Blogging from A to Z: Jell-O®
As soon as I found out about the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, I knew I wanted to write about Jell-O®. My grandma Rose was the first person I knew to use this amazing product wholeheartedly. She’d return from her weekly bridge parties with new recipes from the hostesses. And, she’d create a few of her own tasty wonders. She would make fluffy desserts, beautiful gelatin molds, fruity and aspic-y salads and amazing pies, all with Jell-O®.
Jell-O® is one of those amazing brandnomer (genicized trademark) success stories like Xerox® and Kleenex®. You don’t ever say, “I’d like some flavored gelatin.” You say, “Gimme some raspberry Jell-O®!”
It was discovered in 1897 by Pearle Wait, a carpenter in LeRoy, New York, and purchased in 1899 by Orator Frank Woodward. It is said that “One day in a gloomy mood, ‘O.F.’ offered Sam Nico the whole blankety-blank business for $35. In 1900, the Jell-O® name was first used by the Genesee Pure Food Company. The advertising campaign proved so successful that in 1902, Jell-O® sales mounted to $250,000.” A star was born! History reference, click here.
Here’s one of my grandma’s staple Jell-O® recipes, which I haven’t made in years. I believe there was also a version using Ginger Ale but I couldn’t find it.
Lime Jell-O® Cottage Cheese Pineapple Salad
12-15 large marshmallows or 1 ½ c. mini marshmallows
1 3-oz. package lime Jell-O®
1 c. cottage cheese
½ c. chopped walnuts
1 c. whipped cream
Drain pineapple and add water to make 1-1/2 cups juice. Place in saucepan and bring to boil for one minute. Add marshmallows and melt. Add lime Jell-O® and dissolve. Let cool (it will thicken). Add crushed pineapple, cottage cheese, nuts and whipped cream. Stir and let set in refrigerator. Serve cold. Enjoy!
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10 Comments
Lindsey
I love Jell-O. I even made a Jell-O cake for Easter. You can find my recipe here: http://lindseyblogs21.blogspot.com/2012/04/easter-eats.html
It's so delicious. If you like Jell-O and haven't had this, you better try it! Happy A-Zing!
Krista McLaughlin
I love Jell-O. My mom actually makes something similar to that with jell-o, but it doesn't have the walnuts in it. Very tasty.
Paul Hafalla
lovely post
do check out my letters too at GAC a-z
Leigh Covington
I love jello! It's so yummy! We make this recipe that you've shared too! One of my favorites! Now I'm hungry and I know what I'm making for the kids' birthday party next week!
Tara Tyler
i always wondered about jello's invention! it's such an odd substance! fun!
Cathy
We ate a lot of jello in the 60's, but I'm wondering how many people even eat this ultimate in plastic food anymore? Though I call it plastic, that's not to say I don't like it. I really do! I have a recipe book that is devoted to jello exclusively and I do eat it once every few years.
Stopping by from the A-Z and happy to meet you!
Shelley Sly
Yum, Jell-O! I hadn't had Jell-O in years… until I just visited my mom two weeks ago, and she made Jell-O. It was a blast from the past.
Sharkbytes
Yes, I am one of those people who love Jell-O things. I'm trying to visit all the A-Z Challenge Blogs this month.
Jeremy Bates
Everything was going great with the recipe until I read cottage cheese. The ONLY way I can eat the latter is when it is in a deep dish pizza.
Jelo was sold for $35?! Wow, what a steal for a gazillion dollar business!
Mercy
I haven't had Jello in ages but my mom used to make a recipe similar to your Grandma's but she uses mandarin oranges instead of pineapple. I'll bet a combination would be super. I myself like the ice cream jello, just put ice cream in when making jello and the hot water melts it. add nuts, or mandarin oragens, or pineapple and it is yoummy