Both of my grandmother's were connoisseurs of the jello mold. Jello salads and aspics were so popular in the 1950s that Jello even introduced special flavors to support the trend such as 'celery' and 'tomato'. I imagine that Betty Draper from the popular show "Mad Men" made a jello mold or two. Perhaps when the ladies came over to play cards or when entertaining Don's business partners. (Megan Draper on the other hand, probably never made a jello mold as the only thing I'm sure she ever made was spaghetti.)
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| Virginia Martorana |
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| Margaret Schmitt |
| Betty Draper |
My own mother continued the jello mold tradition into the 70s and 80s. I personally abhorred these concoctions of jello and fruit that made their way to the picnic table. Sure, they looked pretty but to me, fruit had no place sitting next to the sausage and peppers (nor a place did pineapple or cherry sauce have on ham).
This savory shrimp and tomato mold, however, is delightful. It's like a shrimp cocktail in one soft, creamy bite.
Ingredients:
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup water
1 can tomato soup8 oz. cream cheese
1 cup mayonnaise
2 cans tiny shrimp, drained and roughly chopped
1 cup celery, finely chopped
1/2 cup green or yellow onion, finely chopped
Heat soup in a small saucepan or in a microwave oven.
In a medium bowl, stir gelatin into cold water. Mix hot tomato soup into the gelatin liquid.
In a medium size mixing bowl, combine cream cheese and mayonnaise together. Mix soup mixture into the mayonnaise and cream cheese mixture. Mix well.
Add shrimp, celery, and green onions.
Spoon the mixture into a 1 quart mold and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
To unmold, soak the mold in hot water being careful not to get any water in the shrimp mixture. Place a plate on top of the ring and invert...carefully! Place back in the fridge for a few minutes to firm up.
Serve with Ritz crackers.
Oh, and one final note.....beware of hungry cats !
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