This week’s fantastic gelatin is my choice for the most unique, different and delicious gelatin recipe that was submitted during our contest.
Grandma Porter’s Lime Jell-O with Avocado & Grapefruit!
This recipe was sent in by April, who writes:
Hi Ruth,
This one I remember my great grandmother making when I was as young as 3 or 4, so that was 1953-54. As an adult, I became allergic to avocados, so I couldn’t eat it anymore, and in later years when I tried it on my kids, they got grossed out on the thought of canned grapefruit, so it’s a lost recipe that I hope you will enjoy. The avocados she used were from the backyard in California, sooo good! I remember her serving it with lamb shanks, or sticky meat as I called it when I was little….another one of my favorite dishes that’s nothing more then a memory now. Hope you like it! Thanks for giving me a reason to go down memory lane, it was fun! Really enjoy your blog btw!
Thanks again,
April
| Grandma Porter’s Lime Jell-O with Avocado & Grapefruit |
- 1 small box of Lime Jello
- 1 can of Grapefruit Sections chilled
- 1 freshly sliced Avocado
- Mayonaise
- Fix the jello according to package directions ( 1 cup boiling water to dissolve, then 1/2 cup cold water and 1/2 cup cold grapefruit juice from can)
- After the jello has set just a little, place grapefruit sections and avocado slices alternately down the tray (Grandma used to use aluminum ice cube trays to make this)
- Refrigerate and when firm serve with a little dollop of mayo on top
Okay, the first good thing about this recipe: Did you know that a vintage ice cube tray can be used as a gelatin mold??? I didn’t. It turns out it is pretty much the perfect size for one package of gelatin plus a few extra goodies.
Also, this recipe was darn easy. That being said, I STILL managed to mess it up. I know, right? Anyway, I forgot to add a bit of gelatin to the bottom to keep everything from floating all over. But it still ended up just fine.
And I actually thought it looked pretty unmolded, even after my screw-up. Or maybe that is just the “gelatin-crazy” talking. I did unmold a lot of ugly gelatin recently.
Tom thought it looked hilarious. But like that has ever stopped him before.
“What?” I said. “What does that look mean?”
“This…is actually good. “
From Tom’s Tasting Notes:
An amazing combination of flavors. Fascinating.
From Ruth’s Tasting Notes:
Not bad! Like nothing we’ve ever had before. Not gross at all.
The Verdict: Surprisingly good.
I know, you think I’m crazy. Just hear me out on this, okay?
I am not sure the culinary reasons behind this. In fact, this may just be a taste thing, but for some reason to me the avocado with the lime gelatin and the mayo was quite tasty. Maybe it is because I really love avocado. Maybe it is because I like grapefruit. Or maybe, just maybe, April’s Great-Grandmother was a dang genius.
Thanks for sending in a fun recipe, April!!
I think I’m going to just trust you on this one. I enjoy all three items separately but have to admit that they sound kinda gross together. It should get points for being unusual though. I just think that you and Tom are very “culinary brave” for trying all these unusual dishes!
PS. Because of you I am fixing jello again! But every time I make a dish of it Steven says (jokingly), “it needs pineapple and olives” and I reply (jokingly), “how about tuna and chicken”. I am thinking of branching out from plain jello and adding things but it probably won’t be olives, tuna, or chicken. : )
For some reason this REALLY, REALLY terrifies me. I know you wouldn’t lie, but I just cannot fathom how this would taste good?????? Maybe one day I’ll work up the gumption to try this one out.
Haha, gotta love Tom’s face… priceless! Thanks for posting Ruth, glad you liked it 🙂
Hello – I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this recipe. My mom used to make this salad since I was a little girl. I was born in 1950. Our family had this every Thanksgiving and Christmas. When I started cooking the holiday dinners, I made this recipe. My kids kinda liked it. When they come home for holidays though, I still make it. My daughter-in-law likes it too. Yes, this did bring back memories. I was so pleased to see it here.
My mom would make jello salads and a dressing made of miracle whip/a bit of sugar and milk. I can still taste it. Yum!
I cannot even begin to tell you how good this looks to me. Actually, so many of the “wrong” looking Jell-O/gelatin recipes look good to me. I am going on a Jell-O diet!
Actually, my dad makes this grapefruit and avocado salad that is DELICIOUS, without any gelatin involved, though… just grapefruit, avocado, honey, salt and pepper 🙂
So at least I know the grapefruit-avocado combination is really good. I don’t know if I would venture into Jell-O territory with this…