Take a stroll down memory lane with these gelatin based recipes that have us scratching our heads. Some of these dishes graced American tables for decades, but we are glad they don’t anymore.
The origins of the jello salad come from a winning contest recipe from Mrs. John E. Cook back in 1904. She created a dish called “perfection salad” which won third place in a recipe contest hosted by Better Homes and Gardens. The recipe featured cabbage, celery, red pepper and green olives tossed into gelatin flavored with lemon and vinegar.
Sounds delicious right?
That salad set the stage for others to try their hand at other unique jello creations.
Glace Fish Mold
We are guessing this tastes as gross as it looks, but back in the day, it was all the rage. Plain gelatin mixed with flaked fish, peppers, cucumber, onion and pimentos all shaped into a fish shape. Sounds delicious doesn’t it?
Emerald Cantaloupe
Who really wants to be healthy anyway? Let’s reduce the nutrition of the cantaloupe by adding some canned pineapple, lime gelatin and sugar.
Ham in Aspic
Bet you thought jello was just for dessert! Well you thought wrong. This dinner creation takes a canned ham and encases it in plain gelatin. But don’t forget the olives and eggs – and prunes to make it authentic. Can you say yummy!
Ring Around The Tuna
Some think it is pretty – we are not sure what to make of it. Lime jello filled with cucumber, pimento, stuffed olives and tuna is quite the combination. It is like eating a meal and dessert all in one.
Lemon Salmon Tower
Is it really salmon if it is not covered in lemon gelatin? Don’t forget the anchovies, sardines, and herring in sour cream to get the full flavor burst. This might be better served to your cat than your friends.
Cucumber Souffle
At least there is no meat in this one. But lime gelatin and mayonnaise are just two things that don’t seem to go together.
Jellied Beef Mold
Not sure what they were thinking when they came up with this? Beef and pimento encased in gelatin sounds like an awful idea.
Sauerkraut Mold
Maybe a hot dog topping in disguise? Sauerkraut mold features lemon gelatin mixed with sauerkraut, green onions and pimentos. For an added bonus, serve it with a mix of horseradish and mayonnaise.
Sequin Salad
What were people thinking? While this may not look horrible – it is lime Jell-O filled with bits of vinegar-soaked cauliflower, pimento and onion. To us, that sounds like a horrible flavor combination.
Aspic Aquarium
This one gets points for creativity. Cucumber and carrot fish shapes are set inside lime gelatin. The layers of Hellman’s mayonnaise are the added element that really makes this a head scratcher.
Lime Cheese Salad
Just when you think things cannot get grosser, we find lime cheese salad. A delicious mix of lime Jell-O with onion, cottage cheese and mayonnaise. The gross factor is elevated with the seafood salad in the middle.
Bean and Mushroom Salad
Bean and mushroom salad is kind of yucky on its own. But this dish adds in gelatin, pimento, watercress and more making it a whole new level of not so yummy.
Californian Jell-O Ring
This one wins for ugliest dish for sure. But, people say that the mix of gelatin, prunes and lemon does not taste as horrific as it looks.
Veg-All Pie Plate Salad
Imagine bringing this to Thanksgiving dinner? A can of Veg-All poured into lemon gelatin is a great way to get your daily veggies – while eating dessert. Top it off with tartar sauce or salad dressing for a taste boost.
