We've been talking about Jello Salad a lot lately -- you can catch some of our conversations about it on our podcast on Episode 17 with Jill Smokler (founder of Scary Mommy) and on Episode 18 where Erin and I talk about ALL THE THINGS we're loving right now (including Green Jello Salad and Gluten Free Waffle Hacks and all the things that yield "Maximum Impact with Minimal Effort".

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Admittedly, Green Jello Salad is made up of a lot of pretend food {Cool Whip, and Jell-O}. But it's a lot of pretend food that I'll let myself eat once or twice a year. And let's not lie to ourselves, there is some nutritional value in here. There is also cottage cheese (protein) and pineapple (fruit). I think some people actually call this "Cottage Cheese Jello Salad Recipe" but I think that just sounds even worse. This stuff really is good -- trust us.

Green Jello Salad. Hear us out -- it's not a salad, we don't really even know what it is. But it's holiday goodness whipped up by your Grandmother and you'll respect it, NAY, you will ENJOY IT. I dare you not to.

Green Jello Salad Recipe

Ingredients:

2 Cups Cool Whip

2 Cups Cottage Cheese

1 Large Package Green Jell-O

1 Can Crushed Pineapple (drained)

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Instructions:

Step 1: Mix Cool Whip, cottage cheese and crushed pineapple together

Step 2: Mix in green Jell-O

Step 3: Refrigerate

Step 4: ENJOY!

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Don't be afraid to mix things up with this Jell-O delight! You can switch out Lime Jell-O for Strawberry Jell-O for an equally delicious (and mysterious) dish!

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Here's the thing. Out of our commitment to provide you high quality information I vetted the Jell-O "Salad" concept on the internet. Here's what Wikipedia had to say:

> Jell-O salad (also called gelatin salad, jelly salad, congealed salad, or molded salad) is a salad made with flavored gelatin, fruit, and sometimes grated carrots or more rarely, other vegetables. Other ingredients may include cottage cheese, cream cheese, marshmallows, nuts, or pretzels. These salads were popular in the 1960s.

> Because of its many elements, the result has speckled bits of color against a colored gelatin background. For example, one might have lime green gelatin with brown nuts or pretzels, bits of white from cottage cheese, and red and orange from the fruit cocktail. Therefore, it has a "salad" appearance. The "salad" theme continues in variants containing mayonnaise or salad dressing. When one uses plain gelatin instead of sweetened gelatin, then the use of vegetables becomes more common, such as in tomato aspic.

> The name comes from the brand name Jell-O, a common gelatin product. Jell-O salads are a common feature of US communal meals such as potlucks most probably because they are inexpensive and easy to prepare. The origins of Jell-O salad can be traced back to a dish called Perfection Salad, by Mrs. John E. Cook of New Castle, Pennsylvania, which won third prize in a Better Homes & Gardens recipe contest. In Utah, where Jell-O is the official state snack, Jell-O salad is available in local restaurants such as Chuck-a-Rama.

I would be remiss not to point out the fact that I am from UTAH, where Jell-O is the official state snack. I feel uniquely qualified to offer you authentic jello recipes. I can also authentically tell you that if you are visiting Utah, Chuck-a-Rama is NOT the restaurant you want to be hitting up.

However, THIS IS THE PLACE you want to be hitting up to get delicious jello salad recipes. If you are from Utah, you will get the very clever joke I just made.

I dare say this jello salad recipe it's the best green jello salad recipe out there. It's quick, easy, there are no nuts or maraschino cherries added to the mix. Furthermore I will never put mayonnaise or salad dressing in a jello salad. Ew. It's a Green Jell-O salad recipe you can trust - just like your Grandma!

Enjoy!

Sidenote: If you know of another name for this dish please leave it in the comments!

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More on TodaysMama.com

Raspberry Pretzel Jello Salad (Don't let the word salad fool you! There's no lettuce, just a crispy layer of pretzel crust topped with goodness. This is SO GOOD!)

15 Pumpkin Spice Flavored Things You Need in Your Life Right Now (Including Pumpkin Spice Flavored Jello)