Past Food Fads

[taxlady]

It’s amazing how much of an impact companies like the makers of Jello, Campbell’s Soup, and others have had on our holiday tables through the years.

A Jello salad with cottage cheese, walnuts and red/cranberry Jello appeared on Thanksgiving right next to the green bean casserole from the folks at Campbell’s, and the candied yams topped with Campfire brand marshmallows.

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Oh dear oh dear oh dear. You just reminded me of what was probably the most repulsive meal I had as a child. We were visiting some friends of my parents. It was some holiday, I think it was probably Easter. There was a beautiful, shiny ham on the table. It was scored in diamond pattern. I was so looking forward to that. Well, I got my plate and there was a slice of that ham. The ham was sweet! It was very sweet. I hated it. I'm the kid who wouldn't eat caramelized onions because they were too sweet. And then, there were the first sweet potatoes I ever tried. They were covered in that marshmallow goo. I was horrified. I think I managed to keep a straight face. I gagged down as much of the ham and sweet potato as I could manage. I have no recollection of anything else served that day. I just remember those two wretchedly sweet items and I wanted to be polite as a guest and never mentioned how much I despised those two food items. I nearly gag just thinking about it and that was over six decades ago. *shudder*

 

[Aunt Bea]

You just reminded me of a fad from my childhood... Lipton French Onion Soup dip. Just dump a packet of the Lipton soup powder into a container of sour cream, let it sit in the fridge overnight, and you had tasty, and very popular party dip for potato chips.

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CD

I still make it with a pouch of Lipton Vegetable Soup mix and a big pinch of cayenne, not sorry.

 

[caseydog]

I still make it with a pouch of Lipton Vegetable Soup mix and a big pinch of cayenne, not sorry.

Ooooo, a pinch of cayenne... I like the sound of that.

Chef John

 

[Andy M.]

Onion dip is a big fave of my grandson's and mine.

 

[Kathleen]

Loaded Potato Skins

 

[dragnlaw]

Canned soups in everything!!!

 

[jennyema]

Remember cheese balls?

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CD

I make cheese balls for parties …. Mine look better than this, though (looks like a tuna salad sandwich)

I also make onion soup dip all the time! Usually Knorr or Lipton Beefy Onion.

I could eat onion soup dip for dinner!

 

[jennyema]

I make cheese fondue all the time

 

[taxlady]

Oh yeah, something I am very fond of and my guests usually are too, is a salad dressing that is considered a throwback: Green Goddess. It also works well as a dip for chips and crudités.

 

[dragnlaw]

ahhh - not talking chia heads? how many of you had those?

 

[caseydog]

ahhh - not talking chia heads? how many of you had those?

Are those the same as Chia Pets -- clay animals you plant chia seeds on?

CD

 

[dragnlaw]

Yes, couldn't remember the proper name... that's it Chia Pets. Big fad seller at the time, lasted a couple of years.
Maybe that's when people decided to try eating those pets they were watering.

 

[caseydog]

Yes, couldn't remember the proper name... that's it Chia Pets. Big fad seller at the time, lasted a couple of years.
Maybe that's when people decided to try eating those pets they were watering.

Speaking of fads, do you remember Pet Rocks. That was another fad that had me worried about the future of human existence. It also had me thinking, "I wish I'd have thought of that?"

CD

 

[GotGarlic]

Yes, couldn't remember the proper name... that's it Chia Pets. Big fad seller at the time, lasted a couple of years.
Maybe that's when people decided to try eating those pets they were watering.

No, you were right the first time

 

[dragnlaw]

Oh my goodness - look at that - so funny GG - thanks!
I actually thought of getting some one Christmas

so I decided to Google them and sure enough they have BOTH names.
But the Chia seeds they had then, are they the same ones eaten now-a-days? I might like them as the sprouts, whereas the seed/grains don't interest me at all.

 

[caseydog]

But the Chia seeds they had then, are they the same ones eaten now-a-days? I might like them as the sprouts, whereas the seed/grains don't interest me at all.

If you can show any somewhat scientific sounding evidence that anything is healthy, people will buy it.

CD

 

[Marlingardener]

Ah, Chia Pets! When I was the children's librarian, I had a Chia Pet in the library (thanks to my husband who was in tune with kids). If a child was particularly helpful, he/she could water the Chia Pet. They loved watering, and I got a lot of work out of those kids!

 

[msmofet]

Speaking of fads, do you remember Pet Rocks. That was another fad that had me worried about the future of human existence. It also had me thinking, "I wish I'd have thought of that?"

CD

And then those computer pets.

 

[Linda0818]

Green Bean Casserole

Wow, I'm a little bit late to this party. How the heck did I miss this thread???

I adore green bean casserole. We still have it every year at our Thanksgiving get-togethers. In fact, I'm the one in charge of making it.

However, admittedly, as much food as we have and as many people are always there, I don't need to make a large portion because only a few of us actually eat it. There are maybe 2 or 3 diehard green bean casserole fans there and that's it. The corn pudding casserole (which is amazing) is the one most people go for.