J-E-L-L-O

If you read the title letter by letter, then I'm sure you already have the jingle stuck in your head. Sorry about that! I was watching an episode of Unwrapped the other night. Big surprise, I know, all I ever watch anymore is FOOD network, sometimes HGTV and frequently You've Got Mail. I think I'm happier for it...my dreams are nicer anyway. But I digress. I was watching Marc Summers (of Double Dare fame - shut-up you know you watched it too.) narrate a journey through how some old school snacks and treats are made. Among them Funyuns, Macaroons and Marshmallow Fluff...if you haven't had a pb&f sandwich, you should - it's yummy! Did you know that Fluff has been around for over 90 years and there was a whole festival to celebrate? What the Fluff? That's the slogan on the posters and t-shirts. But, I digress again. The thing in this episode that really pushed my nostalgia button was the segment on JELL-O. Now, I've consumed a lot of this jiggly treat in my lifetime, but most of it was before I became a teenager.

There was a slight re-kindling in college (I'm sure you know how I liked JELL-O then).

Now, I can admit that I still enjoy this treat from time to time (black cherry is my favorite flavor) but usually it's when I want a "comfort food" and I prefer it have some fruit in it. When I was younger though, I enjoyed all things JELL-O. In fact, the fun started when my grandmother pulled out the shallow milk glass bowl she always made the stuff in. I was allowed to help which meant I could put in the cold water after she put in the hot. Incidently, after the cold water goes in, it's just the right temp for drinking. I could take my small coffee cup {side note: Yes, I was allowed to drink coffee and I grew up just fine despite all warnings that it would "stunt my growth". Besides, if you know me at all, then you know it was really sweetened milk flavored with coffee.} Sheesh, I really can't stay on track today, what was I saying? Oh right, I could take my cup and dip it once into the bowl and drink the liquid confection. Liquid gelatin has an interesting texture. Smooth and sort of velvety. Once Mamaw discovered I was going to insist on having some of the JELL-O before it made it to the fridge, she started making double batches. Now, a little JELL-O history lesson. It got it's start in 1845, but didn't really become the JELL-O we know and love until it was sold to Orator Woodward in 1899 for $450. Come with me if you will...Behind the Wiggle! And just in case I don't bore you to tears and you want to know more, click here: http://brands.kraftfoods.com/jello/explore/history/ There were originally four flavors: strawberry, rasberry, lemon and orange...hmm, no cherry. The first ad was placed in Ladies Home Journal in 1902 and it boasted that JELL-O was "America's Most Famous Dessert". In 1904 the JELL-O girl first appeared and in 1908 came the Kewpie doll ads. There were some really great print ads through the years by some pretty famous artists including Norman Rockwell.



Did you know that JELL-O was served to immigrants entering Ellis Island in NYC as a "Welcome to America"? JELL-O has enjoyed a wealth of success with new products over the years. There have been many flavors, some more successful than others. Cola, for example was short-lived, but strawberry has pretty much been always been America's favorite flavor. And of course, there's pudding...and here my nostalgia button gets tweaked again. Bill Cosby. Pudding Pops. Picture Pages. I mean, come on, who could resist frozen pudding on a stick!? Ah, those were the days. Wow, makes me want to buy some...you can still get them, but they're not flat like you remember. They're sold under the Popsicle label and they're round and not quite the same, but they taste like 1983 to me! If you're really into retro authentic, and if you love pudding pops and being in the kitchen the way I do, you could just make some! http://culinarilyobsessed.blogspot.com/2006/07/j-e-l-l-o.html

P.S. Apparently there isn't much you can't do with JELL-O as evidenced by the ingenuity of one Liz Hickok. Click here, really! http://www.lizhickok.com/portfolio_jello.html

Hmm...is it bad that I'm always waxing nostalgic over food?