Mayonnaise and gelatin were the stars of many baby boomer recipes. And if you had them on hand, you couldn’t go wrong! Enter Knox Gelatin, the ultimate fusion of mayonnaise and Jell-O. How did things get this far? One can only speculate that taste buds of the time hadn’t quite evolved.
It’s the only logical explanation for this curious concoction. Mayonnaise and Jell-O—truly a mismatch made in retro heaven! And adding color aimed to make these dishes even more attractive. That’s right, the more artificial color the better, they thought. We can almost hear millennials everywhere going to pieces just thinking about it!
The Frosted Ribbon Loaf
Loaves were all the rage in the ’50s and ‘60s! From meatloaf to bread loaves and even salad loaves (yes, you read that right), it seemed like everything had to take on a loaf shape. And today, we're shining a spotlight on another eyebrow-raising creation: the Frosted Ribbon Loaf. We're talking a sandwich with ham, eggs, pickles, horseradish, and of course, omnipresent mayo. Because life would be meaningless without mayonnaise! But there’s more.
This loaf came with a generous slathering of cream cheese, forming a thick, artery-clogging frosting. Just when you thought you'd seen it all, the Frosted Ribbon Loaf emerges from the annals of history. We’re equal parts astounded and repulsed by this one.
Chicken-Cranberry Salad
Chicken cooked with a side of cranberry is quite common. And while Chicken-Cranberry salad might not sound too outrageous at first, wait till you hear the details! This salad, hailing from the 1950s, combines chicken, cranberries, mayo, gelatin, and canned vegetables.
How does one salvage this horror? Maybe a dollop of this salad on a salty and dry cracker might counterbalance the inevitable waves of nausea. The “salad” offers yet another fascinating glimpse into a bygone era, where taste and food preferences defied logic. Baby boomer life was like a box of (strange) chocolates. You really never know what you’re gonna get!
Supper Salad Loaf
Remember when we discussed how many baby boomers seemed to love to dishes condensed into loaves? Well, this is probably the dish that put an end to that adoration (thank God). This "salad loaf" is pretty much a hollowed-out slab of bologna, stuffed with the dynamic duo- gelatin and mayonnaise of course, along with smashed peas, and other gross canned veggies.
This is the kind of dinner that makes you realize how blessed you weren't around to "enjoy" all of these great delicacies. It’s the epitome of a dinner gone wrong. Thanks for the ingenuity, but we like our food tasty, with some semblance of culinary sensibilities.
Spaghetti-O Jell-O
Apparently, there's someone out there who hates kids. So much so, they decided to take the only normal food they had, and completely ruin it. And thus, Spaghetti-O Jell-O was born. If you ask us, this gag-worthy baby boomer delight should be considered a form of child abuse.
It's a nightmare come to life, a grotesque experiment gone wrong. Gelatinous masses of spaghetti and tomato sauce, quivering with every spoonful. The texture alone is enough to make you swear off food forever. And the flavor combination? It’s a horrendous clash of sweet and savory no person should be subjected to. Let spaghetti be!