Birth of a Mormon Tradition: Jello!

Keepapitchinin ^ | December 13, 2010 | Ardis E. Parshall

[Alex Murphy]

I don’t recall ever being served, at home or at a ward function, green gelatin with shredded carrots set in it. I have been served – and have served – all kinds of gelatin concoctions – most of them quite good (raspberries and sour cream, mmmm! cranberries and chopped walnuts, mmmm!), and others … well …

I remember Jell-o’s short-lived 1960s flirtation with vegetable flavored gelatin. Yeah, I can hear your “Ewww!” already. But they were good! If you’re going to put shredded carrots in Jell-o, doesn’t it make more sense to use celery-flavored gelatin than orange or lime? (The four flavors marketed were celery, mixed vegetable, seasoned tomato, and Italian salad. And they were good, whether you believe it or not!)

As I’ve mined the old church magazines for Keepa ideas, I’ve kept an eye out for gelatin recipes and discussions, and after a careful search, I can now announce what I think is the earliest documented gelatin sighting in Mormon history. Woot! Shake the tambourines and blow the horns! It’s the birth of a Mormon tradition!

[Alex Murphy]

....after a careful search, I can now announce what I think is the earliest documented gelatin sighting in Mormon history. Woot! Shake the tambourines and blow the horns! It’s the birth of a Mormon tradition!

I've excerpted the article for the faint-of-stomach. Many recipes followed.

Related threads:
Dining Among The Saints: Married Into a Mormon Family and Seeking Redemption in the Jell-O Belt
Green Jello and Matzah Balls

[svcw]

I have been to lds pot lucks. Bland food. I say without a doubt that Baptists have the best pot lucks.
However, no more matter who serves it green jello with shredded carrots is gross!!

[Vermont Lt]

Thats because you have to put the raisins in it.

I grew up in a very, very WASPY home in New England. Carrots in Jello was a regular at Sunday afternoon dinners.

I married a nice Polish/Italian girl 25 years ago.

Its been about 25 years since I wanted carrots in Jello.

But, as an aside, there is nothing more bland than Polish food. You boil it until there is no flavor, and then slop it in butter. It is no wonder none of the relatives lived past 70. All of the Italians live into their 90’s.

[Oberon]

Back in the days when you had to boil your own gelatin out of bones in your own kitchen, savory gelatin was referred to as “aspic,” and old recipes including aspic abound.

[svcw]

So very true. I am Italian and my husband Polish. They are angry people because all they eat is potatoes. When my father in law passed, we went to Chicago is visit where he grew up and visited a Polish restaurant. All they had on the menu was potatoes, yea they were fixed in various ways but boiled potatoes are boiled potatoes.
Humm, maybe my husband just married me for the food.

[t-dude]

I clicked this thinking it was an explanation of Romney’s policy positions.

Silly me.

[Alex Murphy]

They [Polish people] are angry people because all they eat is potatoes.

ROTFL!

[netmilsmom]

>>But, as an aside, there is nothing more bland than Polish food. You boil it until there is no flavor, and then slop it in butter<<

I’m so sorry but if you think this about Polish food, your wife doesn’t know how to cook.

Try this...
http://www.ehow.com/how_4551916_polish-hunters-stew.html

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH7q-jVKx-M

[svcw]

[BlueDragon]

Cherry jello, while hot stir in cranberry sauce (with whole cranberries) add/stir in slivered, roasted almonds. Allow to cool, then refrigerate to set.

Baptist origins. Good for potluck, and holiday get-togethers.

[Da_Shrimp]

But, as an aside, there is nothing more bland than Polish food.

Oh dear, my Polish wife isn't very impressed by this comment ;-)

Polish food can be very good indeed! In 15 years of marriage, I've had some excellent meals, not one of which was drowned in butter.

[Pecos]

Always good to know that Mormons and Baptists can at least agree on the value of jello. ;-)

[Da_Shrimp]

When my father in law passed, we went to Chicago is visit where he grew up and visited a Polish restaurant. All they had on the menu was potatoes

But someone born in Chicago isn't Polish, they're American, yes?

That aside, I've been to a lot of Polish restaurants in Poland and have never, ever seen one where only potatoes were on the menu. Must be a Chicago thing!

[netmilsmom]

What kind of funky restaurant did you go to?

If you said we were sour because all we eat is cabbage, I could understand it. Between the Sauerkraut, rolled cabbage and Hunter’s stew, we eat a lot of cabbage.

Potatoes are a filler for perogi. That’s it. Or twice baked with dill.
My other half is Irish. THEY eat boiled potatoes.

[netmilsmom]

>>Must be a Chicago thing! <<

Thank you.

[netmilsmom]

This is a real Polish menu

http://bozekmarkets.com/hotFood.html

[Da_Shrimp]

In fact, here's the sort of thing I'm used to with Polish food:

[svcw]

I should have said Polish heritage. My FiLs parents were born in Poland and immigrated in 1895 and ended up in Chicago.

[Da_Shrimp]

LOL sorry netilsmom, just teasing ;-)

[netmilsmom]

LOL!
I need to invite the posters on this thread to my house for a real Pollack meal.

Seriously.