Classic Jello Salad


Jello was invented in about 1897, but it wasn't really marketed until about 1902, when ads began appearing in Ladies Home Journal magazine.

1916

 By 1930, America had developed quite an appetite for congealed salads, but it was the 1950s that saw jello salads flourish: 


Olives, peas, carrots, radishes, onions...anything you could imagine became encased in jello! Your grandmother may have had some of these gelatin molds hanging on her kitchen wall:

jellomoldmistress.com

I jotted down my jello salad recipe in a high school home economics class in 1971, but the teacher had been using the recipe for several years before that. It has been a family favorite since I got it; I don't dare show up at the family Christmas get-together without it.


This cool, sweet, creamy jello salad is good any time. Tune in to Mad Men, put your apron on,  and whip up a retro jello salad!


Jello Salad

1 small package lemon jello
1 small package lime jello
1 cup boiling water
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (16 oz) carton small curd cottage cheese
1 cup real mayonnaise
1 can (13 to 15 oz) crushed pineapple in juice

Empty jello packages into a large bowl. Pour in boiling water and stir until gelatin is dissolved. Pour in condensed milk, cottage cheese, mayo, and pineapple, and stir until well-combined. Pour into a 2 to 3 quart dish, cover, and refrigerate until firm (several hours).


smallworksinwool.blogspot.com



This Jello Salad may have been taken to some of these fun parties!



71 comments:

  1. I have been collecting jello molds for years!! I have every shape and size you can think of..I also have the old tupperware molds too:) Believe it or not I still use all my molds, for jello, salads and desserts too:) I also make a version of your recipe but in my house we call it "Granny"s Green Salad" Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines

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    1. Oh, my gosh, Lynn, I’d love to see your jello molds! I really wanted some Tupperware to use for this Classic Jello Salad post, but I don’t have ANY! Not since the 70s anyway! I need to improve my kitchen collections!! ;)

      I love the name “Granny’s Green Salad”...we just call mine “Jello Salad”- so creative!

      Thanks for stopping by!!

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  2. As always...enjoyed the post! Oh how those jello molds bring back memories. My grandmother made this exact salad....yum!

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    1. Kay, I love that your grandmother made this- it makes me extra happy for Mother's Day! :) Thank you for the visit!

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  3. I think every family event I went to as a little girl included some kind of jello salad -- usually in a beautiful mold. Great memories. My daughter recently found an old Jello Cookbook at the used book stores -- printed in early 50s I think -- she has had a blast with it!

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    1. Oh, I would love to take a peek at that old cookbook your daughter found! LOVE 'em! You and cutie-pie Amara will have to make a jello salad together! :) Thank you so much for coming by!

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  4. It is great to see a Jello Salad. I have never eaten one and have not had Jello in a while.

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    1. If you decide to make a jello salad, I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for visiting, Judy! :)

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  5. Joy, I love this post!! My mother-in-law loved making Jello molds, and I have a lot of copper molds, so this is inspiring me to try one. :) Great for summertime! Thank you so much for sharing and have a wonderful week! ~Cindy@littlemisscelebration.com

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    1. Cindy, I love the copper molds- they're so pretty! I'd love to see your collection! :) Thank you for the visit- I hope you have a wonderful week, too!

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  6. I love recipes that have history behind them too...what a wonderful site! The jello salad takes me back to my grandma's house :) Thank you so much for sharing at Mix it up Monday!

    http://www.flourmewithlove.com/2013/05/mix-it-up-monday_12.html

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    1. Thank you, Lisa, and thanks for Mix it Up Monday! :)

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  7. My family was never really into the jello salad, although my mom always made a red and green jello mold with cool whip and strawberries at Christmas.... does that count? haha I can't think of anything with cool whip in it as a salad! =)

    Great history and post. Thanks!
    Holly at Not Done Growing

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    1. Yes, it's kind of strange to call something sweet a "salad"! :) That's what the 50s and 60s did to people, though...lol! Thanks for coming by, Holly! :)

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  8. I would love for you to share and link up at my TGIF Link Party.
    http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/2013/05/tgif-link-party-2.html
    The party opens Thursday night and closes on Wednesday night at midnight.

    Please, invite your friends to party too! The more the merrier!

    Hugs, Cathy

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    1. Cathy, thank you for the invitation, and thanks for coming by! I'll be there! :)

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  9. Loving the retro theme of this post! Thank you for sharing on Simple Supper Tuesday.

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    1. Thanks, Cindy, and thanks for hosting! :)

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  10. I didn't know Jello was that old, that's awesome. We buy the single sizes for the kiddos sometimes, and put them in their school lunches. :)

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    1. And the Jello traditions continue! :) Thanks for coming by!

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  11. Thank you for the trip down memory lane. The pictures are great. I remember Jello well and fondly!

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    1. Thank you, Rachel, I'm glad you enjoyed it! :) Thank you for the visit!

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  12. I grew up with Jello. My grandmother always made the best. She canned fruits every year, so when she served fruit, she always saved the juice and used it as the "cold" cup of water to make her Jello. If she had dark berry juice, she made the darker jellos. If she wanted jello, but didn't have any juice she opened a can of pineapple juice. Sometimes she added fruit, sometimes it was plain. And she and grandpa often like their jello with heavy cream on top. I still use juice to make my jello because it gives a richer flavor. Last night I made Raspberry Jello with Fruit Coctail. I saved the juice and added enough cold water for my "cold" cup. It was wonderful. Although I often just make it in a large container, I also make it in the Pyrex individual serving bowls. Sometimes if there is left-over whipped cream I'll put a dollop on to.

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    1. I love the way you (and your grandmother!) make jello! Raspberry jello with fruit cocktail sounds really good right now....with that whipping cream you mentioned on top! Yum! :) Thanks for coming by and sharing your jello memories!!

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  13. I love those molds. My mom used to have some and I loved to play with them. Jello salads are very popular at potlucks here and no two are ever the same. Seems like everyone puts their signature on them. Thank yo for linking with See Ya in the Gumbo this week, Joy. I apologize for not thanking you sooner. I'm in the process of wrapping up one job and starting another. Lots to do!
    Michelle @Ms. enPlace

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    1. Thank you, Michelle- I can see a little girl playing with the jello molds! Good luck on the job process! :)

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  14. I recall this one from when I was a kid. When I was a young married I remember doing a green jello ( plain ) with carrots and celery in it ...

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    1. Veggies in jello was very popular! I'm enjoying following your blog, Debra- thank you for coming by! :)

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  15. I remember these all to well. I loved jello but seeing your post reminds me of how old I am. Oh well, now I got to make some jello. We had the carrots in ours. Wow, those were really the good ole days. Remember when jello was the best dessert ever. And thanks Joy for sharing at my blog hop.
    Angel

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    1. Ah, the good old carrot jello salads, lol! Thank you Angel, for coming by, and for hosting your hop!

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  16. What a great post!! Took me back in time a bit. :) Thank you for linking up to Tasty Tuesdays, hope to see you next week!

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    1. Oh, thank you, Jess, and thanks for hosting Tasty Tuesdays! I am happy to be following you! :)

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  17. I love your blog! Some of my favorite recipes have been in my family for years!

    Thanks so much for sharing at A Peek Into Paradise TGIF Link Party.

    I hope you will come party with us next week and see if you were featured! http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/

    Have a great week!

    Hugs! Cathy

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    1. Thank you, Cathy, and thanks for hosting your party! It's always so much fun to meet someone who appreciates old family recipes! :) Happy to be following you!

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  18. Awww these were the BEST things when I was a kid! Thank you so much for linking up with me this week at Tasty Tuesdays! I’ve pinned this & shared it with my followers!

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    1. Thank you, Anyonita, and thanks for pinning! I always enjoy Tasty Tuesdays- glad you're hosting it! :)

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  19. My grandmother used to make something similar to this, but I have never made it. I may have to try it now. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday.

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    1. It's definitely a Grandmother-era recipe! You might get a kick out of trying it. :) Thanks for hosting Foodie Friends Friday!

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  20. My mother made a very similar recipe, only with the condensed milk. EVERY SUNDAY! Love it! :) Thanks for sharing with Foodie Friends Friday!

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    1. Lois, I think I know the recipe you are talking about- I love that one! Thanks for coming by, and thank you for hosting Foodie Friends Friday! :)

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  21. Talk about a throwback dish :) I haven't had a Jello Salad in years! Thank you so much for sharing at last week's All My Bloggy Friends :) I can't wait to see what you share this week!

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    1. Btw - I hope you are doing well! {hugs}

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    2. Thank you so much, Jamie! I always enjoy All My Bloggy Friends....and the hugs!! :)

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  22. My grandmother used to serve 4 varieties of jello salad at Thanksgiving. My favorite was the pineapple and the other pistachio. YUM!
    Thanks for sharing at Tuesdays with a Twist!
    Hope to see you again this week!

    http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/search/label/Tuesdays%20with%20a%20Twist

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    1. Mary, I love the idea of 4 varieties of jello! How fun was that? Thank you for hosting Tuesdays with a Twist! :)

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  23. Oh Wow! This is bringing back so many good memories. My Grandma always had jello on the dinner table. Whether it was some creative Jello salad like this one or just plain ol' Jello it was always there. Thanks for linking this up with me @ Great Idea Thursday's darlin'! Krista @ A Handful of Everything

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    1. It used to be a law, I think...ya had ta have jello on the table...lol! ;)

      Thanks for hosting Great Idea Thursdays- you're always having a fun time at your place! :)

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  24. I love this! Wow! It does bring back so many memories! :-) Thanks so much for linking up with "Try a New Recipe Tuesday." I hope you will be able to join us again this week. http://our4kiddos.blogspot.com/2013/05/try-new-recipe-tuesday-may-21.html

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    1. Thanks, Lisa, I will be there! Thanks for hosting! :)

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  25. Oh, the memories! I will be featuring this when I guest-host Saturday Dishes this week (:

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    1. Marissa, thank you so much- you just made my day! Love Saturday Dishes! :)

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  26. What an awesome post! Wow, this brings back such fond memories. I love jello molds. Just pinned. Thank you so much for sharing at A Bouquet of Talent. Hope you are having a great week.
    XO
    Kathy

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    1. Thank you, Kathy, and thanks for pinning! I always enjoy A Bouquet of Talent! :)

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  27. What a great share! I loved jello salads and haven't had one in forever. Thanks for link up with SIS'ers last week. See you tomorrow :)

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    1. Thank you, Connie, and thanks for hosting! :)

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  28. Joy ~ What a fabulous salad, and what memories you brought back with this recipe! I am going to have to make this soon :) It reminds me so much of my grandmother! Thanks for sharing.... ~Kris

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    1. Thank you Kris, and thanks for coming by! The old classic recipes are fun! :)

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  29. That totally takes me back to my childhood! Thank you so much for coming to share at Super Saturday Show & Tell! I'd love to have you come and share again today http://www.whatscookingwithruthie.com Have a great weekend! xoxo~ Ruthie

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  30. My Mother in Law passed down her version of Jello Salad that is similar to this one. Just lime jello, cream cheese, vanilla ice cream all goes in the blender then fold in pineapple add nuts (optional) on top. Its a family favorite.

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    1. Oh, my goodness, that sounds fantastic- I love anything cream cheese- thanks for the recipe! :)

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    2. My mom made this quite often and everyone loved it. Just made and in fridge for supper tonite. Thanks for the memories

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  31. Just made a trip to g/s just for lime and lemon jello just so I can make this tonight....thank you so much for this little slice of memory history...and I just happened onto a jello Tupperware mold at the thriftstore this afternoon, grins, top and bottom I believe it was meant to be!


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    1. Congrats on the great thrift store find- I never find good stuff like that! ;) I hope you enjoy the jello salad- it's one of our favorites! Thanks for stopping by!!

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  32. My Mom and Dad's favorite. Never thought about making it in a mold though. I'm going to the I-127 flea market in August, I'll have to look for some. We call this dessert "Green Salad Delight".

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    1. Oooo, happy hunting- I hope you find lots of cool stuff! :) Thanks for telling me about "Green Salad Delight"- I love it!

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  33. Just made the Classic! Can't wait for chow! I know we will love it! (Found ur recipe on Pinterest).

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    1. Wonderful- it's one of our all-time favorites! I'm so glad you found it on Pinterest- thank you for coming by- hope you love it! :)

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  34. I've been looking for this recipe! So glad I found it. When I was a kid, Grandma made what we called "Green Jello." It had a very specific flavor, and this recipe nails it! Soooooo excited to find this! It's chillin' in my fridge even as we speak! Thanks!

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    1. You are so nice to let me know- it’s a favorite of ours, too! I hope you love it, and that it comes very close to your Grandma’s!! :)

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  35. This salad has been made every major holiday as long as I can remember !! We add chopped pecans and call it Truman Salad! I could eat the whole thing!!!

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    1. Truman Salad! I love that name! Linda, thanks so much for dropping by and letting me know about your family's jello salad! :)

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