Jell-O: A really fucking fun food

Posted by Bad Grandma · January 16, 2022

Three 1970s era recipe cards, all featuring gelatin creations.

International Jell-O Week is almost here!

This is a post in Bad Grandma’s Recipe Hell collection of odd and fun recipes from yesteryear. Read on to see the recipes and learn how you can get a free Bad Grandma dishtowel if try these recipes for yourself.

Yes, folks, International Jell-O week starts soon.* In 2022, the celebrations run from February 13 to February 19, 2022.

*This is a real event. It was started by the Utah State Legislature in 2001. Also, people from Utah really love their Jello: The state has the largest consumption of the stuff in the country. Take that, Midwesterners.

So that you can go all out this year, Bad Grandma has dug out not one but three gelatin-based recipes from her 1971 Betty Crocker Recipe Card Collection® so that you can add some wiggle and jiggle to your meals.

Okay, sure, some of these recipes are kinda weird to modern sensibilities. And the recipe’s authors can’t seem to resist plopping something creamy on top of them, but that’s a small price to pay for a meal that barely requires you to chew.

Grandma has picked out a vinegary tomato aspic, a cucumber "lime" side salad, and some fluffy pink thing for dessert. Mmmm, mmm. Scroll to the bottom of this post to see the recipes in detail.

Try any of these recipes and win a free dishtowel

If you’re thinking: “Fuck yeah, I want to eat more Jell-O!” then you are the kind of food adventurer Bad Grandma loves.

If you make any of these gelatin foods and send me photos, I’ll send you a free Bad Grandma dishtowel of your choice - one for each recipe you make. You are also free to alter the recipe some to make it easier or more pleasant for your palate. I’ll still send you the towel.

Or, if you have some retro Jell-O dish that’s a family favorite at your house, make it and send a pic and the recipe. Grandma will hook you up with a towel for that too! Just send your photos and contact info to grandma (at) badgrandmadesigns.com. I can’t wait to post your rubbery creations.

Hugs and wiggles,
Bad Grandma

The recipes

Front of the recipe card for Cucumber Cool Salads from the Betty Crocker Recipe Library, with image of a Garden Relish Mold

Back of the recipe card for Cucumber Cool Salads. It includes instructions for Garden Relish Mold and for Cucumber-sour Cream Salad.

Front of the recipe card for Pink Bavarian Cream from the Betty Crocker Recipe Library, with image of the dessert

Back of the recipe card for Pink Bavarian Cream. It includes instructions for the dish

Front of the recipe card for Tangy Tomato Aspic from the Betty Crocker Recipe Library, with image of the dish

Back of the recipe card for Tangy Tomato Aspic. It includes instructions for the dish

UPDATE! Check out these enterprising chefs:

Find out about the epic and very orange Jell-o Kristi made for her parent's 50th anniversary: Gelatin That Goes "Flump" in the Night: Tales of Jell-O Excellence
Be sure not to miss Chrissy's awesome take on the Pink Bavarian Cream: Chrissy's Jolly Jiggly Jell-o!
Judith displays her fantastic skills with the Rainbow Jell-o: Gelatin: It Brings Us All Together

Bad Grandma reserves the right to end this recipe challenge at any time. But I’ll announce it before I do 😊.

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Recipe Hell