Hey, my mom used to make that!

Fancy-schmancy Jell-O dessert recipe from 1926

The recipe for Pineapple and Raspberry Neapolitan comes from this 1926 Jell-O recipe booklet. It's easy to make and looks nice enough to serve to company — the highest praise, according to my mother.

Here's what the Pineapple and Raspberry Neapolitan looks like when finished.

Dissolve a package of Lemon Jell-O in one-half pint of boiling water and add one-half pint of juice from canned pineapple. When cold, whip and then fold in two or three slices of canned pineapple, finely chopped. Turn into round or square mold, filling half full. Chill.

Dissolve a package of Raspberry Jell-O in a half pint of boiling water, add half a pint of of juice of canned or fresh raspberries, whip, and fold in the berries. Pour into the mold after the Lemon Jell-O has hardened. Note that fresh pineapple should not be used.

Click here for an easy trick using lime Jell-O.

Via Shelf Life Taste Test

Retro Recipe: Under the Sea Salad

With a name like Under the Sea Salad, you'd expect to find some kind of seafood on the ingredients list. But you would be wrong.

The recipe explains, "Pears and cream cheese lie beneath a clear, sea-green layer after unmolding."

This salad got its name because the author thinks green Jell-O looks so much like the ocean.

No. It doesn't.

I've lived in seaside towns since the age of 8 and I can tell you with absolute certainty, the ocean looks nothing like green Jell-O.

Now that I've cleared that up, let's look at this recipe.

It's actually a pretty nice recipe.

1 package (3 oz.) Jell-O Lime or Lemon-Lime Gelatin
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup boiling water
1 can (1 lb.) pear halves
1 tbsp. lemon juice
2 packages (3 oz. each) cream cheese
1/8 tsp. ginger

Dissolve Jell-O and salt in boiling water. Drain pears, measuring 3/4 cup syrup; add water, if necessary. Dice pears and set aside. Add pear syrup and lemon juice to Jell-O. Measure 1 1/4 cups into a 1-qt. mold. Chill until set, but not firm.

Meanwhile, soften cheese until creamy. Gradually add remaining Jell-O, blending until smooth. Add ginger. Chill until very thick. Fold in pears. Spoon into mold. Chill until firm. Unmold on crisp lettuce. Makes about 4 cups or 8 side salads.

 Click here for another retro molded salad recipe.

Via Victoria Belanger

Cool off with this retro treat: Orange Mallow Frost

Here's the 1974 recipe for Easy Orange Mallow Frost made with Kraft marshmallows.

1 3-oz. pkg. orange-flavored gelatin
1 cup boiling water
1 pint orange sherbet
1 11-oz. can manderin orange segments, drained
2 cups Kraft Miniature Marshmallows or 20 Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallows

Dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Add sherbet; stir until dissolved. Chill until almost set; fold in fruit and marshmallows (quarter Jet-Puffed Marshmallows directly into gelatin using scissors dipped in water). Fill 6 dessert dishes; chill until firm. Garnish with additional mandarin orange slices and mint, if desired. Makes 6 servings.

Variations:
Substitute 1 cup ginger ale for sherbet.
Substitute one of the following for the orange gelatin and sherbet:
lime gelatin and sherbet
lemon gelatin and sherbet
raspberry gelatin and sherbet

 Click here for another refreshing retro recipe made with Kraft marshmallows.

Via Gatochy

Barbecue Salad recipe from Jell-O

I may be crazy, but this sounds good. Kind of like a gazpacho gelatin.

Here's the retro recipe for Jell-O's Barbecue Salad:

1 package Lemon or Orange Jell-O
1 1/4 cups hot water
1 can Hunt's Tomato Sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper

Dissolve Jell-O in hot water. Add Hunt's Tomato Sauce and other ingredients. Blend. Pour into individual molds. Chill until firm. Place on crisp greens with mayonnaise.

For extra spiciness, add any of the following before chilling: onion juice, seasoning or celery salt, cayenne, Worcestershire sauce, pepper sauce or horseradish.

Click here for a 1983 recipe for a refreshing Jell-O dessert.

Via killingtime2

"Jell-O, who's calling?"

Wish I had the mold to make this Jell-O phone.

Retro Chicken and Aspic Salad from Sunkist

My guess is that this recipe is from the 1950s.

I'm convinced unappetizing recipes like this explain how Lucille Ball and her generation kept slim. Portion control was not an issue. And who in her right mind would have been tempted to ask for seconds?

Here's a close-up of the recipe. Click the image to enlarge it even more.

Click here to see another questionable Jell-O recipe from the past.

Via vintage.kitten

Ginger Ale Salad from 1953

Here's a close-up of the 1953 Jell-O recipe for Ginger Ale Salad:

This recipe seems an awful lot like Garbage Pail Jell-O Salad. Emphasis on 'awful.'

 

Via Flickr/jbcurio

Easiest dessert you'll ever make for St. Patrick's Day

Dissolve green Jell-O in 1/2 cup of hot water, add 1 1/2 cups of 7-Up. Chill until firm.

Actually, this works with any color/flavor Jell-O and any brand of gelatin mix.

If you're willing to work a tad harder and own a shamrock-shaped cookie cutter, you could try making St. Patrick's Day Jell-O Jigglers.

Via Flickr/Shelf Life Taste Test

Jell-O Jigglers recipe

This is a fun recipe to make with kids.

Here's the recipe for Jell-O Gelatin Jigglers as it appears in the above ad from the 1980s:

4 packages (4-serving size) Jell-O Brand Gelatin or Sugar Free Gelatin, any flavor

2 1/2 cups boiling water or fruit juice

Dissolve gelatin completely in boiling water in a bowl. Pour into 8- or 9-inch square pan.Chill until firm, about 4 hours. Cut with any cookie cutter. Garnish as desired. Cube remaining gelatin.

Click here for another fun recipe to make with kids, Rice Krispies Treats.

A little something retro for your Thanksgiving table — Cranberry-Mallow Pie made with mini marshmallows

Here's a close-up of the recipe for Cranberry-Mallow Pie as it appears in the above 1967 ad for Kraft miniature marshmallows:

 

Click here to see three retro holiday recipes from Ocean Spray.