Grandma Violet's Apricot Jell-O Salad

[amelia-eve.livejournal.com]

My grandmother was born in 1901. Convenience cooking really meant something to her. She was also a great trader of recipes. In that pre-Internet time, she wrote letters to dozens of friends on a regular basis and had occasional correspondence with many more. Exchanging recipes was one of the ways these women would keep in touch. I can remember her striking up a conversation with another woman at a bus stop and ending up by getting her address to send her a cookie recipe, thus beginning a friendly correspondence.

When she died in 1999, we published a pamphlet of Grandma Violet's favorite recipes. I'll be posting them here one at a time. The first was inspired by my recent Jell-O nirvana in an Atlanta hospital.

Apricot Jello Salad

1 large package apricot Jello (prepare according to directions on box)
2 bananas, sliced
1 can #2 crushed pineapple, drained well
2 c miniature marshmallows

Combine this mixture and let set.

Topping

2/3 c pineapple juice
2 beaten eggs
1/2 c sugar
2 Tbsp butter

Cook until thick. Let cool and beat into the custard one 8 oz. package cream cheese. Fold in one package prepared Dream Whip. Spread on top of gelatin mixture. Chill.

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I've eaten this many times. Sometimes there would be some chopped walnuts in the topping. Grandma used a whole lot of Dream Whip.