It is so hot and humid here it feels like a sauna outside. 112 F is too hot for man and beast! It was so hot that we didn’t eat breakfast. At lunchtime, I looked outside to see sweat drenched people rushing from car to building and decided I didn’t need to eat then either. Suppertime came and I thought of the coolest food I could and so we had an old-school, cold meal.
I remembered dad allowing us to have salad and pudding on the hottest evenings of summer when I was a kid. To dad, salad was what you had before a meal, not a meal itself. He also thought that a sandwich was a snack. In the 60’s a salad that involved more than iceberg lettuce and French dressing was truly extravagant. When Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix and something called a chef salad made its debut, we didn’t know what to make of it. But we soon grew to love it and I still have great memories of the excitement I felt on the nights I knew we would be having salad and pudding. Tonight was the perfect night to relive that feeling.
Cold Salad
Here are the ingredients you’ll need for the salad – I’ve modernized the recipe a bit though, no leftover bone-in ham or lettuce picked from the garden.
Chop it all up and put into small bowls so we can choose our favorite items.
Just chop it up and put it all in little bowls so everyone can choose what they want on salad.
Build a salad that is “just right” and then crush some crackers to put on top like croutons, then add some mixed up ranch dressing.
Pudding Parfait
THEN – for dessert, old-school pudding parfait! These are the non-homemade ingredients:
Mix ‘em up and put them in the fridge. And now? Some Inspiration TV where I can watch reruns of Little House on the Prairie and pretend I’m 10-years-old for an hour!
I’m in summer heaven my friend 😀
What delicious pictures and recipes! Although I have a soft spot for that parfait sundae!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Now I have to go get something to eat. You inspired me!! YUM!
Beth
J-E-L-L-O remember those commercials with that jingle on TV. We did the same thing when I was a kid. I grew up about the same time you did. Thanks for sharing.
You are welcome and yes I do remember them! I can’t believe you still have the Tupperware container. I bought 2 old school Tupperware Jello molds at a yard sale a couple of weeks ago. I’m think of doing something with one tomorrow. I’ll post if it turns out!
I am also working on a jello post. I just got done taking pictures of all my collection of jello molds. I have hung on to some from my childhood. I also dug out my old jello cook books. I still have to take a picture of them. This will be fun. Tip. I figured out if you spray the mold with vegetable spray before you mold the jello, it helps to turn it out. looking forward to your blog.
Thanks for the tip! I cannot wait to see your molds and the recipes books. I remember this one mom used to make in the green donut-shaped Tupperware bowl. It had green pudding and then green jello in it. I’m going to try really hard to do that one. It tasted pretty good – just very green! 🙂
P.S. I even have that yellow tupperware container. LOL.
My parents’ idea of salad was a leaf of lettuce, two tomato slices and a dab of mayonnaise.
Your salad looks so much better and the cracker “croutons” are a good idea. Also love anything made with pudding mix and Cool Whip.
Lillian
lillianscupboard.wordpress.com
It was great! Nice and cool -Your parents salad sounds a lot like my nana’s salad!
So funny, My oldest is sitting here looking at your blog with me and he’s like “Mom that looks so good” the chocolate pudding!!! Yummy….
Your kids know what’s good! 🙂
Salad & pudding for dinner = AWESOME 🙂
Thanks Alison! It was great!!
As a kid, my mom always made us parfaits in wine glasses. I forgot until I saw this! I know what I’m doing next week for the kiddos….
Great! Your kids are in for a treat!
Jello…love it! These look delishhh! I’d love you to share your recipe on Southern Sundays. My linky party is going on now. Hope to see you there! http://www.asliceofsouthern.blogspot.com