I grew up with cassette tapes and records. I had to get up to turn the channel on our TV. I had Atari and Pac-Man.
I used rotary and push button phones and locked myself in closets to talk on them.
I grew up drinking Koolaid.
And Jello was a staple in my diet.
Jello was the epitome of sophisticated desserts in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. It was easy. It was the cool thing to eat.
And now it’s retro.
Retro’s cool right?
I don’t know about you guys, but holidays are as much about traditions, especially food traditions, for me. I love to cook and I love to try new things, but there is something about pulling out a recipe box, full of recipes that you have grown up with. The recipes are hand written. Carefully and neatly. Something lost in my generation. And without fail, they evoke emotion. Memories. And at some point in life… sometimes the memories are all that is left. And I want to continue to remember. So I keep them here.
This particular recipe is one that is made every Easter and Thanksgiving. And no I don’t normally serve it in cute little jars, because it’s so much better to have a giant pile plopped on my plate. This just makes it look good.
BLACK BING CHERRY JELLO SALAD
1 Box Cherry Jello
1 Cup Hot Water
1 Package Cream Cheese
1 Can Coca-Cola
1 Can Whole Bing Cherries (they don’t have to be Bing, just whole and not the pie filling)
1 Can Drained Crushed Pineapple
Separate juice from the cherries. Set aside and chop the cherries. Dissolve jello in the cup of water. Add cream cheese and stir until cream cheese is in tiny pieces. Cool for a little bit. Add Coca-Cola and cherry juice. Add cherries and pineapple and several hours.
***also, you can add chopped nuts to this recipe. I rarely add nuts to my recipes.
