Sadly, no pictures of the finished products of these vintage recipes. I think that reading them should present enough of a visual image for most of you. That, and I have never in my life enjoyed jello salad, especially the sort made before it was called Jello.
So, what is gelatin? According to the wikipedia site it is : “Gelatin is a mixture of peptides and proteins produced by partial hydrolosis of collagen extracted from the skin, boiled crushed horn, hoof and bones, connective tissues, organs and some intestines of animals such as domesticated cattle, chickens, pigs and horses. Food-grade gelatin is produced mainly from two raw materials, beef skin and pig hide. Photographic and pharma grades of gelatin are generally made from beef bones, although some beef bone gelatin is used by the food industry. Gelatin is an animal protein unlike many other gelling agents used by the food industry.” YUM!
Back in the days before purified gelatin was available in the stores, you got to make your own by boiling a calves foot. Thus, the “calves foot jelly” really is just a jello salad made from the gelatin extracted from the foot of a calf. Doesn’t that sound delicious?
Now, to be fair, sensibilities back in the day were a bit different than now. Most people weren’t as far removed from their food as we currently are (save for the few farm kids, which I am proud to say I am a member of). Even if you did grow up on a farm and raise the calves from babies that you were later to eat at dinner like I did, we still never boiled a foot to make desert. And regardless, it was never the source of the gelatin that made it unpalatable for me – it was the texture. There are some instances where it is fine but most of the time I just can’t do it. My brother however – he loves the nasty stuff. And my mother, as most moms of the 70’s and 80’s did – she seemed to make a lot of it. It was an easy way to get fruit into the meal I think and was easy for pot lucks.
Now, I do have to say that my mom has a fabulous cranberry jello salad that I WILL eat. That recipe will come on another day when I have time to make it.
For now, you get two very romantic gelatin recipes taken from the 1948 owners manual of the Westinghouse Refrigerator. I found my copy of this little cookbook at a local antique store and knew it had to be a part of my tiny little collection. And the romantic recipes? Yesterday I was married 8 years to my amazing husband. I think it was gift enough that I didn’t make either recipe for him!
And as an aside… most fruit used in jello recipes are canned or cooked first. Fruit like pineapple, kiwi, figs and papaya all have proteases in them that chemically cut the gelatin resulting in a jello that never sets which is why it is important to used canned or cook the fruit before making the salad. Bananas are lacking in these proteases so those are usually used fresh in salads. Just in case your favorite salad, like that of the greatly esteemed Mr. Cosby, is boiled calves foot jelly.
Sweetheart Salad
2 c crushed pineapple 2 T lemon juice
1/2 c sugar 2 T cherry juice
1 1/2 T granulated gelatin 6 ounces cream cheese
1/4 c cold water 1/2 pint whipping cream
12 cherries
Heat pineapple with sugar, add gelatin which has been softened in 1/4 cup cold water. Stir until melted. Add lemon and cherry juice, cool. Mash cream cheese, add cherries which have been cut fine, mix with pineapple, adding a small amount of pineapple mixture to cheese at a time. Chill until slightly thickened. Whip cream and blend with pineapple mixture. Mold and chill. This makes 12 small servings.
Valentine Vitamin Salad
1 package strawberry gelatin 1/2 c shredded carrot
1 c hot water 1/2 c celery, sliced fine
1/4 t salt 2 ripe bananas
3/4 c ice cubes and water 2 T lemon juice
1/2 c pineapple
Dissolve gelatin in hot water and add cold water to cool. Shred carrots, slice celery, and cut bananas into cubes. Sprinkle lemon over the bananas. Add the salt to the hot gelatin. When cool, and it begins to thicken, add the vegetables. Mold in decorative molds and serve with mayonnaise on shredded lettuce, garnished with water cress. Serves 6.
FAQs
Jell-O salads were born out of modern convenience.
Gelatin salads had been around long before that, but it was only after the extensive rationing and scarcity of World War II that Americans began to fully embrace the convenience of Jell-O and other pre-packaged foods.
Why is it called a jello salad? ›
The name "jello salad" is derived from the genericization of the Jell-O brand name. The convenience of jello made gelatin-based dishes easier to prepare at home, compared to early jellies and aspics. One of the earliest examples of jello salad is Perfection Salad, developed by Mrs. John E.
What are the 5 basic types of salads? ›
The five basic types of salad are green salads (tossed or composed), bound, vegetable, fruit, and combination. The five basic salads that can be served throughout the course of a meal are starter, accompaniment, main course, intermezzo, and dessert.
What are the big salads the Kardashians always eat? ›
If you haven't heard of Health Nut, you probably known them more famously as the “Kardashian salads” that they are always eating/shaking around on their show (in case you aren't a fan of the show, the Kardashians' go-to order is the Chinese chicken salad and the mango iced greentini).
What's the most popular salad dressing in the world? ›
Most Famous Dressings in the World
- Ranch Dressing. The ranch is a salad dressing or dip made with buttermilk, salt, garlic, onions, herbs (dill, parsley, chives, etc.), and spices (mustard seeds, black pepper, paprika, etc.) ...
- Fry Sauce. ...
- Chermoula. ...
- Blue Cheese Dressing. ...
- Thousand Island Dressing. ...
- Italian Dressing.
What is ambrosia salad made of? ›
Ambrosia Fruit Salad
The best Ambrosia Salad recipe is made with pineapple, mandarin oranges, yogurt, mini marshmallows, coconut and whipped cream. This easy side dish has a delicious tropical sweetness and is always a crowd favorite!
Why did the 70s love Jell-O? ›
Soldiers came back from the war with a newly acquired taste for their products, and women were integrating the workplace in droves. Cheap and quick to prepare, products offered by companies like Heinz, Jell-O and Hi-Liner were perfectly adapted to this new reality.
Why is Jell-O not popular anymore? ›
Jell-O shifted to single-serve cups and more convenient options as competition for snacks and desserts grew. Kraft in the early 2000's shifted the focus of Jell-O's advertising away from kids and toward adults. It pitched sugar-free Jell-O, for example, as a treat for Atkins dieters.
Why do hospitals always serve Jell-O? ›
Why do hospitals serve so much Jell-O? There are a few reasons: Jell-O is easy to swallow and digest, making it suitable for patients who have difficulty eating solid foods or have digestive issues.
What do Mexicans call Jell-O? ›
These days, gelatinas can be found at bakeries and corner stores, on traditional Mexican restaurant dessert trays, and, of course, in home kitchens. Birthday parties, baby showers, patron saint fiestas, you name it—pretty much any occasion where friends and family gather calls for gelatina.
Of course should the gelatin molecules be broken down, no three dimensional array can form and there can be no gelling. Bromolain in pineapple, papain in papaya and actinidin in kiwi are all enzymes capable of breaking down proteins, hence the warning that these fruits cannot be used in Jell-O.
What is the most famous salad in the world? ›
Discover the 10 Most Popular Salads in the World
- Caesar salad.
- Greek salad.
- Coleslaw.
- Tabbouleh.
Which salad is most often used slightly sweeter? ›
Romaine lettuce is most frequently used in Caesar salads and other salads. It has a slightly sweeter, bolder flavor than crisphead, which adds a mild burst to salads and sandwiches.
What is a salad that starts with W? ›
Waldorf salad is a favorite around here, particularly in the fall when apples and walnuts are in season. It's especially popular around the holidays, gracing many a Thanksgiving and holiday spread.
What are the 6 major salad categories? ›
Salads can be appetizer, accompaniment, side dish, main course, separate course, or dessert salads depending on their role. They can also be classified as green, vegetable/grain/legume, bound, fruit, composed, or gelatin salads based on main ingredients.
Which salad green is the most popular one used in the USA? ›
Iceberg lettuce may be the most popular of all the salad greens, but it's definitely not the healthiest base you can choose.
What are the 7 types of salad? ›
7 Types of Salad to Add Color and Crunch to Your Plateau
- Caesar Salad.
- Greek Salad (Horiatiki Salata)
- Caprese Salad.
- Cobb Salad.
- Waldorf Salad.
- Nicoise Salad.
- Macaroni Salad.
- Coleslaw.
What was the world's first salad? ›
The first recordings of people enjoying salad date back to Ancient Roman times. The salads of that time were not much different than the modern-day garden salads of today. They consisted of fresh, edible herbs, lettuce, and raw vegetables, and the dressing of the time was a simple mixture of oil and salt.