and feels familiar (and equally, congrats on your amazing memory!) For everyone else, I thought the 51st anniversary of the first airing of Happy Days would be a great time to bring back this post!
Happy Days – The Show
Happy Days” centers around Richie Cunningham, portrayed by Ron Howard. The sitcom follows the Cunningham family, their upstairs tenant Arthur Fonzarelli (aka The Fonz) – the coolest guy in town – and Richie’s less-cool friends, Ralph Malph and Potsie. The series ran for a decade, concluding in September 1984.
During my childhood, “Happy Days” was a constant presence. As one of my favourite after-school shows, it seemed to be on television endlessly. Set in the 1950s and 1960s, “Happy Days,” along with “Gilligan’s Island,” likely contributed to my enduring fondness for the fashion of those eras. Moreover, the series launched the careers of many actors, including Ron Howard and Henry Winkler, propelling them to stardom.
Happy Days – The Cocktail
The Happy Days Cocktail is a mix of equal parts peach schnapps, vodka, grapefruit juice and pineapple juice. And it’s delicious!!! The grapefruit juice makes it by bringing an almost florally citrus scent and taste. Its bitterness also helps to tamp down the sweetness of the peach and pineapple to stop the Happy Days from being too cloying.
It also smells amazing! Like a summer fruit basket!!!
This is so good! I garnished it with some pineapple and a maraschino cherry – because how could you not be happy with one of them in your drink! I also added a little twist of the grapefruit rind just to ramp up the citrussy bitterness a tad.
Hello and Happy New Year crime readers and food lovers!!!! Today’s Dining with the Dame sees us munching on cherry liqueur chocolates while reading They Do It With Mirrors. Chocolate, cherries, kirsch and Miss Marple? Heaven!
I want you Jane, to go down there right away and find out exactly what’s the matter.”
“Me?” exclaimed Miss Marple. “Why me?”
“Because you’ve got a nose for that sort of thing. You always had. You’ve always been a sweet innocent-looking creature Jane, and all the time underneath, nothing has ever surprised you. You always believe the worst.”
“The worst is so often true,” murmured Miss Marple.
They Do It With Mirrors – Agatha Christie
They Do It With Mirrors – The Plot
Ruth Van Rydock, deeply worried about her sister, Carrie-Louise, seeks the counsel of her old friend, the astute Miss Jane Marple. Carrie-Louise, now married to the philanthropic Lewis Serrocold, resides in the expansive Stonygates mansion. This unique residence is the home for two hundred young men, part of Lewis’s ambitious program for rehabilitating troubled youth and their teachers, doctors, and therapists. Also living with Carrie-Louise and Lewis are Muriel, their middle-aged daughter; Gina, Carrie-Louise’s granddaughter; Gina’s American husband, Wally; and Carrie-Louise’s devoted companion, Juliet “Jolly” Bellever. Alexis and Stephen Restarick sons from Carrie-Louise’s previous marriage are also frequent visitors.
An Unexpected Arrival and Tragedy
Shortly after Miss Marple’s arrival, Christian Gulbrandson, son of Carrie-Louise’s first husband and a trustee of the charitable foundation supporting Stonygates, makes an unexpected visit. He appears troubled, and Miss Marple overhears a hushed conversation between him and Lewis, a conversation marked by urgency and a desire to conceal something from Carrie-Louise.
Following dinner, Christian retires to write letters. Suddenly, the lights go out plunging the mansion into darkness. In the ensuing confusion, Edgar Lawson, a volatile young man employed by Lewis, accuses his benefactor of mistreating him. Lewis, takes Edgar into his office to try to calm him down. However, the situation escalates rapidly. Edgar, who harbors delusions of grandeur (claiming to be the son of Winston Churchill and Lord Montgomery), now accuses Lewis of being his father and threatens him with a gun.
What sounds like a gunshot echoes through the house. The family, fearing the worst, attempted to force open the office door. To their surprise, Lewis emerges unharmed. However, a chilling discovery awaits them: Christian Gulbrandson, sitting some rooms away, has been shot dead.
We have:
One seemingly very mentally unhealthy person being Edgar and 200 possible murderers on the premises.
Someone trying to poison Carrie Louise: Arsenic is found in her tonic and someone sends her poisoned chocolates
One of the young delinquents, Ernie, admitting to wandering the grounds that night and hearing footsteps
Alex Restarick starting to add two and two together to come up with murder
Ernie and Alex killed when someone drops a massive counterweight on their heads
Good thing we have Miss Marple around to save Carrie-Louise and stop the carnage! We also have an amazingly named Doctor Maverick! This character was played by the wonderful Alexei Sayle in the relevant episode of Marple. Incidentally, in the same episode, Joan Collins played Ruth Van Rydock and the late, great Sean Hughes played Sergeant Lake.
“Just a minute, Dr Maverick. Is this young man, in your opinion, definitely a mental case?”
Dr. Maverick smiled the superior smile again. “We’re all mental cases, Inspector Curry”.
Tomfool answer, thought the Inspector. He knew he wasn’t a mental case, whatever Dr.Maverick might be!”
Agatha Christie – They Do It With Mirrors
They Do It With Mirrors – The Covers
There are, as always some wonderful covers here! Except for the French one second row far right which has an incredibly creepy (and unnecessary) clown on it. I do like however that the French name for this book is Jeux de Glaces which translates as either Game of Mirrors or Game of Icecreams. Alternatively, this eBay listing calls it the Game of Ice but then weirdly gives it a subtitle of “Club of Face Masks”. Which sounds to me like something that creepy clown would belong to.
Now, that is potentially a translation error. However, Apple TV also lists the relevant episode of Les Petits Meurtres d’Agatha Christie as “Ice Cream Games.” I’m not sure if this means that that they have significantly changed the plot or that many people are left puzzled at the end, thinking, “Where was the sorbet?”
Maraschino cherries (as many as there are holes in your chocolate moulds)
Chocolate moulds
A paintbrush or small baking brush
Instructions
Soak the cherries in the kirsch for 24-48 hours, stirring them occasionally.
Melt the dark chocolate either in the microwave (30 second intervals) or over a double boiler.
Using your paintbrush or baking brush, brush the melted chocolate over your moulds. Place in the freezer to set.
Place a cherry into each space in the mould. Add some of the leftover kirsch. Place back in the freezer overnight.
Remelt your chocolate. Take the moulds out of the freezer.
Fill the moulds with the chocolate.
Place back in the freezer for the chocolate to set.
“I think, ” said Doctor Maverick “that these ones that I have put aside have almost certainly been tampered with”….
“But it seems incredible” said Miss Marple. “Why, everyone in the house might have been poisoned”…
“Yes there is ruthlessness – a disregard – ” he broke off. “Actually, I think all these particular chocolates are Kirsch flavouring. That is Caroline’s favourite”
They Do It With Mirrors – Agatha Christie
I know the recipe sounds easy but these were an absolute mare of a thing to make! The pain points, of which there were many included:
Getting the chocolate thick enough to coat the mould and not leave any holes but not too thick.
Trying to top the filled moulds with melted chocolate… the warmth of the tempered chocolate unfroze the liqueur making a real mess!
If you push just a bit too hard and your chocolate is too thin, your thumb or finger will go right through that thin layer of chocolate while trying to demould them.
I guess this is why we have specialty chocolatiers.
I chose to use Kirsch because the poisoned chocolates in the book were flavoured with Kirsch. However, if you have already made Miss Marple’s cherry brandy, you could equally use those cherries. And you may also need a small sip after the stress of making them.
Links to the Christieverse
None that I could find. Please let me know if you find any!
Other Food & Drinks Mentioned in They Do It With Mirrors
Happy New Year, time travellers! Welcome to January 2025 and January 2005! Today we will enjoy a quintessential Australian beachside dinner. Unlike many parts of the globe, the start of the year here is hot, making dining on or near the beach a beloved tradition. Also very Australian is to magpie food and flavours from other cultures so today our “Aussie” meal has roots in the tropics, China, Mexico and Italy!.
I was particularly excited for this month, as seafood and ice cream are among my favourite treats. We’ll soon see how my culinary hopes fared. Today’s menu is inspired by the January 2005 issue of Australian Gourmet Traveller.
But first, let’s ease ourselves into 2005, not with Pop Culture as per our norm but a look at the news events that defined the year:
YouTube’s first video: “Me at the zoo” was the first video ever to be uploaded to YouTube. Can you believe YouTube is only 20 years old? I feel like I’ve been watching it all my life!
Hurricane Katrina: A devastating tropical cyclone that killed 1,392 people and caused $125 billion in damages, particularly in New Orleans
London bombings: 52 people were killed and about 700 were wounded in a terrorist attack on the London Underground
Angela Merkel’s election: Angela Merkel became the first woman chancellor of Germany
Kyoto Protocol: The Kyoto Protocol, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, began to take effect
Same-sex marriage legalization: Spain and Canada legalized same-sex marriage
So a mixed bag news wise! Let’s see if the menu was also a blend of good and bad!
The Menu
Blue Hawaiian
I’ve always harboured a certain prejudice against blue drinks. They somehow screamed “college party” to me, a garish, overly sweet concoction best left to the youthful and the reckless. And creamy cocktails? Don’t even get me started. I’ve always considered them rather…gloopy.
But the Blue Hawaiian was an entirely different beast. The colour, was a glorious, cerulean blue, like a summer sky. But the flavour! It was a symphony of the tropics, a vibrant burst of sunshine in a glass. Honestly, I can’t imagine a more perfect aperitif for a beachside dinner. The mere thought of it now transports me – I can almost taste the salt spray on my lips, hear the gentle rustle of palm fronds overhead… pure joy!
Salt and Pepper Squid
Salt and Pepper Squid is a firm favourite of mine when dining out. But I had never tried to cook it at home before. And the result? A perfect prelude to a seaside feast, I served mine not with rice as per the recipe but with a vibrant fennel salad (though you wouldn’t know this from this photograph). You can find the recipe here. I also had some mayonnaise in which I swirled some chilli crisp just in case the pepperiness of the squid needed a bit more oomph!
Salt and Pepper Squid is as ubiquitous in Australian pubs as… well, as a pot of beer. So you can imagine my surprise to discover while poring over the recipe that it has Cantonese roots. This version, however, pays homage to those origins with the addition of Szechuan peppercorns, a delightful touch of unexpected heat that sets it apart from the standard pub fare.
Snapper Veracruzana
For the main course, we transported ourselves away from the vibrant shores of China to the sun-drenched beaches of Mexico with a delectable Snapper Veracruzana. This dish was simply exquisite! The snapper, cooked to perfection, flaked effortlessly at the touch of a fork, while the Veracruz sauce… well, words can hardly do it justice. A symphony of flavours – ripe tomatoes, briny capers, plump olives, and a tantalising hint of chilli – it was utterly irresistible. Frankly, I could imagine this sauce gracing almost any plate. Chicken, prawns, even grilled halloumi or roasted vegetables – the possibilities are endless. It’s a testament to the magic of great ingredients, a celebration of the vibrant flavours of Mexico.
Blueberry Gelato
Gelato has a certain nostalgia for me. Travelling around Italy with some girlfriends back in the day, “gelati” was our code word for a handsome young man. “Shall we go for gelati at 3 o’clock?” would indicate both the presence of one of them and the direction the others should look to see him! I wanted this blueberry gelato to transport me to the beaches of Amalfi. and the heady summer days we spent there. Sadly, this was not to be. I would have preferred this to be more blueberry-forward, like a sorbet. I feel the milk dulled the blueberry flavour. Pretty colour but for me, this was a fail.
My Nigella Moment – BLT Salad
For first-time readers, this refers to the moment at the end of Nigella Lawson’s cooking shows when she sneaks back to the fridge to have another bite of something delicious. In the context of these Twenty Years Ago posts, it is something contained in the magazine that may not fit with the overall menu theme but I’m sneaking it in because it is too good not to share.
BLT is a classic for a reason and this salad combines those familiar flavours into something new. This was delicious and definitely something to sneak back to for a little bit more after everyone else has gone to bed!
I hope you’ve enjoyed being beside the seaside with me! I also wish you all the very best for 2025! Let’s hope it’s a wonderful year for all of us!
Hello friends, 2024 was a year of significant loss for our family. Amongst other setbacks, we lost my father in May and our beloved dog, Holly, earlier this month. These losses deeply affected us, leaving us navigating grief and trying to find our footing.
Our beautiful girl Holly
Grief can be an overwhelming weight, especially when losses accumulate. However, as we move forward into 2025, I’m determined to focus on finding joy in the small moments life brings; in finding the little glimmers of sun between the clouds. To help with that, I have prepped a list of some little things that may bring joy, even during the hard times. Here is my list for January.
Week 1
Date
How To Celebrate
January 1 – Bloody Mary Day
To celebrate: Start the new year with a classic Bloody Mary. Don’t skimp on the horseradish!
January 2 – Cream Puff Day
To celebrate: Indulge in some delicious profiteroles to honour the choux pastry.
January 3 – 1924: King Tutankhamun’s Tomb is opened by Howard Carter
To celebrate: Commemorate this historical event with some Eggs Hamine. Why not also enjoy a cracking read with “Death on the Nile.”
January 5 – The word “hamburger” first appeared in a Walla Walla Washington newspaper today in 1889
To celebrate: Skip the fast food line. Make your own delicious Devilled Hamburgers.
January 6 – In 1988 the famous Paris Restaurant La Coupole was sold.
La Coupole had many famous regulars including Jean Cocteau, Josephine Baker, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone De Beauvoir, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway and Ava Gardner
To celebrate: Enjoy a classic Welsh Rarebit a dish that was popular at this iconic Parisian restaurant.
January 7 – American Pie is #1 on the charts for Don McLean in 1972
Crime has never been so glamorous! To celebrate: Watch this classic film and sip a Faye Dunaway Cocktail
January 21 – Also in 1968, the Battle of Khe Sahn began
We’re not really celebrating a battle but the classic Australian rock song “Khe Sahn” it inspired. We’ll also eat some delicious Vietnamese food like my Cha Ca La Vuong
Week 4
January 22 – National Polka Dot Day
To celebrate: Embrace the fun and playful spirit of polka dots. You can check out my polka-dot Pinterest Board here Don’t forget to make some Polka Dot Popcorn!
To celebrate: Appreciate the ingenuity of the beer can and enjoy a refreshing beverage. Try making Old Bay Beer Can Chicken
January 25 – Tatiana / Student’s Day Tatiana Day is celebrated throughout the former USSR. The day starts with a church service, speeches and prize-givings. It ends with parties and lots of vodka revelry.
Hello friends and welcome! Today we are taste testing Zuurkoolstamppot, a wonderfully named Dutch dish featuring mashed potatoes, sauerkraut and bacon! I made this quite a while ago but kept it in reserve in case I was desperate for something for a Dining with The Dame post. I figured if push came to shove, I could make some sort of pun out of Zuurkool / Hercule. But I am feeling brave. Thus far, the books from the 1950s have been laden with food, so I have decided to post this one now. Famous last words? We’ll see.
What didn’t go wrong was the Zuurkoolstamppot. If you haven’t already noticed, I also really like saying Zuurkoolstamppot!
What is Zuurkoolstamppot?
Although the name might be complicated, I mean, look at all those double letters; Zuurkoolstamppot is very easy to make! The name translates to “sauerkraut mash”, and it is exactly that – fancy mashed potatoes. It resembles Irish Colcannon, which combines sauteed cabbage with mashed potatoes. Think of it as Colcannon’s cool, edgy cousin! Or “kool” edgy cousin if you prefer!
Zuurkoolstamppot is traditionally served with smoked sausages but would be equally good with any other hearty meat dish. This is pure comfort food, to be eaten in the depths of winter to warm the soul! The combination of creamy mashed potatoes, tangy sauerkraut and crispy salty bacon is a delight in taste and texture!
In a large skillet, fry the bacon until crispy Remove from the pan but leave the bacon fat in in the pan.
Add the onion to the bacon fat and sauté until soft.
Add the garlic and cook for another minute until that is also soft. Add the sauerkraut and cook for another minute to warm it through.
Boil the potatoes in salted water until tender (about 15-120 minutes). Drain then tip back into the pan. Add milk and butter. Mash throughly.
Add the bacon, onion and sauerkraut mix and sitr through. Add pepper to taste. I don’t think this dish needs additional salt but taste and add some if you like.
Enjoy!
If you wanted to add some variations to this recipe, I can heartily suggest adding some wholegrain mustard into the mashed potato mix. You could also add a spinkle of chives or parsley as a garnish.
My grandfather once traced our family ancestry back to Holland in the 18th century. I wonder if my Dutch ancestors back in the day enjoyed tucking into a dish of Zuurkoolstamppot as much as I did!
This is so good! I garnished it with some pineapple and a maraschino cherry – because how could you not be happy with one of them in your drink! I also added a little twist of the grapefruit rind just to ramp up the citrussy bitterness a tad. 
