June 23, 2011

Jello without the Jiggle

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Margaret's Morsels | Lime Jello Salad

Every year on the fourth Sunday in June, my father-in-law's relatives have a family reunion at a state park two hours from our house.  The first couple of years I attended, I prepared and took an entree.  Unfortunately, no matter what kind of container I put the food in or how well I wrapped it, the food was lukewarm after the long drive.

After some trial and error, my husband and I came up with the perfect solution.  We stop and buy a bucket of chicken at a restaurant 15 minutes from the park.  I prepare a dessert that can withstand the drive and a side dish that is kept in the cooler until it's time to eat.

I vary the dessert from year to year, but I always take the same side dish:  Lime Jello Salad.   It's an easy dish to transport and can easily be doubled.  Although it uses jello, it's not a congealed salad.

The recipe is a combination of lime jello, cottage cheese, crushed pineapple and Cool Whip.  I use sugar-free jello and lite Cool Whip, but you can use regular versions or a combination of the ingredients.

Margaret's Morsels | Lime Jello Salad

Start by combining the dry jello with the cottage cheese.

Margaret's Morsels | Lime Jello Salad

Once it's thoroughly combined, stir in the drained pineapple and fold in the Cool Whip.  If you want a brighter green, add a few drops of green food coloring.

The recipe is versatile and can be made with other flavors of jello and fruit.  It's delicious made with orange jello instead of lime and a can of drained mandarin oranges.

Lime jello salad makes a cold side dish good on a hot summer day, but it's good year round.  It makes a festive green dish for St. Patrick's Day and, according to my husband and son, is much better than corned beef and cabbage.

Lime Jello Salad
6 Servings

1 (12 oz.) carton cottage cheese
1 (3 oz.) pkg. lime jello
1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (8 oz.) carton Cool Whip, thawed
green food coloring (optional)

Mix cottage cheese with dry jello.  Add pineapple; mix well.  Fold in Cool Whip.  Add a few drops of green food coloring, if desired.  Keep refrigerated.

© Margaret's Morsels

4 comments:

  1. Never had it with Lime Jello, but that sounds yummy. My mom always made it with Orange, and that's still my favorite, but tonight I made it with raspberry jello since that's all I could find at the store. This is one of my all time favorite comfort foods! I've always wondered if there was a name for it though...other than Nana's Cool Whip Jello Dessert. Just doesn't have a ring to it. Maybe I should call it "Show Me Dessert" since my folks are both from Missouri.

    ;^)

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  2. I didn't know what to call it either. The friend that gave me the recipe over 20 years ago just called it "salad." You might need to call it "Show Me the Empty Bowl Salad" since everyone loves it! Thanks for the raspberry jello suggestion. That got my creative juices flowing. I love the combination of cranberries and mandarin oranges so I'm going to make the salad with those ingredients. Hope you'll check out my blog again soon.

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  3. Very good write-up. I absolutely appreciate this site. Thanks!

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    1. Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the blog and like "Margaret's Morsels."

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