This
whole week is devoted to Jell-O, the flavored gelatin treat
introduced to America and the world in 1897.
For
a brief history of Jell-O, see this earlier post.
I also talk about the chemistry of gelatin, and I link to recipes.
Did
you know...?
- Some of the flavors of Jell-o that have been discontinued include Bubble Gum, Maple Syrup, Coffee, Root Beer, and Cola.
- Jell-o is the official state snack food of Utah. (Wow, there are official state snack foods? Why?)
In
the 1950s, Jell-o molds were apparently way too popular. Now most of
us look at tuna jello ring, flaked fish jello, turkey jello ring,
jellied tongue, and other molded foods with a delicate shudder.
(Again, why?)
 |
| In this actual ad from the past, people are urged to use up their leftovers in a Jell-o salad! And that, kiddies, is how we end up with tuna-carrot-hard-boiled- egg-turkey-pea-olive-celery jello! |
 |
| My mom had one of these fish- shaped jello molds! Luckily for us, she never put flaked fish in the jello! |
- Despite the fact that gelatin packages and recipes direct us to stir in hot water until the gelatin dissolves, and later tell us to chill the dish until the gelatin is solid, in actual fact, gelatin particles DON'T dissolve, and gelatin NEVER gets solid!
The
sugar in a Jell-o package does dissolve in water, but the gelatin
particles are suspended in the water/sugar solution. When it is
“set,” gelatin becomes a semi-solid—or, more properly, a
semi-solid colloid.
Yummy
Jell-o recipes
After
the horror of seeing a fish-shaped mold of flaked-fish Jell-o, you
deserve some Jell-o recipes that are actual treats!
Pretzel
Crush Jell-o
2½
cups crushed pretzels
1
cup melted butter
8
oz. cream cheese, softened
1
cup sugar
8
oz. Cool Whip
2
cups pineapple juice
6
oz. raspberry or strawberry Jell-o
2
pkgs. Frozen raspberries or strawberries
Combine
pretzels and melted butter. Press into 9 x 13-inch pan. Bake at 400
degrees for 12 minutes, and then cool completely.
Combine
cream cheese and sugar. Fold in Cool Whip. Spread over the cooled
crust.
Boil
pineapple juice. Stir the jello into the juice until “dissolved.”
Add the frozen fruit to cool the jello. Pour over the cream cheese
layer, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate.
Also
on this date:
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