In my family, no Thanksgiving is complete without Jell-O. In case you need some neon yellow on your Thanksgiving table, here’s our go-to recipe, as dashed off for us by my grandma a couple of years ago:

OH BOY SALAD

2-3oz pkg lemon jello or 1-6 oz pkg.
Make as directed with water

Add:
3 bananas sliced
1/3 cup mini marshmallows (or 8 jumbo marshmallows, diced)
1 No. 2 can crushed pineapple (can sizes smaller now-was 20 oz. just use smaller size can)
(drained, save juice for dressing)

Let this become firm in refrig. before spreading the dressing

Dressing:
1 cup pineapple juice (add water if not enough juice)
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons flour
Mix, stir and cook until thick.

COOL and combine with 1 cup cream whipped (I use Cool Whip)
Spread on top of salad and sprinkle with shredded [cheddar] cheese

If you’re really averse to this flavor combination, you could also enjoy a red Jell-O dish with a blanket of marshmallows and bananas thrown in, or a salad of apples, walnuts, halved red grapes, and Cool Whip.

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NOTE: This post was updated on Saturday, Nov. 26 because we realized Gram left the marshmallows out of her dictation. To the dozens of you who undoubtedly made this recipe over the weekend and felt bereft at the lack of another sweet, fluffy ingredient…hope you still enjoyed it.

Photo: Thanksgiving 2009.