Do you have a dish you love but no one else in your family likes? All of mine involve Jello. Specifically, Jello Salads. I don’t have a particular favorite, either. Anytime I see a salad that has gelatin, fruit, cream cheese and whipped cream in it? I’m celebrating like we’re eating at a five-star restaurant.
My husband and kids? Not so much.
My kids are grown now, but when they were little, I kept holding out hope that their tastes would change. So, about once a year, I’d make a pineapple salad. Or the apricot one. Or strawberry. I’d even serve it up in cute little dishes, sure that this would be the moment they’d take a careful spoonful, smile in delight, and then finally thank me for never giving up in my quest for gelatin salad appreciation.
No, that never happened.
Because of that—and the fact that no woman ever needs to eat an entire Jello salad by herself—I rarely make them. But if we’re at a church pot luck or a buffet in Amish country, I’m sure to give myself a pretty big spoonful.
One day my husband pointed out that there were some food preferences that weren’t ever going to change. He doesn’t like water chestnuts. I don’t think I’ll ever like olives, no matter what they are on or mixed in with.
At last, I’ve learned to accept that just because we are all alike in many ways, we are each our own person. God has made us each special, and that is something to celebrate. My kids needed to develop their own likes and dislikes and not be afraid to voice them.
But for those of you, like me, who might enjoy a Jello salad every once in a while, here’s one from one of my Amish cookbooks. It’s for pineapple salad. And I have to admit, even here in January, it sounds very refreshing.
With blessings to you, Shelley Shepard Gray
Pineapple Salad
2 boxes Jello, dissolved in 3 c. hot water
1 c. drained, crushed pineapple
1 lg. pkg. cream cheese
1 c. cream, whipped
Topping
1 c. sugar
3T. flour
2 eggs
1 c. pineapple juice
Directions
1)Add pineapple to Jello. Let set in long dish. Whip the cream and add the cream cheese; whip again until fluffy. Spread onto the Jello Mixture.
2)Make topping. Cook all ingredients together until thick. Let cool slightly. Spread on top of cream cheese mixture. Cool salad in refrigerator for several hours. Enjoy!
*Cover photo credit: By Janine from Mililani, Hawaii, United States (jell-o cream cheese squareUploaded by Fæ) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Shelley is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than fifteen Amish-themed novels for Avon Inspire.
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I’ve just got to say that I, too, am a fan of jello salads.
I’m glad I’m not the only one, Caitlin!
No Jello for me. I have migraines induced by dyes and cannot eat anything with any kind of dyes. Especially red 40. I wish they would ban that stuff (red 40 is banned in most other countries) It’s for aesthetic purposes only and is linked to cancer, migraines, adhd and more
i like jello salads too. My favorites are the strawberry pretzel salad; shredded cabbage in lemon, lime, or lemon-lime jello; and the cranberry salad my mother used to make for Christmas and Thanksgiving. It had raspberry jello, walnuts or pecans, pineapple and I think strawberries. Yummy! I never make them because like you said, too much for one person.
Jeanette, my neighbor used to make that strawberry pretzel salad. So good!
Since I am a widow, and I enjoy a jello salad, I take one to most potluck dinners I go to…. that way I get my fix…. and if there is a little left over, I can enjoy it the next day for lunch!!! I am anxious to make the pineapple salad you posted!!! Thank you so much!!!
Donna -my grandma always did that when she was a widow. She made a huge chocolate cake for church potlucks, and boy was she popular. That’s so great that you can get a little treat for yourself and make a lot of other people happy at the same time!
Thank you Christy!!! Another thing I do, if there is something I am really hungry for, I make it and share with some of my older neighbors…. that way they don’t have to cook dinner!!! I just love to cook and to bake, so I make myself happy and others too!!
We were raised eating Jello salads & I still love them! Thanks for sharing Shelley!
I don’t like jello. I love jello salad. Go figure!
Too funny Tricia!
If you’re interested in healthy Jello (and yes, it really truly can be!) check out this post my daughter wrote for the popular parenting site, HelloBee. Bonus: You get to see pictures of my gorgeous granddaughters! http://www.hellobee.com/2012/11/21/apple-jello-treats/
Can you post the pretzel salad here please.
Thanks so much for this posting! I liked it for many reasons. I am a newlywed and can barely boil water. One casserole that I actually love (and may I add..properly prepare), my husband greatly dislikes! Thanks for the jello recipe…maybe my husband will like it…I bet that I will! Most of all, thanks for the reminder that everyone is different and is allowed to have different tastes! : )