Amidst all this PC/religion/namecalling garbage a new kind of debate has aroused itself.
The religious/regional/cultural food debate.
I will admit that part of the reason I love living around a bunch of different denominations of Christians is the fish fry. Fish fries are proof that God loves us no matter what church we do or don’t go to and wants us to be happy, full of greasy fish, tartar sauce and cheap buns.
The other day I got this comment:
I’m offended because I’m Southern Baptist and we actually eat fried chicken, not fried fish…Ahem.
Lesson learned. (And she was kidding, lighten up people.)
The entire United States is unknowingly engaged in culinary battle. Take the KC/St. Louis BBQ battle. Or the Chicago/New York pizza battle. Utah is legendary for fry sauce (I MISS YOU FRY SAUCE) and Indiana boasts tenderloin as big as your head.
This brings me to Mormon food.
Green Jell-O. (Often with pineapple, Cool Whip, cottage cheese and/or shaved carrots. (Dude, I don’t eat the stuff, I just defend it.))
We have entire Mormon Cookbooks and entire restaurants dedicated to the fine art of cooking with cream of mushroom soup and sour cream. WE PERFECTED THE JELL-O SALAD and also spawned Jell-O products Jell-O didn’t even know Jell-O could be used for.
Some guy out there with a lot of guns thinks he can claim Green Jell-O in the name of the Lutherans.
As if the threat of a lot of guns is going to scare me away from the truth.
Mormons are the only reason green Jell-O is still in production.
Ever heard of THE JELL-O BELT? That’s right, an entire area known for its Jell-O love thanks to a high concentration of Latter Day Saints. Utah’s State Snack Food? Jell-O.
In 2001, after an astounding 14,000 people had signed a petition, JELL-O was made the Official State Snack of Utah. Another fact is that the people of Salt Lake City actually eat more lime flavored JELL-O than any other city in the world. (Source and Source)
In. the. wooooorld.
I really didn’t want it to come to this. But Mr. Gunfighter was adamant that he (exact words)
Never.
Loses.
In.
Combat.
Allow me to show you a pin from the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Where’s YOUR green Jell-O pin GUNFIGHTER?
Watch out dude, because I think you just got your Jellass handed to you with delicious pieces of pineapple and a dollop of Cool Whip by a Mormon, the true lovers and proper owners of the Green Jell-O stereotype.
making unbreakable - formerly moosh in indy. 
*snort*
Awesome. Too funny.
And, HI East Coaster! (Well, Eastern Time Zone-er)
(Saw your tweet, didn’t respond there since my tweets are protected. Le sigh.) 😛
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Casey, I say we call a truce between the Lutherans and Mormons before a Jell-O War gets started.
Entire cookbooks in church libraries are dedicated to the Jell-O salad…no joke!
My fave? Orange Sherbet Jell-O salad complete with mandarin oranges and mini-marshmallows. Or maybe we could just split the flavors? You have the green, we’ll take the red and we’ll share the orange.
Can’t wait to see which point of social contention you take on next…how about private convos on cell phones in VERY public areas? Ugh!
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Jell-O is only good for one thing. Wrestling. Do Mormons like to wrestle in Jell-O? Because that I can stand behind.
Avitables last blog post..The shallow movie critic
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Pineapple, cool whip, cottage cheese and carrots?? No thank you. The only thing I like mixed in my jell-o (green or otherwise) is vodka.
Joe @ Irrational Dads last blog post..Not all cougars are in the zoo
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Jello with Cool Whip? Good.
Jello with pineapple? Don’t they forbid (or STRONGLY DISCOURAGE) that on the package?
Jello with carrot and cottage cheese? You know, I had always heard Mormons were crazy, and you did a good job of hiding it, but NOW I have proof!
(I kid, people. She knows this, and you should too.)
SciFi Dads last blog post..And Now For Something Completely Different
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I have heard this about Mormons before. I have never seen the pin though – that is awesome. 🙂
And I agree – Fish Frys? Best things ever. I live in a very Catholic city (see, here they have the claim on the fish fry (fries?), so around Lent is the BEST.
And I love Fry Sauce. It’s funny to me that you can order it in restaurants in Utah. My friend brought some to a vacation get together where we all brought the foods of our hometowns/states. Ironically, it was Chicago-style pizza, Fry Sauce, Derby Pie (from Kentucky), Buckeye candy (Ohio), and Washington State wine.
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http://www.pinsuperstore.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=96
Oh my goodness, there is a pin with green jello and CARROTS.
Gross.
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I have a jello pin too! They were designed by Pat Bagley (the Salt Lake Tribune political cartoonist.) My Father-in-law gave me mine when I was baptized, and now it is tradition that I make green jello (I don’t eat it either) every year around the time I was baptized.
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Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! I had no idea about the green Jello! I have to send my mom and dad a link to this now. My mom is the editor of her (Southern Baptist) church’s cookbook and my dad’s a minister. They’ll get a kick out of this.
Our funreal/dinner on the ground/covered dish go-to’s include Chicken Ro-tel casserole (check my blog Sat. for the recipe), corn casserole, fried chicken and fish and 5 different varieties of cole slaw. But we don’t have a pin. 😦
Jen L.s last blog post..Dean’s Mom
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The things you learn reading other people’s blogs. I had no idea that green Jello was a Mormon fave. Personally, I don’t like green Jello. Oddly, I only like red Jello. Any other colour (although I’ll eat it … there’s always room for Jello!) just doesn’t do it for me. And the green Jello salad made me gag just a little. ICK! However, I’m all over the potatos! I’m a potato lover. And having worked in funeral service for 12 years, well … it just seems fitting.
Crazy Mos last blog post..
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I think I signed that petition. If not, not being a Utah resident, I know I was there when it was going around. We caught it at the 4th of July fireworks in Orem, my brother said he would only sign if they specifically stated Green Jello With Carrots, not just any Jello. I know I got a Jello sticker out of it.
By the way, KC and St. Louis are only one quarter of The Great BBQ War. There’s also Memphis, Carolina’s pork, and Texas’ brisket. Texas is, of course, the best. 😉 Quote from a guy in a CNN article (http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/05/22/barbecue.quest/index.html?eref=rss_us)”My granddad said two things about barbecue…. If you have to have teeth to eat it, it’s not right. And if you have to put sauce on it, it’s not right.”
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I’m Hoosier and Lutheran (and just using that label sounds kinda funny ya know), which means you bring a “covered dish.” Translation: it’s a pitch-in, usually bring your own casserole. I remember wondering as a kid if someone showed up without it being covered if they’d get in trouble. We ate things like green bean casserole, tuna noodle casserole, no-peek chicken, cheesy potatoes, swiss vegetables, hamburger tater-tot casseroles, etc.). Sometimes you had no idea what you were getting in the buffet line, but knew you needed to be polite because most likely the lady who made was lurking around. In retrospect, I’m pretty sure that people grabbed whatever veggie/meat/potato cans they had in the pantry plus one can of either cream of mushroom or chicken, added salt & pepper and baked it at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Oh, and then covered it with foil.
Holy cow, do you think it was actually a brainwashing experiment by the Campbell’s soup people?!
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@Angie
If you have at least four casserole dishes and at least two are either at church or someone elses’ house with your name written on masking tape stuck to the bottom, you might be a Mormon (OR LUTHERAN!)
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*snort* Haaaaaaaaaa!!
This is an interesting thing to think about… I can see how it would be a touchy subject.
“Watch out dude, because I think you just got your Jellass handed to you with delicious pieces of pineapple and a dollop of Cool Whip by a Mormon, the true lovers and proper owners of the Green Jell-O stereotype.”
LOVE IT! HAHA!!
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Only one way to settle the NY/CHICAGO pizza fight… we eat as much chicago pizza as we possibly can at BLOGHER.
mayas last blog post..Happy Birthday to Me
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One of my co-workers in San Francisco was Mormon and went to Utah State and she taught us all about Fry Sauce and Funeral Potatoes (my family makes them too, we just call them cheesy potatoes.)
So when I moved from SF back to Chicago and was driving through Utah, I stopped at Arctic Circle and tried the fry sauce just for her and sent her a photo.
Kristabellas last blog post..A New Way For The Cats To Mess With Me
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Born and raised mormon here, who has NEVER heard of frog-eye salad. Fruit salad with marshmallows? Sure. But never with pasta!
At any rate, I second the green jello motion. Go you!
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Hysterical!! My mom makes the Green Jello Salad and I don’t touch the stuff, i’m more of the strawberry fluff jello concoction that she makes:) Seriously though can you imagine sitting in your kitchen and thinking I think i’ll throw some carrots into my Jello?? What in the world? lol
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I’m assuming you know about the Fairview Fish Fry that is happening today and tomorrow, then? Their slogan: “Our cod is an awesome cod.” How can you not go? Seriously.
http://www.indy.com/posts/long-running-event-is-about-the-fish-and-so-much-more
Jenns last blog post..Buddies.
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Mormon potatoes are known as Tater Tot Casserole in other parts of the country, darlin’. It is something we can all share! However, whoever came up with Hawaiian Haystacks, THANK YOU!
Secondly, I wouldn’t defend green jello with carrots too much. How come people don’t make red jello with blueberries for Pioneer Day anyway? That seens more patriotic.
Thirdly, Lutherans don’t claim green jello exclusively, but rather, jello of various colors. It needs to match the current litrugical color of the church calendar, you know.
Personally, as a Baptist, I stake a claim over all things fudge. I will fight anyone who dares defy me with a spatula.
Lastly, let me know where I can send you some fry sauce. You can have my share.
Emilys last blog post..Astounded By My Own Nerdiness
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Funeral potatoes are the most delicious thing ever. I’ve lived in Utah for 6 years, and am moving in 2 months – and I plan to take the deliciousness of funeral potatoes with me to my new lands, to show, that if only one thing – mormons know how to cook…. GOOD on the cheap.
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we talked about fry sauce and funeral potatoes…but you never mentioned THE JELLO!
alis last blog post..GREAT SCOTT!
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I was working at the Utah State Legislature when they passed the resolution recognizing Jello. Bill Cosby even came for the day. I didn’t meet him – I don’t have the same celebrity powers as you.
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Read this: http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2001/bills/sbillenr/SR0005.htm
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Oh come now. You people in your ignorance of potlucks, calling them pitch-in’s. What is the world coming to?!
Ann Arbor Michigan area. Our particular brand was Free Methodist, although all of the protestant churches in the area worked pretty much in the same food idiom [only the catholics did the fish frys]: casseroles, also crock pots full of things like meatballs in sauce (BBQ, swedish, whatever), lots of bean dips, yes on the cheesy potatoes, glass pans filled with brownies of all descriptions, and salads of all sorts (savory or sweet). I remember one person used to always bring, literally, SALAD, but for some reason it consisted of lettuce, shredded cheese, and PEAS.
And just because it’s so short: “chicken glop”:
Line glass casserole dish with sliced corned beef (meaning the PAPER THIN lunchmeat slices. optional.), add boneless skinless chicken breasts. Cover with mixture of one GIANT can cream of chicken soup with one LARGE tub of sour cream. 375 for 45 min. Poke a few potatoes and set them on the oven rack beside the dish- instant side dish! Also serve with kernel corn. For proper enjoyment, cover all items (potatoes, corn) with the soup/gravy/stuff.
Best part (besides complete lack of work it takes to make it)? I don’t like leftovers, but this dish reheats well in the microwave.
Dellas last blog post..Not ME! Monday, June 1 Edition
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OH i almost forgot.
From the man that brought you Interior Desecrations, Stagworld, and a study on the effects of celery on loose elastic (all found at the Institute of Official Cheer: http://www.lileks.com/institute/index.html)
From the Gallery of Regrettable Foods…
Jello confronts the depression (http://www.lileks.com/institute/gallery/jello/index.html) and Knox Gel-Cookery scares people (http://www.lileks.com/institute/gallery/knox/index.html)
[I tried posting this once already but it didn’t work. I refreshed a dozen times to see if the site was being slow, but it never showed up, so my apologies if it posts twice]
Dellas last blog post..Not ME! Monday, June 1 Edition
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Dudette. I LOVE Mormon food. In fact, a favorite pasttime during the summer is finding ways to be invited to Mormon BBQ’s over the summer. Just sayin’. Mmmmn, jello with pretzels!
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My atheist mother in law made green jello salad every Christmas and Easter until the day she died .. if you could help me figure that one out I’d appreciate it.
Melizzards last blog post..Childhood Perfected – May They Always Believe in the Magic of Peter Pan and Tinkerbell
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Funeral potatoes? D-LISH!
Frog eye salad? I DEMAND this at every single family get together.
But i’ve never been all about the jello with veggies and fruit all mixed it. Kinda makes me want to gag a little bit.
I so want one of those pins!
Skyes last blog post..Car rides
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Now you’re shattering all my childhood perceptions – I was raised Presbyterian and we had MANY, MANY, MANY salads.
Altho’ I think they were mostly ORANGE jello.
daysgobys last blog post..life among the beasties
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Fry sauce? What is fry sauce?
So I head on over to Wikipedia, who tells me it is IN-N-OUT SPREAD!! Oh, deliciousness!
Alisons last blog post..Eeeevil
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Oh no no–tater tot casserole is a completely different animal than funeral potatoes. Tater tot casserole has whole tater tots in it, while funeral potatoes have shredded potatoes, not formed into tots. funeral potatoes are delicious, tater tot casserole, not so much.
erins last blog post..Madeleine danced her heart out
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Thank you, thank you, thank you! I now know the origin of Frog Eye Salad. The recipe came to me by way of my sister in Dallas. I make it every Easter, though I’m not sure why I’ve correlated pasta with cool whip and marshmallows with the death and resurrection of our Savior. I get a little fancy with mine, though, and make my own whipped cream. Mmmmm . . . maybe I should make some now.
katydid6s last blog post..Silhouettes
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OK, I’ve always wondered about Jello salad. Thanks for the info. Is it true that sometimes it’s mixed with mayo?
And enlighten me…what is fry sauce?!
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Um, I have a question…we’re moving from Indianapolis to Salt Lake City in a few weeks. We’re not LDS so I’m not up on the foods. I’m good with the Jello Salad, I’m from WV, we eat things you can’t imagine. (You can call us Hill Billies or Rednecks, we’re good with that). The thing is…
What exactly is Fry Sauce?
Amys last blog post..Break it down…
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I am sooooo glad I am an LDS NOT in Utah…I don’t know if I can stomach that much jello. 🙂 Southern LDS do fried chicken (ha! we do it ALL! fried, chicken, fish, hamburgers…) Wonder how Jello would fry up?
Now that we are in the midwest, I am surprised to have not encountered it yet…maybe I have not given it enough time.
Jessicas last blog post..I am ?ing the BabyLegs
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…I’ve only had the green jello carrot shredded “thing” (I refuse to call it dessert) once, and I couldn’t finish it.
Which goes to prove that why we may purchase the stuff–we don’t all love it. It’s ALL(minus)1 who love the stuff.
xox
heidikinss last blog post..Do not try this at home. And I mean never, ever, ever.
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It is my sworn duty as a Southerner to tell you that that ain’t right, ma’am.
Talulahs last blog post..Actually, Now That I Think about It, I’m Kind of Morbid
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This is hysterical! Green Jell-o–_I had no idea!! Love this post!
kitchenbelles last blog post..Jesse’s Mom’s Chocolate Muffins
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I LOVE Frog Eye Salad and I am a Southern Catholic!
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Victory is mine!, Victory is mine!, Victory is mine today….!
http://gunfighter1.typepad.com/warrior/2009/06/the-lutheranmormon-green-jello-smackdown.html
Gunfighters last blog post..The Lutheran-Mormon Green Jell-O Smackdown!
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I grew up a Lutheran, and they eat what you call Funeral Potatoes at church potluck suppers, it’s usually just called potato casserole.
That recipe for Fluffy Jell-O salad is very similar to my Grandma’s except she substitutes a cubed block of cream cheese for the cottage cheese.
The Frog-Eye Salad, hmm. I looked at the recipe, and if you take out the pasta, I’ve eaten that at tons of church potlucks and family reunions.
I want Fry Sauce now. Any idea what those ‘secret spices’ are?
Elizabeths last blog post..Photo Post: Fun With S’mores
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That pin and all the other jello stuff is kind of totally awesome.
Zandors last blog post..Police Department Internship Day 11
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This is one of my favorite posts. Too funny!
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You guys are responsible for that abomination shredded carrot/raisin salad thingy? That is foul.
And I’m sorry…I have to go with Gunslinger (despite the rocking green jello pin as proof) and say that I’ve attended many a lunch in many a church basement with potluck brought by many a church lady – and none of those church ladies were Mormon and there was always some horrible green jello salad (the fancy ladies brought the rainbow jello salad) with horrible things like cottage cheese and fruit suspended in them. So I’m going to have to say strictly from my experience the Lutherans (and their less structured off shoots that raised me) get the green jello salad crown.
Michelle Smiless last blog post..Popsicles
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I’m obviously culturally mixed up, as I thought green jello salad was a Canadian thing (served by the United Church Women), and I didn’t even know that Smarties were Canadian until you wrote about them in one of your entries! Thanks for setting me gastronomically straight.
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Never EVER cross Casey!
Elizabeth Kaylenes last blog post..All the things you didn’t want to hear
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Man, I forgot all about frogeye salad! Haven’t had that in YEARS! My Cody’s favorite food ever is green jello with carrots.
kriss last blog post..You capture – feel
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Olympic Pins with Jell-o?? There is no arguing with that!! LOL
pgoodnesss last blog post..Huh, damn, sigh
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Mormon potatoes. Mmmmmmmm. I have a summer-only job with a few LDS ladies. I sure hope one of them makes those potatoes again this year.
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