This week we have a recipe test that is, thankfully, short and sweet. Since we tested out a TON of recipes for our recent Gelatin Contest, I have a bunch of gelatin recipes stacked up and ready to go for you guys. Which is kind of weird since I am used to busting my butt every week to get the Mid-Century Menu recipes made, photographed, tasted and photographed again so I can post them two weeks in the future. But for the last couple of months Tom and I have just been gliding along on our tested gelatin riches and enjoying our break. Someone in the comments or on the contact page (I forget which) asked, “Do you guys ever take a health break?”
Happily, the answer is “Yes. Right now, actually.”
But that doesn’t mean the posting is stopping! Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Carrot and Pineapple Salad!!
This is a classic, classic gelatin salad. Sometimes known as “Sunshine Salad” it is a mid-century gelatin salad that is actually good. Unlike Perfection Salad, which can be a bit weird sometimes.
This salad was submitted by Janet, who sent this recipe in a loooooong time ago in this lovely email:
I heard you asking for Jell-o recipes on the Joy Cardin show and had to submit my childhood favorite. Just combine lemon Jell-o with grated carrot and a small can of crushed pineapple in heavy syrup. It makes such a pretty salad, and being brought up on it, I find it delicious. I make it whenever I want to remember my mom.
I enjoyed your show and plan to become one of your regular readers.
Glad you liked the show, Janet, and thanks for sending in the recipe!
Only one picture, really, since this salad is so easy to make. I even bought pre-shredded carrots because, yes, I am that lazy!
Ta-Da! We have salad!
I actually ended up taking this salad to a dinner party (I know, right?) where it was tasted by many and declared yummy. However, since I know you love to see Tom…
Well, looking back on it, this isn’t really a “yummy” face so much as it is an “I’m still full from the dinner party” face. But the gelatin was still good.
From Tom’s tasting notes:
Good. Classic gelatin salad. Pineapple in heavy syrup is delicious.
The Verdict: Good.
Thanks for the recipe, Janet!
| Carrot and Pineapple Salad |
- Small box of lemon gelatin
- 1 can pineapple in heavy syrup
- 1 to 1/2 cup shredded or chopped carrots
- Drain pineapple, reserving syrup and adding enough water to the syrup to make one cup.
- Make gelatin according to package, substituting the reserved syrup and water mixture for the cold water.
- Add carrots and pineapple to gelatin. Chill.
Just a quick question – is this a savoury side salad, a sweet fruit salad or a ‘stand alone’ snack? I suppose it would work as all three!
Hi Perdita! This was a sweet salad, but could definitely be eaten as a snack!
Yummy memories of being a kid! However, we always used orange Jello for the salad and it is scrumptious as well.
My family makes this on holidays, but also adds raisins and chopped pecans. My sisters hate it, but I love it, and made my boyfriend a convert too!
That’s what we did too — minus the pineapple. Just orange Jell-O and carrot.
My mom made this every Christmas only she served it in individual bowls with Miracle Whip dolloped on top; it’s awesome. Hate it alone….love it with Miracle Whip.
It looks like…a brain. A neon-orange brain.
I use to make this salad years ago. I love it and thanks for reminding me to start making it again.
My neighbour always made a variation of this recipe, it was 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup of shredded carrot, 1 cup of miracle whip, a can of crushed pineapple added to the lemon jello. This was and is an absolutely amazing taste. Kind of zingy!
My family knows this as Golden Glow Salad. It’s good with some chopped pecans added. I usually just pour into a baking dish and don’t un mold. We have it for Easter with ham and mashed potato casserole.
I have also made this recipe with orange jello and the orange with carrots makes it even better!
I was going to say the same…by itself it’s a little sweet and one-note. Needs to be served with either a small dollop of Miracle Whip or even mayonnaise and a sprinkle of paprika to really take me back to one of my favorite salads as a child. I’m going to make this again soon.
Have been looking for Jell-o salad recipes and ran across your website. My grandmother made a version of this she called Golden Glow. Hers contained pineapple, carrots, finely chopped celery, and black walnut pieces. She also added 1/2 tsp salt and about 2 tbsp of vinegar to the jell-o which made it less sweet. Always served with mayonnaise on the side – lots of mayonnaise. It is the ultimate memory trip for my entire family. I even made it with sugar-free jell-o and it still was excellent. (Of course the mayo kinda defeated that idea.) Thanks for tickling those old memory neurons.