The Ballad of the Salad

In 1966, I found myself on a local TV cooking show in Texas while promoting my film You Are What You Eat. "Can you cook?" I was asked.

The answer was affirmative, but I had to figure out a way to get in a plug for my movie while doing it. An oven light went on over my head. Why not sing a song from the picture? So, wearing an apron, and working with Paul and Mary, I started to sing a cappella. It was like the Barber of Seville singing while giving a haircut, only I was doing my thing while mixing a sauce for the salad.

The more vigorous my mixing got, the faster the tempo of my singing became. When I pampered the salad, I pampered the song.

It may not have been the most stirring recital I've ever done, but I did get to plug the picture - and the TV crew loved the dressing.

Funny, though - no one praised my singing!

Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and dill or tarragon. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Serve over lettuce and tomato salad.