I used to go to neighborhood potluck dinners attended by about 40 people, many of them older ladies.
A main dish would be provided; the rest of the food was brought to share, with no one organising ….
so … I brought a hot vegetable….there was sometimes a dish like macaroni and cheese (from a mix) or creamed corn casserole…. the rest often consisted of celery and carrot sticks… 2 or 3 kinds of devilled eggs, 5 or 6 pies…and six to ten “special” Jello salads.
The most special to the ladies was my friend Dorothy’s …. always drawing raves….similar to the green jello, pineapple and cottage cheese combo… but thicker, and sweeter.
When Dorothy moved away, I became the reluctant bearer of her heirloom recipe.
It included sour cream, cool whip, canned fruit cocktail, canned pineapple, and a huge container of cottage cheese….over which you sprinkle one undissolved package each of orange, lemon and lime Jellos.
Stir… and overnight, it magically becomes a jelled masterpiece… or so it is thought in certain quarters.
Flavored Jello is bad enough… I draw the line at Cool Whip.Beseeched to provide Dorothy’s salad for the next event, I substituted real whipped cream…. a huge success….but I’ve never been willing to make it again.
I have previously commented on why my mother’s cooking led me to take over making family meals. My mother, however, DID pride herself on creating VERY ARTISTIC jello salads (where she carefully arranged elements in the Jello as it set – by refrigerating in layers, gradually).
I’m sure I even made some of those for family celebrations before I found enough other things. I later got more creative with twice baked potatoes (white and yams) and chicken salad shaped like a chicken.
I attended an all day event yesterday of around 400 people (hosted by our Barony) and with a theme of soups. I made my most popular Clam Chowder (and yes, took the opportunity to CHEAT on my diet both in cooking it and in eating the 1/2 bowl that remained when I got home). There were more than a dozen soups kept warm at the table and others brought various breads, celery and carrot plates and assorted pickles (a popular item with our fighters). I also took a full pan of breakfast bars (recipe in that recipe section of CD).
Playing video games during a tornado? Why didn’t I think if that..I like the pear salad lay 1/2 a pear cut side down on a bed of lettuce and raisins for the eyes a blob of cottage cheese for the tail.
Please excuse me while I flip the bath rug over…..
@loveslife, at least your pear could be fresh in more of the seasons, I’ll bet Joy’s peaches are canned in heavy syrup (my former MILs idea of a diet). I’ve also done foods with eyes and ears (not only that former chicken salad) because it made food more interesting for my children (because I had 4 little ones back in the 60s).
Even canned peaches are an improvement over the normal Hostess products that Joy and Burl prefer.
margueritem over 10 years ago
Oh that Joy, what a clever one she is!
Last Rose Of Summer Premium Member over 10 years ago
I haven’t seen that one since the ’60s. Or its cousin, green jello, cottage cheese and pineapple. Yum! Not.
Laura Gildwarg over 10 years ago
UGH! There’s that word ‘elegant’ again! I shudder every time it’s uttered in Crustwood!
SusanSunshine Premium Member over 10 years ago
She thinks it’s peachy; I think it’s cheesy.
SusanSunshine Premium Member over 10 years ago
I used to go to neighborhood potluck dinners attended by about 40 people, many of them older ladies.
A main dish would be provided; the rest of the food was brought to share, with no one organising ….so … I brought a hot vegetable….there was sometimes a dish like macaroni and cheese (from a mix) or creamed corn casserole…. the rest often consisted of celery and carrot sticks… 2 or 3 kinds of devilled eggs, 5 or 6 pies…and six to ten “special” Jello salads.
The most special to the ladies was my friend Dorothy’s …. always drawing raves….similar to the green jello, pineapple and cottage cheese combo… but thicker, and sweeter.
When Dorothy moved away, I became the reluctant bearer of her heirloom recipe.
It included sour cream, cool whip, canned fruit cocktail, canned pineapple, and a huge container of cottage cheese….over which you sprinkle one undissolved package each of orange, lemon and lime Jellos.
Stir… and overnight, it magically becomes a jelled masterpiece… or so it is thought in certain quarters.
Flavored Jello is bad enough… I draw the line at Cool Whip.Beseeched to provide Dorothy’s salad for the next event, I substituted real whipped cream…. a huge success….but I’ve never been willing to make it again.
Mythreesons over 10 years ago
Cottage cheese, crushed pineapple, cool whip and pistachio pudding mixed together is good and sneaks some calcium into picky eaters. Try it!
mikie2 over 10 years ago
Chef Joy! We hardly knew ye!
orbenjawell Premium Member over 10 years ago
What Martha Stewart knows fills volumes: what the Pennys know fills…………..have some fun, guys!! Fill in the blank!!
elvy over 10 years ago
The find-it must be in Marlene’s hair or in the blobs of cottage cheese. Because I can’t find-it.
vldazzle over 10 years ago
I have previously commented on why my mother’s cooking led me to take over making family meals. My mother, however, DID pride herself on creating VERY ARTISTIC jello salads (where she carefully arranged elements in the Jello as it set – by refrigerating in layers, gradually).
I’m sure I even made some of those for family celebrations before I found enough other things. I later got more creative with twice baked potatoes (white and yams) and chicken salad shaped like a chicken.
I attended an all day event yesterday of around 400 people (hosted by our Barony) and with a theme of soups. I made my most popular Clam Chowder (and yes, took the opportunity to CHEAT on my diet both in cooking it and in eating the 1/2 bowl that remained when I got home). There were more than a dozen soups kept warm at the table and others brought various breads, celery and carrot plates and assorted pickles (a popular item with our fighters). I also took a full pan of breakfast bars (recipe in that recipe section of CD).
bookworm0812 over 10 years ago
Dagummit, this comic won’t load on this site! I had to go to ArcaMax to read it!
loveslife over 10 years ago
Playing video games during a tornado? Why didn’t I think if that..I like the pear salad lay 1/2 a pear cut side down on a bed of lettuce and raisins for the eyes a blob of cottage cheese for the tail.
Please excuse me while I flip the bath rug over…..
kp22kc over 10 years ago
loveslife, I think that is Video Camera, not games.
vldazzle over 10 years ago
@loveslife, at least your pear could be fresh in more of the seasons, I’ll bet Joy’s peaches are canned in heavy syrup (my former MILs idea of a diet). I’ve also done foods with eyes and ears (not only that former chicken salad) because it made food more interesting for my children (because I had 4 little ones back in the 60s).
Even canned peaches are an improvement over the normal Hostess products that Joy and Burl prefer.