This recipe is something that’s been served in my family for years and years. I grew up on it, my kids grew up on it, and my nephew insisted that my mom make it to serve at his recent wedding reception (oh yes he did!).
First things first, you start off with a 16 ounce container of cottage cheese. No, really.
I know, I know, cottage cheese is gross. I NEVER eat the stuff, except in this recipe. You’ll never, ever know it’s cottage cheese. I promise.
Next, a 8 ounce container of thawed Cool Whip.
You can use homemade whipped cream for this if you want, but this whips up so fast, it’s not really worth the effort to dirty more than one bowl and spoon.
Then on to a 20 ounce can of crushed pineapple, drained:
See? It contains a fruit! That makes it healthy.
Last, but not least, throw in a dried box of cherry jello. What? How did you think it was going to get pink?
And stir!
Viola! Done!
The wonderful things about this dish are just almost too numerous to count, but I’ll share a few:
- It PINK! How cute is that?
- It’s really pretty healthy, all considered. Good source of calcium. Did I mention fruit? It’s also surprisingly low in calories.
- Kids love it. It’s sweet, it’s cherry flavored, it’s pink. What’s not to love? Just leave out the whole “cottage cheese” issue and tell them you made it with whip cream.
- It can be a dessert, or a side dish! It goes really well with everything from a baked ham to a ham sandwich.
This is post (and photos) copyright to the author. It may not be reposted, reprinted or distributed in its entirety without express written permission of the author. Links to the article can be freely shared and are very appreciated!
wow ! is that pink, yes ! so 1950's 60's
my mum never made stuff like that but my best friend down the road her mum made us sugar sandwiches and koolaide for lunch lol I thought she had the best mum ever . I'm an inbewtween in the middle gal so I'm gonna try it . my boys would love this treat yum yum
ROFL I post the same recipe! Except I added the cream cheese version too. I hope that isn't the only one that people make anymore!
Incredible! That not only sounds delicious (I'm one of the 100 Americans who actually like cottage cheese!) but it also appears that perhaps even I, Kitchen Destroyer, can make that. Thanks for sharing!
Ok. .I put another old time favorite up for you to try!
Suzie, I can't even stand it, lol!! Not only did we post the same recipe, the second one you posted was my second choice for today!!!! Only we always make it with orange jello!And Erin, this is a no-fail recipe. Just make sure you drain the pineapple well, so it doesn't get soupy. And it's sooooo yummy!
~oohhh my goodness…i thought my aunt was the only crazy one who new of and made this…her recipe is called "the sweet pink sh*t"…always served at easter…it was my oldests first taste of sugar when little…i about had a heart attack! thanks for sharing your version…brightest blessings~
How funny. My mother used to make what she called "Honeymoon Salad" growing up. Its close to this. Its cottage cheese, walnuts, lemon and lime jello and marachino (sp) cherries. Everyone inhaled that stuff (except for me). I just cant manage to bring myself to try it.
I would have to whip up that cottage cheese first and OMG, I have such issues with that ingredient for some reason! I love this idea and there is nothing as retro as Jello. Impressive!
We have a family favorite that's very similar. My Grandma calls it "Pink Junk", but I think the common name for it is "Strawberry Sourcream Salad". It takes a little bit of planning so we don't have it often enough around here. I think I'll give your recipe a try.http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1943,150166-249195,00.html
Sounds yummy, and I love cottage cheese – plain, with fruit, and in this it sounds wonderful!
I was wondering what you would come up for this one… It's a weird recipe indeed! Mine seems not so weird anymore… It looks…. pink! I don't know If I'm going to try it or not. Ok. I probably will. I don't have any of those kind of recipe from my family… My mom barely ever did Jell-O…
Well, my family never did jello… but every easter my Botchie (dad's mom) would hollow out dozens of real eggs, fill them with Jello of all colors… take off the shell… and they would be the center piece of the Easter table.. but we didn't eat them… I have no idea why!
This has been a staple in my family for years…sans fruit and cottage cheese. Just the cool whip and jello. We always called it "Nervous Salad" and Granny made it every holiday. I've never tried to make it myself, but maybe I will now!
This is too funny. I thought about posting this recipe on my blog too. Except in our family we use pineapple chunks and mandrin oranges with strawberry jello powder. We call it "jello salad".
We had a neighbor from the deep South who always brought 'congealed salad' to any neighborhood event…My mom's favorite involved lime jello, cream cheese and onions. It's a pretty color. Mmhmm. Pretty color.
Mmmmmm and its luscious pinky goodness is offset so beautifully by that blue bowl!
i rememer eating this as a kid… so want some now !!!!
I can't wait to try this! I'm off to the store tomorrow… *adds cottage lumps to list* Thanks for the super simple recipe
Be Blessed ~
Oh I love that stuff! My step mom makes it with orange jello and mandarin oranges instead of the pineapple…super yum
I love making this!!! I am so glad we aren't the only odd ones that love it!
My mom makes both the pink one and the orange one, but also a green one. I can't remember what's in it, because no one likes it LOL. Yay for stuff we ate as a kid!~Amy
My mom's friend makes this but runs the cottage cheese through the food processor first. *vomit* The texture is horrible.
It looks good and so 50's, is it?Thank for coming by and entering my OWOH giveaway.Good luck sweetie.Blessings to you too!!
We were never much into Jell-O but I have a perverse desire to try that. For that retro nostalgic feel.
Omg I've got to be the lone nay sayers and say EWWWWW LOL. Some retro food just really needs to stay in the past… along polyester leisure suits
Oh I don't know if I can do cottage cheese in my jell-o salad, that's just wrong. I like cottage cheese all by it's lonesome.Our southern family tradition weird jell-o is "watergate salad" which is cool whip, pistachio pudding )ok not technically jell-o but made by the company ha!), pineapple chunks & mini marshmallows. My mawmaw used to put chopped walnuts in it too but we here at chez pin up do not like nuts in our food (usually)
My family makes this too!
Orange jello with mandarin oranges is good too! thanks for visiting my blog. Yours is so much fun!VictorianGypsy
Ironically I found your recipe while searching for the same pink stuff to prepare at my wedding reception. I guess your nephew's not the only one that loves this stuff.
Hmmm. We actually like and eat cottage cheese here, although I’ve never used it in anything other than a savory recipe. I know folks DO, but I’ve been too chicken to try. Well, ok…my parents have been known to serve cottage cheese with canned pears or peaches on top, but I always thought that was gross. This certainly looks interesting, and I’ll have to try it.