From creamy, crunchy classics to unapologetically weird wonders, these nostalgic “salads” prove that in the Midwest, anything ...

Then you get to the 1960s, when the salads became so popular that Jell-O introduced various vegetable flavors such as celery, Italian salad and seasoned tomato. These have since been discontinued.

Gelatin salads used to be a mainstay on holiday tables, shaped into rings, molds, and towers in shades rarely found in food.

Jell-O brand makes 22 flavors of gelatin and nine flavors of pudding, so that’s 198 possibilities. I tried a few of them in 2020, when my pandemic boredom was reaching its peak.

Soften gelatin for 5 minutes in cold water. Dissolve mixture in boiling water. Add sugar, vinegar, lemon juice and salt, then allow to cool. When mixture begins to stiffen, fold in vegetables ...