Recipes for Life: My Memories

by Linda Evans

Ever since her dazzling debut as Audra on The Big Valley, Linda Evans has charmed millions of television viewers around the world with her talent, her warmth, and her beauty. Through it all, Linda has remained unaffected, grounded, and deeply spiritual.

In Recipes for Life, Linda opens up her heart, her past, and her kitchen. She shares a revealing assortment of anecdotes (magical moments mised with painful ones), photographs, and recipes enjoyed by Linda and those near and dear to her. Linda touches upon growing up, family ties, her incredible life in Hollywood, the friends she has made, and provides an intimate glimpse into her high-profile romances. At the heart of this memorable, touching, and inspiring story is how all of these ingredients have come together to make Linda the woman she is today.

True to her beloved personality, Linda warmly and candidly serves up a delightful banquet that Dynasty fans will truly savor. Complete with over 40 recipes, some handed down through generations (Mom's Hot Dog Stew), some taught by famous friends (John Wayne “The Duke's” Crab Dip), some inspired by supreme dining experiences from travels around the world (Ina Garten’s Filet of Beef Bourguignon), and still others from her winning appearance on Hell's Kitchen (Hell's Salmon), Recipes for Life is at once a delightful journey and a treasure trove of recipes of a life well-lived by a woman well-loved.
 

Genres: Cookbooks, Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Memoir

265 pages, Paperback

First published October 11, 2011

About the author

Linda Evans (born on November 18, 1942) is an American actress known primarily for her roles on television. In the 1960s, she gained notice for playing Audra Barkley in the Western television series, The Big Valley (1965–1969). However she is most prominently known for the role of Krystle Carrington in the 1980s ABC prime time soap opera Dynasty, a role she played from 1981 to 1989.

Source: Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent quick read!! I love the way Linda has presented her autobiography. The joining of memories and her favorite recipes along with relevant photos with each entry makes the book incredibly fun to read. This book unfolds as a chronological timeline, with only a few exceptions; she takes you from beginning to end entwining her career and private life. I love that the pictures are distributed throughout the book instead of being stuck in the middle as most books do. It alleviates completely the usual problem of having to keep flipping back and forth through the pages to see what picture relates to what they are talking about. Linda has had such an interesting life, and she is such a kind and thoughtful person. I don't think it is appropriate to say that she is down-to-earth because her lifestyle is definitely upper crust, and that is not what you think of when you say down-to earth, but she would be a person who would be a true and loyal friend if you were lucky enough to know her. I can't wait to try her recipes!!!!!!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Book For Any Linda Evans Fan. Loved It And All The Recipes. I Learned Alot About Life From This Book. 👙

[Wendy Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Start with a large serving of a lifetime of memories including appearances around the world, interesting stories with friends, including many other celebrities, and loves of her life. Season it with many vibrant pictures that spice up the stories. Then sprinkle that with the author’s favorite recipes, as well as some recipes shared by her celebrity friends. Finally, stir in a great sense of humor, and then you’ll feast on this savory memoir by award-winning actress Linda Evans.

The stories about her life and her celebrity friends are treats. You’ll get to know about Linda Evans, and also gain glimpses into other famous people’s lives and characters. It all begins with her childhood and her interesting parents who moved to Hollywood. How funny to find out that at 15, she worked as an usherette at the Paramount Theater in Hollywood, where year’s later her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was placed right outside.

I really enjoyed this memoir. I was interested in the change from jobs to career, friends she shares good and bad times with, and stories about the men in her life, her romantic loves. With Linda, love doesn’t end because a relationship does. Her loves are intense and long lasting, and so are her friendships.

The woman she is, her lifetime of experiences, the people and events who have influenced her, and she’s not done yet! Early on, Barbara Stanwyck had an influence during The Big Valley days. Known as “Missy,” Stanwyck was an adviser and an advocate, a living example, and a dear friend. The author notes how Barbara Stanwyck always treated her fans well and made time to meet them because she appreciated them. I can tell you by my experience that Linda Evans is the same way. I was fortunate to meet her at one of her book signings, and the line to meet her was epic. She took time with each person and was so gracious.

There’s so much I learned about Linda Evans, including how much she loves to cook and plan wonderful meals with family and friends. The recipes included each relate to the life story being told in the chapter. Delicious! Some are the favorite recipes that were shared by the author’s friends, for example John Wayne’s favorites shared by his wife Pilar.

From her beginnings in Connecticut, then the family move to Hollywood, to her discovery of a beautiful life here in Washington state, the author has stayed gracious and remarkable. From her big break with “The Big Valley” to the drama of “Dynasty,” she has remained delightful. And from what I’ve read, I think everyone needs a friend like her fun-loving Bunky.

Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

[reveurdart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up seeing her in Dynasty which was too soapy even for me, but then I discovered her in the great western TV series The Big Valley. I've liked her ever since. A wonderful woman with a lot of heart. Her words about her close friendship and working relationship with Barbara Stanwyck was of particular interest to me, and why I initially picked this memoir up. Recommended.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Linda’s life, and her love of family, friends, acting, and cooking.

[Wyatt Fredeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

very short and easy read with so many anecdotes and experiences that kinda had and they made me smile :)

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hollywood memoirs are a dime a dozen, some salacious, some introspective. Linda Evans, who has been on the radar since her days as ingenue Audra Barkley on TV's The Big Valley in the 1960's, has written a unique memoir titled Recipes for Life: My Memories, that incorporates her love of cooking with her tales of living and working in Hollywood.

I was a big fan of The Big Valley and later Dynasty, which was a monster hit in the 1980s, and always thought that Evans was not only beautiful but also talented. This delightful book has fifty recipes interspersed throughout the book, along with many photos and memories.

She begins the book with her childhood, and includes a fantastic photo of her parents who were professional ballroom dancers in the early 1940s. When times were tough, her mother made Hot Dog Stew, the first recipe in the book. (It's actually two recipes, as she shares her version and her sister's version.)

Evans' memories of her co-star Barbara Stanwyck enthralled me, as I am a fan. Stanwyck was a big star, and she gave much advice to the young Evans during their Big Valley days, in her inimitable way, as only she could do. Evans shares a recipe she created called Missy's Hobo Fillet, based on Chasen's Hobo Steak, a Stanwyck favorite. I'm definitely going to try this one.

John Derek was Evans' first big love, and she was devastated when he left her for 15 year-old Mary Cathleen Collins, soon to be known to the world as Bo Derek. Evans had many romances after that, and they are recounted here with stories and photos, along with recipes from parties she hosted and attended. There are many recipes from friends; whenever she ate something she liked, Evans always asked for the recipes, including three from John Wayne himself.

She shares memories of famous friends and colleagues, like Steve McQueen, Richard Burton, and a long time friendship with David Janssen of TV's The Fugitive, along with wonderful spontaneous photos of them at parties.

Evans' made a lifelong friend, Bunky, who eventually became her assistant and traveled with her on jobs around the world. Bunky is quite a character, and brought out the silly side in the usually reticent Evans.

One of the unique things that I remember about Evans is her friendship with John Derek's ex-wives. Ursula Andress, Bo Derek, first wife Pati and her daughter Sean, and Evans all became good friends, and spent a lot of time together, even celebrating his birthday all together.

The Dynasty days are covered, and Evans and screen hubby John Forsythe became good friends. Evans spent a lot of time with John and his wife, dining and vacationing together. She does address the Rock Hudson issue. He was guesting on Dynasty as a love interest for Evans, and was reticent to kiss her in a big scene. Soon she found out it was because he had AIDS. Reading her recollection of the story illuminates the feelings of that not-so-long-ago era.

This is a terrific way to write a memoir; Evans loves to cook (she even finished first on Hell's Kitchen, a London TV cooking competition show) and so wrapping her memories around recipes and fabulous photos is a natural. She shares her own recipes, and recipes of famous chefs like Julia Child and Barefoot Contessa Ina Garten, and many of them sound mouthwateringly delicious. The book is so beautiful, I will have to take care when using it in the kitchen; I don't want to get anything on the pages!

Recipes for Life is a great gift for anyone who loves Linda Evans, as well as anyone who enjoys cooking. Some of the recipes are definitely challenging, but there are some simpler ones in there as well. It reminds me of Paula Deen's autobiography from a few years back- a fascinating life remembered in recipes.

[Mary BookHounds · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a memoir junkie and I love this twist that Evans gives to her latest book in this genre by including recipes that link her history with dishes she remembers. Anyone who has ever witnessed her acting ability and grace can see the direct link from her parent who were professional ballroom dancers during the 1940's and starts off with a recipe for hot dog stew that she used to eat when money was tight. She carries this thread through out the book by matching memories with the food she prepared. I did learn a lot about Evans from this book like:

Barbara Stanwyck, her co star on Big Valley taught her how to be a star with dignity and grace.
She became friends with her ex-husband, John Derek's wives including Ursula Andress, Bo Derek and his first wife Patti.
She won the UK version of Hell's Kitchen, so you know she is a fabulous chef.
She answers those questions about Rock Hudson on Dynasty.
She covers a bit about Yanni, but not the details. My heart breaks for her over that one.
Her best friend, Bunky, brings out the silly in Linda.

I think this book is best stored with your cook books since the recipes are fabulous! I can't wait to try them all out. My favorite recipe is the Artichoke Dip which is so easy to make and is wonderful for parties. I like to hollow out a round of sour dough to place the dip mixture inside and use the remains of the bread to dip. Just Wonderful! You can find the recipe in my next post!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, this is still a stunning woman who does seem to have been able to avoid most of the Hollywood traps despite a couple of high profile marriage failures. But Linda Evans doesn't few them as failures, just things that lasted as long as they are meant to.

There's not a lot of kiss and tell in here, not much that's down and dirty. What you do get are pieces of her life that often led to collecting or creating a recipe to commemorate an event or person in her life. This woman is a phenomenal cook and baker if this book is any indication.

You are introduced to people that meant the world to her like Barbara Stanwyk and John Forsythe among others. However, as important as these people are to her, you never hear how they stayed in her life until the end of their lives and how those losses impacted her. You never really get the whole enchilada from her, just what she wants to share.

Several fascinating recipes to try and I wish her well in whatever else she's going to tackle.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I Can Tell You: I was so excited to see read this book. I was a big fan of Linda's during her Dynasty days. I loved everything about her. Her hair, her poise, your history with John Derek. Reading this book was like stepping back into my own past while reading about hers. Complete with a candid, lovely story, beautiful personal photos and recipes handed down through generations, this book is a wonderful read.

There are so many stories that I remember from my own childhood and the Star magazines my grandparents had on the dining room table that I got to read the complete back story on. Very interesting book and well done. If you like autobiographies, this is the book for you. Linda is real reality she will always be Krystal Carrington to me.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It's Linda's memoir, but she also has recipes after each short sweet chapter. Many of her life events tie into meals she had and enjoyed with family, friends or while traveling. She also gave credit where credit was due with recipes she borrowed from restaurants, other chefs or friends. Many times she gave her own little twist on how to change the recipe. One thing I really liked was that Linda was never mean or showy about any of her famous friends, she accepted people at face value and took her relationships in stride. A broken romance did not produce a vulgar, bitter, tell all like many famous people like to do.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a pleasure it was to read the memoir of one of my favorite celebrity's, Linda Evans.

She takes us from her childhood, early years of acting, her Dynasty years, including all of her accomplishments to present day. She incorporates pictures and recipes, collected over the years from people who have meant a great deal to her, with memories that have meant the most and made an impact on her life. We learn about her friendships, marriages, heartbreak and her inspiring spiritual journey.

A wonderful read by a woman who is truly an inspiration.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Linda Evans from the shows "The Big Valley" and "Dynasty". In this book, she has many recollections from her life, and includes wonderful pictures, and a recipe at the end of each chapter, that is fitting to what she is remembering. I was amazed that the 4 wives of John Derek all were friends--she was wife number 3. I remembered all the press about her, when she had a kissing scene with Rock Hudson, and I really liked reading her version of what happened. And then I enjoyed reading about her romance with Yanni.

[Nicole | The Readerly Report · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recipes for Life is a beautiful book that should have wide appeal whether people are familiar with Linda Evans or not. The stories that shes tell are a little like chicken soup for the soul, and she is never anything less than charming, gracious and respectful of the people in her life. The recipes are rich, but for the most part are easy to make and to pair with other dishes for a meal.

[Dave Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting quick read. A woman who can seem to be bad at anyone. After all, her best friends are all ex-wives of her former husband, John Derek. Plus lots of inside Hollywood and yummy recipes. Everything from the hot dog cassorole her mother made to one of the dishes she used to win "Hell's Kitchen". Plus she is easy on the eyes given all the pictures she includes.

[Grandma Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a very nice book. It seems she has always liked to cook and she has included several recipes in her story. I think she told her story and yet she didnt have anything bad to say about anyone. That was refreshing I thought. It was well written and I'd say if you like memoirs you will enjoy this book.

[Jamison · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice memoir with small, bite-size chapters, usually coupled with a relevant recipe.

evens ends up sounding clear headed her... there's surprising insight between her and rock hudson.

a quick read, and a light one. (well, as light as a book can be, with recipes covered in butter.)

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the memoir mixed with recipes.

[karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great recipes. Superficial about her life

[Jacqueline115 · Rating 4 out of 5]

an easy + clean hollywood read.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. Linda Evans weaves recipes into the story of her life.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. She is a good writer. I loved her recipes. Didn't know she is a chef ... Tells about her personal life. I liked it.

[Marlene Piekosz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it

[Michelle Ardillo · Rating 3 out of 5]

She sure has had an interesting life and she has a very positive attitude about all of life's ups and downs!

[Diane Dunham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read. Wish I could meet Linda Evans, as I it now seems I know her personally. Some very good recipes. The first one I'm going to try is the Butternut squash salad.

[Shelly Nicholson · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Mon gave me this book, and I actually enjoyed it! Easy fun read.

[Marie Buccellato · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a long time fan of Linda Evans & reading this book was truly a great experience. Lots of recipes to try as well. Thank you "Audra" & "Krystal"

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful.

[AudreyLovesParis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The recipes sound lovely, but I don't cook. The prose, however, is not as delicious.