Getting Started with a Blast from the Past
So, I decided to try my hand at some 1950s desserts this past week. You know, just for fun. My nan used to whip up some of these things, and I suddenly got this idea to see if I could bring back that old-fashioned feeling. It’s funny, isn’t it, how a certain smell or a taste can just fling you right back in time?
Picking the Desserts… What Were We Thinking?
Right, so I dug out a couple of really old cookbooks. The ones with the pages all yellow and stained? Yeah, those. I’m telling you, there was a lot of gelatin in those books. And pineapple. Pineapple was apparently a massive deal back then. It was in everything! I finally settled on giving a classic Pineapple Upside-Down Cake a go, and then, for something a bit more… out there, a Jell-O Salad. Seriously, don’t knock it ’til you try it! They were all the rage once.
The Big Ingredient Round-Up
Getting the bits for the pineapple cake was pretty simple. Flour, sugar, butter – all the usual stuff. Canned pineapple rings, those bright red maraschino cherries – easy peasy. For that Jell-O concoction, well, lime Jell-O was the main thing. And then the recipe wanted… shredded carrots and crushed pineapple. In Jell-O. I swear, I’m not making this up. My kids gave me a look like I’d completely lost it when I told them about that one.
- Butter, and plenty of it.
- Brown sugar, for that lovely sticky top.
- Canned pineapple rings (the ones with the hole in the middle, very important!).
- Those super red maraschino cherries.
- Flour, eggs, sugar, baking powder for the actual cake part.
- And for the Jell-O adventure: Lime Jell-O powder, shredded carrots, and a can of crushed pineapple. I almost threw in some mini marshmallows but thought better of it.
Right, Let’s Get Baking (and Wiggling)
First off was the Pineapple Upside-Down Cake. This one’s not too complicated, but you’ve really got to nail that topping. I melted a good chunk of butter in the cake tin, then sprinkled a nice thick layer of brown sugar all over it. Then came the slightly fiddly bit – placing those pineapple rings just so and popping a cherry in each hole. Made the cake batter, just a basic yellow cake mix, and poured it carefully over the fruit. Whacked it in the oven. The whole kitchen started to smell absolutely amazing, exactly like it used to when I was a nipper. You just don’t get that same smell from a cake you buy in a shop.
Then, it was time for the Jell-O. Oh dear. Boiled the kettle, mixed up the lime Jell-O. Let it cool down a bit. Then, I stirred in the shredded carrots and the crushed pineapple. It looked… well, it looked unique. A bit like something you might find at the bottom of a pond, a very green pond. I poured it into an old jelly mould I found hiding at the back of a cupboard – pretty sure it hadn’t been used since about 1975. Shoved it in the fridge to set, really hoping it wouldn’t taste as weird as it looked.
The Big Reveal
Okay, cake first. I flipped it out onto a serving plate. That bit always makes me a bit nervous, you know? But it plopped out perfectly! Golden brown on top, with that shiny, sticky pineapple and cherry pattern. We cut into it while it was still a bit warm. Absolutely gorgeous. Honestly, some recipes are classics for a very good reason. It was sweet, buttery, with a nice tang from the pineapple. Even the kids liked it, which was a bit of a shock.
And now for the Jell-O. I turned it out of the mould. It wobbled. It was incredibly green. With little orange bits in it. My son actually poked it with his finger. My daughter wouldn’t even go near it at first. I took a brave bite. And you know what? It wasn’t… terrible. It was definitely strange, no doubt about it. Sweet, lime-flavoured, then a bit of a crunch from the carrot, and the pineapple chunks. It’s one of those things you have to get used to, I suppose. It would certainly get people talking at a party! I can kind of see why it was a staple at potlucks back in the day – you wouldn’t forget it in a hurry!
Was It Worth the Trip Down Memory Lane?
So, yeah, that was my little experiment with 1950s desserts. The cake was a massive hit, everyone loved it. I’ll definitely be making that one again. The Jell-O salad… well, that was an experience. I’m glad I tried it, just to see what all the fuss was about. It’s funny looking back at the kind of food people used to eat. Simpler times, maybe? Or just very different ideas about what tasted good. It was a good laugh doing it, though. It’s got me thinking about what other old recipes I could dig out. Maybe I’ll try some savoury stuff next. Anyone for aspic? Only joking… mostly.
