Is the desire for Jello a sign?

[mcoperryl@gmail.com]

Am I going back in time? Or, have I become my mother...or grandmother? I have this desire for fruit and jello salads and of all things to have, I do not have any old recipes that include jello except the strawberry one with the crust made out of pretzels. Does anyone have some good recipes for jello with fresh fruit?

[Marty]

Oh, yeah! I live in the Jello capital of the world! I'll find you my recipe for 7-Up Salad. Despite the sound, it's a fruit jello with a tasty topping. I'll have to get home to find it, though.

[dharts04]

One of our family favorites is a Large box of Jello, small cottage cheese, small cool whip, and whatever drained fruit you want. Mix it all together (yes-the jello is DRY) and let it set for an hour.....yum. Almost like a dessert too.

[carolivy]

How about a whole recipe book dedicted to Jello? I used to have the New Joys of Jello, but lost it a few years ago. http://www.thefind.com/food/info-jello-recipe-book

[Judy]

All right, here's the standard recipe. On the box it gives you general directions. Water and jello according to the size of the box. Make up the jello (whatever flavor you like) with boiling hot water, stir until dissolved and plop into the refrigerator to set slightly.) lumpy stage. Take fruit, canned or fresh, except for fresh pineapple, and drain it well. Put it into the lumpy jello and stir, or take some jello out, put in the fruit and put the rest back. Then drop back into the refrigerator. When its firm you can put whipped cream or whipped up sour cream, or thinned out cream cheese into it. It also works with celery, shredded lettuce, shaved carrots, green onion, with a lemon or lime flavored jello. Fresh pineapple stops it from setting, so that's the only limit I know. The crafty types put the fruit at the bottom, pour the lumpy jello over, let it sit a bit more, then add a second color. For molds, use whatever you have. It can be flat or deep, even in cocktail type dessert glasses. If you need to unmold it you get layers with fruit at the top. If you don't wait for it to get lumpy, the fruit will migrate. Some will sink, others may float to the top. Dried fruit doesn't work too well. Its really hard to screw up, so just go for it. 10,000 homemakers can't be wrong.

[stashtamer]

Hmmmm, I think there is jello somewhere in the cupboards. I won't bother with the fruit, but I think some jello might be nice. My hubby doesn't like jello, but he eats whatever I have in the house. Strange man, but I love him.

[carolivy]

There is a trick with Jello that my mom used to do when we were kids. After you make up the Jello, put it into a large bowl and use your electric mixer, set on Egg Whites and whip it until it is very frothy...almost as good as meringues. Now divide it into clear glass desert dishes and refrigerate. The jello as it cools looses some air and separates into layers. I usually end up with three layers. A layer of Jello, a layer of creamy Jello and a layer of airy Jello.

[prettyeggs]

One large box lime jello made according to instructions on box less a little cold water - then add the below
chop fine in a food processor: 1 apple, 2, stalks celery, 2 carrots, 1 C. walnuts, 1 can crushed pinapple
Mix well - filling will be very dense in the jello. chill and enjoy.

I got this recipe from my Aunt in Ohio. I absolutely love it. YUM

[mcoperryl@gmail.com]

Wow, these are great ideas. And, something to do with the pretty wine glasses that never get used! I didn't have cottage cheese but I had ricotta. Didn't have canned fruit but I had fresh strawberries. Had Cool Whip...so I mixed everything together with a large package of cherry jello and it has a good taste to it. Hope it sets up for dinner. I like the idea of using a mixer to make the layers, I've seen them before but never knew how that was done, so thanks. And, the 7-up idea sounds very interesting.

[LindaJo]

lots of recipes here
http://brands.kraftfoods.com/jello/recipes/

[carolivy]

lots of recipes here
http://brands.kraftfoods.com/jello/recipes/

Ohhhh! That Angel Lush is to DIE for! Not made with Jello, but with pudding, it has to be one of the BEST deserts I've had in a LONG time! I sometimes make the pudding part and skip the cake...lol

[xstchntat]

I love just adding fruit to jello with about 1/2 the water called for and then freezing in little paper cups, after about 1/2 hour add a craft(popsicle type) stick to it. Yummy frozen treats, great for the kids in the heat where we live!

[mcoperryl@gmail.com]

One of my favorite memories of jello was my last hospital visit. They had filled dark cherry jello full of whole pitted fresh cherries and when they served it in slices it was solid with the cherries. No cool whip or anything just the jello and cherries. It tasted great and somehow made the whole food tray seem elegant.

[Judy]

Jello, or plain gelatin. A good source of protein I believe (I believe it, even if it isn't true) and I believe it helps keep fingernails from splitting (another belief). I've been known to dump it into a couple of quarts of water, add an ice cube or two, and serve it when kids were looking for something like that and I had no Kool Aid... not so easy to clean the undissolved stuff off the glasses afterwards. I've also sprinkled it on icecream when I was short on toppings.

[PattyD]

To me, Jello is just plain old comfort food.

[tattrldy]

When I was a kid at my grandmother's we'd dissolve it in the hot water then drink it. I don't believe I've ever drank it cold but I can see that. Sometimes when I need a quick salad/desert I'll take cool whip, dry jello of any flavor, drained fruit (usually mixed) and mini marshmallows and mix together. If I feel like it I'll add chopped nuts.

[carolivy]

When I was a kid and was sick, my mother would make me liquid jello. Take and make the jello like you normally would with the hot water, but when it comes time to add the cold water, use double the amount of cold water called for or the equivelant in apple juice. The extra liquid will keep it from setting and keep it drinkable. It might get a little thick, but for someone who is sick, it is great. If you don't want it getting thick at all, you could increase the juice added.

[Marty]

Here's my favorite jello recipe:

2 small pkgs. lemon jello
2 cups boiling water
2 cups cold 7-Up (or Sprite or equivalent)
1 pint of crushed pineapple (well drained and SAVE the juice!)
1½ cups mini marshmallows
3 bananas

Dissolve jello in hot water, add 7-Up. chill until partially set. Add fruit and marshmallows and mix. Chill until set.

Top with the following:

½ cup pineapple juice
1 egg
½ cup sugar
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp flour
1 cup whipped cream

Cook until thick, cool. Add 1 cup whipped cream. Spread on top of jello and chill.

Yummmmm!

(I really am in the Jello capital of the US -- more jello per-capita is sold here than in any other state!)

[mcoperryl@gmail.com]

I can't wait to try this Marty. It sounds like it would be something great to take to a party.

[Marty]

This was my mom's favorite jello recipe. I think it would work well with any flavor and any fruit (as long as it still had the pineapple so you could use the juice) -- but mom's favorite was lemon!

[Antiquarian]

my favorite jello recipe is cookies *laugh* I'm not at a place to post it, but I'll put it up on a Cookie recipe exchange thread *smiles*

My mom makes the most amazing jello salad at Christmas with cranberries, oranges and apples that I'll ask my mother for. *laugh* she also like a jello salad with carrots.:yuk: the texture is wrong *laugh*

[Marty]

she also like a jello salad with carrots.:yuk: the texture is wrong *laugh*

Not only carrots, but celery too -- in lime jello. I agree it's icky!

[Judy]

Every time I read this post, another box come out of the pantry. This is a tripling of my annual consumption! Could be a real revival of this 8th food group.

[carolivy]

Here are a couple of the recipes I added in a cookbook I wrote:

Jell-O Pastel Cookies
Serves: 5 dozen
3 ½ c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 ½ c butter, softened
1 c sugar
2 pkg (4-serving size each) strawberry flavor gelatin, divided
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 400°. Mix flour and baking powder; set aside. Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Gradually add sugar and 1 pkg of the dry gelatin, beating until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; mix well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating until well blended after each addition. Shape dough into 1” balls. Place cookies 2” apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten with bottom of a clean glass. Sprinkle lightly with remaining pkg of dry gelatin. Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove from baking sheets to wire racks. Cool completely. Store in tightly covered container at room temperature.
Note: Create a festive cookie platter. Create many different flavors with all the different available flavors! J

Pastel Pound Cake
Serves: 1 cake
1 pkg white or yellow cake mix
1 pkg (3 oz) any fruit flavored gelatin
¾ c water
½ c salad oil
4 eggs, unbeaten

Empty the cake mix into a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients. Beat 3 minutes, or until smooth and creamy. Pour batter into a 10” tube pan that is lined on the bottom with paper. Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes. Cool in the pan 15 minutes, then remove from the pan and cool on wire racks. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired
Lemon-Glazed Cake: Prepare Pastel Pound Cake, baking it in a 13x9x2” pan. Cool in the pan 15 minutes. Gradually blend ⅓ c lemon juice into 2 c sifted powdered sugar. Add 2 Tbsp melted butter and 1 Tbsp water. Remove cake from the pan; place on wire rack. Punch holes through cake with a toothpick. Pour on the glaze, allowing it to run into the holes. Place on a serving platter.
Note: This cake may also be baked in the following paper-lined pans; 2 9x5x3” loaf pans 40-45 minutes; 1 13x9x2” pan 40-45 minutes; 2 9” layer pans 30-35 minutes; 2 8” layer pans 35-40 minutes; or 1 9” tube pan 60-65 minutes.

and my all time favorite:

Marshmallow Lime Salad
Serves: 10
3 oz lime gelatin powder
3 oz lemon gelatin powder
2 c water
2 c mini marshmallows
20 oz crushed pineapple
1 c cottage cheese, small curd (not low fat)
1 c mayonnaise
In a bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Add marshmallows and stir till dissolved. Chill till partially set. Combine the rest of the ingredients and stir gently into gelatin mixture. Pour into 9” square dish. Chill until firm.

[jamlover]

Never heard of lettuce shredded in jello. Must try that one.

[mcoperryl@gmail.com]

There must be zillions of recipes that have Jello in them. I always have liked the Marshmellow Lime Salad and my daughter always makes the Watergate salad at Thanksgiving because she remembers it from when we was little. I'll get that recipe and post it. My goodness, I think I have something else to search for at the Thrift Stores. I know I've seen those Tupperware molds in them before.

[PattyD]

If Jello is a sign, what is it a sign of? At my house right now, Jello is in high demand and I had to run to the store and stock up. Still don't know what it is a sign of LOL!!!

[mcoperryl@gmail.com]

Patty, I spent 24 years traveling all over this country for an insurance company providing I.T. and facilities support. Staying at home now as you can imagine is quite an adjustment. All of the years that I should have been trying new recipes and learning new crafts, I spent in data centers and crawling under desks. I think that looking for new things to create are a sign that I have made the transition...happily. And, jello just happened to come to mind.

[Antiquarian]

Fresh Cranberry Salad
In a grinder (NOT a food processor the FP makes it too dry to turn out the fruits need to be ground so that the juices come out)
1 ground orange, but not all the peal – I’ve found that zesting it and then pealing it to grind works well
2 cup raw ground cranberries
1 ground apple
1&1/2 C sugar
Mix ground fruits and sugar together. Let sit.
One package jello 6 oz ( the larger size)
1 cup boiling water – dissolve Jello in the boiling water then add to the fruit mixture. Any of the red jellos are best except watermelon.
Chopped walnuts optional

[TeresaW]

Here's another quick but very tasty version.

Take two boxes of Peach flavored Jello. Dissolve in hot water per directions. Instead of adding the cold water, add a large, chilled jar of applesauce (low sugar, please). Refrigerate. This is a great salad. It also does a great job of cooling you when it's very hot.

[crazytatter]

jello with vegetables? I don't know never even heard of this.

[Marty]

jello with vegetables? I don't know never even heard of this.

Hmmm....you must never have been to a family reunion in Utah. :smile:

[PattyD]

Did you know that Jello was a revolution in food? Until Jello appeared, jellies were very special, time consuming and expensive. It was only indulged in by the rich and was a very special treat. Jello changed all that! I remember the cartoon commercials with an oriental baby trying to eat it with chopsticks. It was so cute!
We all pretty much grew up with Jello, but it is only as old as the Baby Boomers (the generation of children born after WW II.)

[crazytatter]

I grew up in Taiwan till 11 years old even when I come to USA, I don't really eat jello either. I didn't make my first Jello until after 25 when my bf gave me the box and ask me to follow instruction to make some for him. He prefer the jello as jello with no added fruit or vegetable. As for family in Utah, I don't think I have any there.

[waterdew]

I have never heard of lettuce, carrots and celery (or any other vegetable/salad ingredients) being used in jelly before!

I can't knock it until I've tried it so no comment here...however my husband's face is a picture after mentioning it to him. As far as I know, it isn't a standard thing in the UK.

[waterdew]

It's normally just fruit or milk in jelly here.

[Marty]

It's normally just fruit or milk in jelly here.

MILK?? I can't imagine. I like it best with crushed pineapple or raspberries (well -- any fruit) and steer well clear of my aunt's concoctions with shredded carrots.

[Judy]

Where are all your faces now? I'm remembering jello salads packed with cottage cheese! Whew, not my favorites.

[carolivy]

MMmm, now those I liked. Jello with the shredded celery or carrots though, those I did not like!

[mcoperryl@gmail.com]

Do the hospitals always give you jello because it's easy on the stomach or because it really is good for you? That's where I think most people develop an aversion to jello. Lime, yellow or orange always seemed to be the favored colors. As for carrots and celery in jello... in the US cafeterias were very popular when I was young (50's, 60's) and they would make a pineapple tasting jello salad (clear...no color) that had shredded carrots and what must have been celery in it...they always put a square of it on lettuce and then a little mayo. It wasn't a child's dream but someone must have eaten it because it was always there.

[carolivy]

Jello is good for you as it is a very simple protein and is very easily digested. Also the reason you don't find Red Jello in hospitals very often is many people (especially when sick) have bad reations to the red dyes used in foods. It is harder for the "sick" stomach to digest the red dyes.

[waterdew]

Milk jelly ... dissolve the jelly with 1/2 boiling water then top up with 1/2 milk. Makes it all cloudy. It was always made as a treat at birthday parties when I was young.
:)

[carolivy]

Mmmm, this sounds yummy. I might just have to make some of this up.

[HippieKender]

Now I want to search my pantry to see if I have Jell-o. :D

[michelea]

For a fruit salad that will be immediately devoured, use a large can of peaches in syrup and a small box of orange jello. Mix the syrup with the jello, then add the peaches and any other fruits you would like (I really like bananas in this, but they do need to be added right before serving). It doesn't "set" like jello salad, but that added taste of orange jello makes it soooo yummy. A friend gave this recipe to me years ago, and I am now asked to make it for any family gathering.

[Judy]

Kraft has taken the recipe book down.;(

[Ireneho]

Watch an episode of Heston's Feasts, the one where he uses jelly...