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Do you remember the jingle “J-E-L-L-O”? If you are in the later part of your life you will know what I mean. Gelatin is the proper name and the brand name is Jello. A little bit of gelatin information that you're probably thinking I could have skipped in this part of todays column. Hang in there! Gelatin is gotten from the white connective tissue in the skin, and from the bones of animals, basically beef and veal. In the early days, homemakers made their own gelatin by boiling calves' feet for half a day, straining the broth through flannel (not once but several times), and finally clearing it with egg whites. That's all I'm going to say about how gelatin came to be.

Whatever you do, don't tell your young children or grandchildren what I've just said or they probably won't eat Jello (gelatin) again.

I've often said we have a lot of good cooks in my community...yes! This salad or dessert comes from one of them. Quick, easy to make and delicious. Thanks, Ellen.

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ELLEN’S RASPBERRY DELIGHT
1 – 6 oz. pkg. raspberry-flavor gelatin
2 c. boiling water
1 – 20 oz. can raspberry pie filling
Whipped cream or whipped topping, optional

Put dry gelatin in a medium bowl. Pour boiling water over gelatin, stirring until COMPLETELY dissolved. Immediately stir in pie filling until well combined. Do not add cold water as you normally would. Refrigerate until set. Serve plain or spread whipped cream over top. Ellen says to use a clear glass bowl to show off this pretty salad/dessert. Makes about 10 servings.

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STRAWBERRY
BANANA PIE
1 medium banana, sliced
1 prepared 9-in. graham cracker crust, baked according to pkg. directions, cooled
1 – 3 oz. (4 serving) strawberry-banana flavor gelatin
2/3 c. boiling water
½ c. cold water
Ice cubes
3-1/2 c. (8 oz.) container whipped topping (Cool Whip), thawed
1 c. sliced, fresh strawberries
Additional strawberries and bananas, optional

Arrange banana slices in bottom of crust. In a medium bowl, completely dissolve gelatin in boiling water. In another bowl combine cold water and ice cubes to make 1-1/4 c. Add to gelatin, stirring until slightly thickened. Remove any unmelted ice. Using a wire whisk, blend in whipped topping: then whip until smooth. Fold in strawberries. Chill until mixture mounds. Spoon over bananas in pie crust. Chill 2-3 hours. Garnish with additional sliced bananas and strawberries. Makes 6 servings.

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ORANGE GINGER DESSERT
1 – 3 oz. pkg. (4 serving) orange or orange-pineapple flavor gelatin
1 c. boiling water
¾ c. chilled ginger ale.
1 c. miniature marshmallows
1 – 11 oz. can mandarin orange sections, drained well
Lettuce leaves, optional

In a medium bowl, completely dissolve gelatin. Add ginger ale. Chill until very thick. Gently stir in marshmallows and mandarin oranges. Pour into a 4-cup ring mold or a bowl. Chill until firm, about 3 hours. Unmold onto a serving plate, lined with lettuce leaves if you wish. Makes 4-5 servings.

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SPRING
FRUIT BOWL
2 – 4 oz. pkgs. lemon flavor gelatin
1-1/2 c. boiling water
1-12 oz. can lemon-lime carbonated beverage (7-Up, Sprite, etc.), chilled
Ice cubes
3 c. diced fresh fruits (oranges, apples, pears and green grapes)
Whipped topping and orange sections, optional

In a large bowl completely dissolve gelatin in boiling water. In a 2-cup measure, combine beverage and ice cubes to make 2-1/2 cups. Add to gelatin, stirring until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove any unmelted ice. Chill until thickened, not set. Fold in fruits. Pour into 8-c. serving bowl. Chill until set, about 3 hours. Garnish with whipped topping and orange sections if you wish. Makes 10 to 12 servings.

Thought for the Day: If you want your children to improve, let them overhear the nice things you say to others. 

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