A bit like avocados in the 1970s, they were a rare species here, and foraging in health food shops was usually required.

Now, however, they have become freely available in supermarkets and we are growing to love them, and sometimes choose them over hazelnuts or walnuts.

I, for one, wholeheartedly embrace the idea of National Pecan Day on the 14th April.

Therell be a lot of celebrities there, and booze and fried chicken, Thursday night at 6 oclock.

Would you come The Wilsons were thrilled to be invited, having never met Groucho before, and Earl excitedly asked, We sure will Whats your address.

They must have charmed the recipe out of Grouchos second wife Kay Marvis too, as Rosemary and Ruth Pool included it in The Beautiful Wives Cookbook, published in 1970.

Add nuts and dates and pour into a 20cm 8-inch pie shell and bake one hour in moderate 350 degrees oven (175 degrees C gas mark 4).

Anyone who has had bananas hanging around their kitchen for too long will know the truth in Grouchos classic observance: Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana.

Id never eaten matzo balls before trying Grouchos recipe for these, and I absolutely love them.

Im sure Groucho would have got a kick out of it if the story is true.

Then add the egg, parsley, nutmeg, salt and pepper, and stir until thoroughly blended.

Add enough matzo meal to hold contents together and roll into balls about the size of the yolk of a hard boiled egg.

Place in the ice box refrigerator for three or four hours, and when ready to serve, drop into boiling water.

When they come to the top of the water, let them boil for about two to three minutes and then remove.

Add two or three balls as desired to each portion of chicken broth.

I want to caution all of you in regards to following a recipe.

I boiled it for four hours, and believe it or not, it still tasted like a recipe book.

When not cooking and writing, Jenny works with the British Movietone newsreel collection for the AP Archive in London, and DJs on a wind-up gramophone with The Shellac Sisters.

You can read about and buy her new book Cooking with Joan Crawford here.

Party Of The First Part Marx Brothers