Full images of the "puzzlers" from earlier this week

No more guessing necessary! Here are the complete images from the vintage puzzlers featured here earlier this week.

#1 "Death Has a Small Voice"

This image was from the cover of the June 1953 edition of Mystery Guild Clues. These four-page inserts were included with books that were sent out as part of the Dollar Mystery Guild book club, which was based in Garden City, New York.

The illustration is for "Death Has a Small Voice," a mystery by Frances and Richard Lockridge. The novel is part of the Mr. and Mrs. North series by the authors. The book was available to Mystery Guild members for just $1.

Also highlighted within the four-page insert is the second selection of the month — "The Singing Sands" by Josephine Tey.

#2 An (Arrow) Escape

This lad is having extreme archery issues on this old Victorian trade card (which was trimmed at the edges before it came into my hands).

I have, in my brilliance, managed to temporarily misplace the card, so I can't tell you what was printed on the reverse side. It was a 19th century company from Maryland, but that's all I recall. So I'll have to come back to that one later.

Suffice to say, don't try this at home!

#3 An authentic dungeon master

This cloaked dude appears in an advertisement for Grenadier Models on the back cover of the June 1982 issue of Dragon magazine.

Grenadier Models made fantasy miniatures and was based in Springfield, Pennsylvania. It was in business from 1975 to 1996.

#4 Illustration from "Prince Lindworm"

Perhaps you recognized the work of Robin Jacques when you saw this?

If you did, you probably won't be surprised by the comic-looking monster that appears on the left side of the illustration.

It's from the Swedish tale "Prince Lindworm," which is retold by Ruth Manning-Sanders in "A Book of Monsters." (The monster, in case you're wondering, is holding one of his own skins, which he has just shed. You'll have to read the story to learn why.)

#5 "The Terrible Tiger"

This awkward-looking boy is petting his toy tiger, of course. "The Terrible Tiger" is an illustration in "Enchanting Stories," which was published in 1940 by The John C. Winston Company. The book is the "Third Reader Level Two" in the Easy Growth in Reading series.

The book was illustrated by Jacob Bates Abbott and Henry C. Pitz, one of whom must have drawn this colorful piece.

Found recipes: Three layer choco-mocha pie

This week's final dessert recipe from the yellow plastic box comes courtesy of Emilie A. (according to the index card). In case you missed them, here's a rundown of the scrumdiddlyumptious recipes from earlier this week:

• Peanut butter date cookies
• Apple pudding
• Peanut butter pie
• Fudge pudding
• Church windows (cookies)

Three layer choco-mocha pie

• 1 pkg chocolate-flavored whipped dessert mix (whip & chill)
• 2 tsp. instant coffee
• 1 9-inch graham cracker crumb crust
• 1 pt. frozen whipped topping — thawed (Cool Whip)

Blend dessert mix & coffee; prepare according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of chocolate mixture; turn remainder into crust; Spoon on half of the dessert topping; carefully spread to form on even layer. Blend remaining topping and the reserved chocolate mixture. Spoon evenly over the topping layer. Refrigerate until top is partially set, swirl attractively. Garnish with walnut halves. Set in freezer for about 4 hrs. or until firm. (I just refrigerate — not freezer.)

I hope everyone enjoyed this week's recipes and found at least one that they plan to try or pass along to a friend!

Breaking news: We decided to have our flooding BEFORE Sandy

Speaking of...

...we got hit with some minor basement flooding today when our washing machine had a meltdown, so you'll have to wait until tomorrow, unfortunately, for the full images of the Puzzlers that I posted earlier this week.

There will still be a yummy dessert recipe posted tonight, though. That post was done in advance. So check back at 8 p.m.!

Happy 30th birthday, St. Elsewhere!

Dr. Bobby Caldwell (portrayed by Mark Harmon), left, and Dr. Wayne Fiscus (Howie Mandel) take part in a lighthearted moment in an episode of "St. Elsewhere." I was an avid "St. Elsewhere" fan when I was younger and now my daughter, Sarah, is a fan of these two former "St. Elsewhere" actors. Harmon is the star of the long-running hit "NCIS" and Mandel is one of the current judges on "America's Got Talent". (Image scanned from the July 1996 issue of Television Chronicles)

Thirty years ago today — on October 26, 1982 — the first episode of "St. Elsewhere," my favorite TV show of all time, aired on NBC.

I wrote my big post on "St. Elsewhere" last year on its 29th anniversary, because I didn't feel like waiting another year. So I don't have another lengthy post this time around.

But I wanted to share the above photo and some great links to commemorate the drama's 30th anniversary:

• A reunion photo from Entertainment Weekly of Mark Harmon, Ed Begley Jr., Howie Mandel and David Morse¹
• An awesome five-minute video reunion of 12 former cast members appearing on "Good Morning America"²
• If you don't want to watch the video, this ABC News story features some of the highlights of the conversation
• A blog called The St. Elsewhere Experience has been going strong since May and contains great information and links about the show
• Ken Levine's blog shares the story (from John Masius) of how "St. Elsewhere" and "Cheers" shared a universe for one episode
• Watch episodes of "St. Elsewhere" on Hulu

Footnotes
1. I like the Mark Harmon quote that's under the photograph: "The [St. Elsewhere] writers loved messing with the characters, and I was never anything but excited by how they messed with the characters. I gained a huge appreciation for the ­written word, and I've carried that forward [into everything] since."
2. Included in the reunion is actor Norman Lloyd, who turns 98 early next month. Lloyd says: "'St. Elsewhere' was a show that brought a sense of truth, if you will forgive that suspicious word, to television, that had not been seen before on television. The star of the show was the writing."

Found recipes: Peanut butter date cookies

Here's another recipe with peanut butter. Note that the word "Good!" is listed in the corner of the card.

Peanut butter date cookies

• ½ C (1 stick) butter
• ½ C granulated sugar
• 1 C firmly packed brown sugar
• ½ C chunk style peanut butter
• 3 eggs
• ½ C water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 C sifted flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 3 C uncooked rolled oats
• 1 C chopped dates

Cream butter with sugars and peanut butter. Add eggs, water and vanilla and beat until creamy. Sift flour, salt and baking soda together and add to creamed mixture and blend. Add oats and dates. Mix until oats are moistened and dates are dispersed. Drop teaspoons onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350° 10-12 min. Do not over bake — will be soft and light brown. Cool for 5 min then remove from sheet. 4½ - 5 doz.

If anyone tries these (or any of this week's other desserts), come back and let us know how they turned out in the comments section.

Tomorrow night's final recipe: A three-layer pie!

Found recipes: Apple pudding

Can you imagine the dedication of those people who took the time to type up all of their beloved recipes on index cards — positioning the card in the typewriter until it was just right? Was your mother or grandmother one of those people?

Apple pudding

• 2 cups sugar
• ½ cup butter or margarine
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 4 cups diced apples
• 2 cups flour
• 2 teas. soda
• 1 teas. cinnamon
• 1 teas. vanilla
• Pinch of salt

Cream sugar, shortening, eggs, nuts and apples alternately with sifted dry ingredients. Add vanilla. Bake in greased 11 by 14 Inch pan about one hour at 350'.

Coming tomorrow night: Cookies!

Now I know what I can get my son for Christmas!

I got this piece of spam yesterday at work. Don't know why.

It's a real company, though. So, clearly, I should get my son a life-size animatronic dinosaur for Christmas. That would win me the Dad of the Year award, right?

Seeing whereas I have imbued Ashar with my own childhood love of "Land of the Lost," it's only appropriate that I should get him a life-sized Dopey or Grumpy. Maybe this Chinese company could throw in an Animatronic Cha-Ka if I make a seven-figure purchase.^{1 2}

Footnotes
1. Animatronic Cha-Ka would be a good name for a band.
2. Phillip Paley + Ricardo Montalbán = This.

Found recipes: Peanut butter pie

Here's what's cookin', indeed!

Peanut Butter Pie

• 4 oz. cream cheese
• 1 cup confect. sugar
• 1 pkg cool whip
• ¼ cup finely chop peanuts
• ½ cup milk
• ⅓ C peanut butter

Whip cheese till soft. Beat in sugar & peanut butter. Slowly add milk, fold topping into mixture, pour into pie shell. Sprinkle with nuts. Freeze till firm.

Tomorrow night: A dessert featuring apples.