Hello Jello

“Hello Jello!” I love to say it! I love to taste the wiggly, sweet goodness as it easily slides down my throat. I love it diced into cubes smooth and firm mixed in whipped cream. With cookie cutters, I‘ve looked on with wonder as my own children enjoyed tasting their giggly creations. I love Jello. I always have and I always will.

Maybe because it only takes hot water and ice cubes to make this into a delicious treat. Maybe it is the bright colors? Maybe it’s the texture that is so addictive. Or maybe it’s all these things combined that make me love it so much.

At Thanksgiving, I am reminded how food is such a connection point to this holiday. For me, it isn’t a celebration without Jello. Yesterday, as I sat on the couch thinking over what I needed to make the feast, I decided to make our family favorite: Strawberry Pretzel Delight, a Jello dessert.

The recipe came to me from the kitchen of my dear mother-in-law, Sandy Singleton. But I think she must have received this dessert straight from heaven because it is so delightful. I remember after eating it for the first time I had to write it down. From that moment on it has been kept in my personal recipe book. This year, we weren’t able to spend Thanksgiving with the Singletons but I naturally think of them. But I am hacking through the pretzel crust. (I should have sprayed the pan.)

Food connects us to each other. When I was little, my mom made Jello sugar cookies at Christmas time. At Easter, we enjoyed Jello Buttermilk salad. From the time I was still in diapers, every church potluck presented some type of Jello salad. Sometimes this was “Yum!” Sometimes I looked down in confusion as the scooped dessert rolled around in my mouth. What is this stuff hidden under the Cool Whip? Am I eating shredded carrots? Mom’s have long been busy inventing ways to get kids to eat their vegetables, but the old church ladies weren’t even trying to be healthy they just liked to hide things in the Jello. It wasn’t even considered a sin if you called it “salad”. 

I want to take this moment to say, “I forgive you old church ladies for ruining my Jello because the older I get the more shredded carrots kind of sound good...

Food memories sometimes make my heart ache a little. They mark a time in the past and relationships that are now gone. Sadly, the old righteous hands that served up that strange Jello Salad have been laid to rest. That is why I like to collect old church cookbooks so I can try some of the old Jello creations. These recipes are like a memorial to those old gatherings after church when my parents herded the four of us to a picnic table with our flimsy paper plates almost spilling over with baked beans and potato salad. They remind me of women in dresses and men in ties, and children playing hide and seek. I can visualize all the Tupperware bowls filled with jello, and I smile. 

“I love Jello. I always have and I always will. ”

If you like the salty crunch of Pretzels combined with cream cheese frosting and the vibrant taste of chilled strawberry chunks in gelled perfection then come over here for a moment. This dessert goes fast. The best crunch comes from Gluten-free Pretzels because they do not soak in the moisture that normal pretzels do. By using them this dessert can be made the day before and still hold its crunchy edge. So for all my gluten-free friends out there, this dessert is for you.

Sandy’s Strawberry Pretzel Delight

Ingredients:

2 cups crushed Gluten-free pretzels

3 TBS. Sugar

3/4 cup melted butter

1 cup sugar

8 ounces Cream cheese (softened)

1 cup Whipped Topping

2 small packages Strawberry Jello

20 ounces Frozen Strawberries

1. To make the crust: Crush Gluten-Free Pretzels. In a bowl add crushed Pretzels, 3 TBS. sugar and melted butter. Press into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 400 Degrees for 8-10 minutes. Set aside to cool completely.

2. To make Cream Cheese mixture: Cream together 1 cup sugar, cream cheese, and thawed Whipped Topping. Spread over cooled crust

3. To make Jello topping: In 2 Cups Boiling water dissolve 2 small packages of Strawberry Jello. Add 20 oz. frozen strawberries. Stir until gelled. Pour over Cream Cheese mixture.

Chill until set up 3-4 hours. Serve. Enjoy!