Mountain Dew Jello Salad….

Or is it Mountain Don’t Salad??

My new friend Tej Dhawan is a fellow member of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative, and he writes the excellent Substack column: A Cultural Record of Iowa’s Technology. (His recent story, Do What You Love, has both an interesting story and an important message. Do yourself a favor and check it out.)

So… Tej and I were recently talking about old family recipes, and he shared with me that he has knowledge (and actually owns a copy) of a Jello salad that requires two – yes, TWO – full cups of Mountain Dew. I was astounded to learn that a dish of this type exists, and I asked him to share that recipe with me – and now with you.

Tej and his wife found this iconic recipe (and you just have to love any recipe that uses the word congeal in the preparation method) in a church cookbook that was given to them by his wife’s grandma (per the inscription on the inside cover) shortly after they were married – long after the book’s publication in 1979.

This cookbook contains the recipe for Mountain Dew Salad along with other goodies from that time.

In doing a little research, I’ve discovered that this Mountain Dew/Lemon Jello Salad was a thing. It really was. Now maybe some of you are familiar with this creation, but it was a surprise to me. Along with the Lemon Jello and Mountain Dew, included in the ingredient list are pineapple, marshmallows, bananas, and lemon pie filling, among other goodies, as well as the long-ago-used Dream Whip. Note: Dream Whip is a dry powder that is whipped with milk and vanilla to create a “whipped cream” type topping. According to The Google Machine, it is currently available at my local grocery store – I will have to check that out, but I think one could substitute Cool Whip.

I love that the word “congeal” is included in the directions.

I was not able to find out where, or how, this recipe came to be, but I did learn that Mountain Dew originated in the 1940s in Eastern Tennessee. So I wonder if this dish got its start there, making appearances at family gatherings and many a church potluck. However it began its journey, this salad has yet to find its way to Tej’s family dinner table. When I asked him if he had tried it, he replied, “Nope. The recipe resurfaces every so often, but no one has attempted it. Yet.” Tej – or anyone reading this column – if you make this dish, please share your thoughts with us.

Mountain Dew Salad (Photo courtesy of CD Kitchen)

But hang on, because as most families do have a Jello salad from the past that brings them joy, the family favorite at Tej’s house is his mother-in-law, Nila Spencer's, Seafoam Salad. This is a salad that transforms Lime Jello, Cool Whip, canned pears, cream cheese, and milk into a "salad.” Or is it a dessert? Just like with Ambrosia, it’s a mystery. But in whatever menu position this dish finds itself, for Tej’s family it is a standby whose occasional absence has caused near-mutiny. So this Jello salad business is serious for them! Tej has shared their beloved Seafoam Salad recipe with us here, so that we can also enjoy this dish treasured by their family.

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SEAFOAM SALAD

· 2 large cans of pears

· 2 3-ounce boxes of Lime Jello

· 1 8-ounce box of cream cheese, at room temperature

· 4 Tablespoons of milk

· 1 16-ounce container of Cool Whip

Drain the pears (reserving them) and heat the pear juice to boiling. Pour over Jello powder and stir to dissolve. Cool until partially set.

Combine cream cheese and milk and beat with mixer until smooth. Mash the pears in a food processor until smooth.

Stir cream cheese/milk mixture into Jello, then fold in mashed pears and Cool Whip. Pour into a 9 x 13 pan and let set in refrigerator overnight.

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Seafoam Salad (Photo courtesy of My Delicious Blog)

I was curious as to how Seafoam Salad got its start, and I found that (according to Wikipedia) this was a cafeteria and buffet staple popularized by F.W. Woolworth’s lunch counters back in the day. That source also states that Seafoam Salad is often considered a dessert because of its sweetness. Yes. Desserts masquerading as salads – as we’ve discovered, those are some much-loved dishes that bring back fond memories.

Thank you so much, Tej, for enlightening us as to the amazing possibilities that can be created with a couple of cans of Mountain Dew and some Lemon Jello. But my heartfelt thanks especially goes out to you for sharing your cherished, has-to-be-there recipe for Seafoam Salad. This is what it’s all about, isn’t it? Dishes that bring us together and that will be made and remembered as the generations go by. And what is better than that?

I invite all of you to join in and share your treasured family recipes and the stories behind them. Who knows? Your recipe gem may become a treasure for another family, or you may come across one that will become your own family heirloom. To submit a recipe, just email me at: ourgrandmasrecipebox@gmail.com

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I also write a Substack column entitled The Life and Times of a Midwestern Girl, where I expound on living life in the Midwest. I may be talking about the day a chipmunk was trapped in my bedroom for nine hours, or it might be about a woman I encountered in the cemetery who was sharing a beer with her deceased brother, or maybe we’ll discuss the summers I spent with my grandma in tiny-town, Iowa. I will undoubtedly share stories of my adventures at the Iowa State Fair – both as an attendee and as a food-contest judge.

I want to sincerely thank each and every one of you who subscribe to my columns. It means the world to me that we can share this space together. If you should choose to become a paid subscriber, please know that all funds are donated to the Blue Ribbon Foundation, the non-profit organization that helps preserve and improve the Iowa State Fairgrounds, a true Iowa tradition and a place that is near and dear to my heart. As a paid subscriber, you will be invited to attend the monthly Office Lounge Zoom calls held at noon on the last Friday of the month which is hosted by members of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. It’s where writers and readers get a chance to know each other better. (Here is the Zoom link for this month’s Office Lounge for paid subscribers.) You will also be invited to attend real-time gatherings hosted by IWC writers for our readers. These are held at various locations around the state. Here is the link to an RSVP form for paid subscribers who would like to attend our Madison County event on July 26th. I hope to see you there! This time we’ll be in Winterset, but you never know where we might turn up!

I am excited and proud to be a member of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative, an organization consisting of over 80 writers, poets, and songwriters with Iowa connections, where you will find great writing and fascinating information on any topic that interests you. And I mean any! Do something nice for yourself and check it out.