Growing up, I always looked forward to family meals, especially ones at my Grandmother’s house. She loved to cook, entertain her large and wonderful family, and have her daughters nearby to help.
My aunts were all amazing; however, my Aunt Dorothy streaked to the head of the pack when it came to specialty cooking. She was a creative (tough to do in the ’50s), imaginative, and excellent cook.
She particularly excelled at building Jell-O mold salads, all individual works of art. Almost anything imaginable found its way into her salads. Cottage cheese, tiny mandarin orange slices, minuscule carrot pieces, stuffed olive slices, pineapple, miniature marshmallows, and my favorite, banana slices.
I have no idea how she created these works of art. Other family members always brought their favorite dishes (my mom’s ace in the hole was some sorta’ garlic sausage dish), but no one could overtake Aunt Dorothy.
In childhood, she contributed many things to me; the Jell-O salads are near the top of a long list of her outstanding accomplishments.
Are we there yet? 