This is a very nostalgic recipe for me! My grandma would make this for every Thanksgiving that I can remember. It is creamy, light, lemon-limey, fruity, and a not too sweet. A very unique salad that sets so well you can cut it into squares. The color is fun too. Doesn't it just look like the 1950's?
Grandma's Cottage Cheese Jello Salad
Serves 12-16
1 (3 oz.) package lemon Jello
1 (3 oz.) package lime Jello
1 cup boiling water
1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 teaspoon vinegar
Pinch of salt
1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup Miracle whip salad dressing
Dissolve both boxes of Jello in boiling water. Add pineapple juice, vinegar, and salt. Refrigerate until slightly set, like the consistency of jelly. Whip milk until foamy. Add Jello and continue whipping until fully combined. Add pineapple, cottage cheese, and salad dressing. Mix well. Pour into an 8x11-inch serving dish and refrigerate until set. Cut into squares to serve.
I have great memories of Thanksgiving when I was a kid. We would take turns going to each grandma's house, so basically, we'd have two turkey dinners. There were lots of cousins on my Grandma Carol's side, so it was always a party at her house. We knew that this salad would always be there too. It's amazing how food can be tied to so many memories and feelings.
This "salad" has some unique ingredients that I chose not to reveal to my family. I knew they would love it but may not try it if they knew all the ingredients. Haha. Was I right! After eating an entire serving, my son later saw this recipe up on my computer and fell over making fake gagging noises. Needless to say, I will be eating the leftovers by myself. Using both lemon and lime Jello is what gives it the unique color. The light airiness comes from whipping the evaporated milk. I have never thought to whip evaporated milk, but sure enough, it gets foamy and thicker!
Then you add the partially set Jello and whip until smooth. Be sure to stir or fold in the remaining ingredients so you can keep the light airy quality. And yes, the Miracle Whip is a must to make it truly taste like it is supposed to. If you would love a fun side dish that will take you back to yesteryear, give this a try! I promise it is delicious and you will be surprised by how much you will like it.
Recipe Source: Recipe from my Grandma Carol Preece