Recipe for Living: Nothing New Under The Sun

By Kandy Derden Go, See, Do Editor

“There is nothing new under the sun.”

All my research agrees this statement is from the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible. Although quoted by many, it is attributed to Solomon as the first person to say it.

Oftentimes, we like to think something is new because it is the first time we have encountered it. However, this simple, timeless bit of wisdom suggests everything we experience has already transpired in some form or fashion.

I must admit I shake my head in disbelief every time some product is touted as being New and Improved. How is this possible? If it is new, there wasn’t anything prior to improve. And if it was improved, then they had to have started with something which needed improving. In my mind, this proves it isn’t new.

Travel writers rarely experience anything which is not similar to something they’ve already seen and written about. This includes hotels, resorts, museums, amusement parks, restaurants, attractions, concerts, sports events, fairs, festivals and most anything else you can recall. Some people look for the new, different, bizarre, rare, crazy, kooky or just plain weird while others want the familiar, similar and repetitious. Perhaps they are trying to recreate previous memories.

That being said, sometimes a location gets a facelift, added features, etc. These are fun because you can relive the familiar and experience the newness at the same time. Sometimes in our travels, we come across something which is unique to us, and that is when the fun really begins. Yes, we could read about it and look at the pictures, but being there in person makes a difference. So, if you are ‘thinking’ about going somewhere, do it! The memories of time spent with family and friends are priceless.

Our goal is to present options to you, the reader. If you like to return to favorite vacation spots, we try to keep you posted on current activities in the area. At the same time, we strive to inform our readers about upcoming events worth attending. Perhaps the only reason some stay close to home is because they just don’t know what else is out there. Believe me, there is a lot of interesting and fun things waiting to be discovered and explored.

I feel the same way about a new recipe. Perhaps we repeat menus quite often because we just aren’t aware of other options. Almost ten years ago, I found a flowchart which depicts the all too familiar process of trying a new recipe. It’s embarrassing to admit its accuracy.

You know the process. We see a photo of food which looks quite appetizing so we decide to try it. This requires finding the recipe when we are actually ready to cook, so we do one of several things. In times past, we would tear it out of the newspaper or magazine. Then we might tuck that scrap of paper somewhere such as with a stack of mail or stuffed into a recipe box.

More recently, we are prone to slip it under a magnet on the refrigerator or snap a picture of it. In this case, we transfer it to our computer. From there, it will either be lost, deleted or possibly posted on Pinterest where someone else will continue the process.

The upstart of the whole Disappearing Recipe Syndrome is how often we continue to make all of our old standbys. This could be because we don’t have the ingredients on hand for something new or we’re too tired to think. But mostly it is because we can’t find the recipe since we can’t remember where we put it. Admit it. You know I’m right. Even the above-mentioned flowchart ends with all steps leading to the same option: make what you always make.

Such is the case with this recipe. It isn’t new. I got it from a friend in college. Please don’t ask me how many decades ago that was. I’ve never made it, until now. I found it in one of my many recipe boxes while seeking inspiration for dinner. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve paused, skimmed through the ingredient list and then put it right back in the stack. It has always sounded interesting, but either I was missing a key ingredient or didn’t have time for it to chill or it just wasn’t suitable for my purposes. But this time it was different. I stopped, read through the ingredient list and pulled it out to try it.

FROZEN LIME MINT SALAD

1 pkg. lime Jell-O (3 0z.)

1 can crushed pineapple and juice (20 oz.)

miniature marshmallows – to taste

1 cup butter mints – chopped or crushed

1 – tub Cool Whip (8 oz.)

¼ c. chopped toasted pecans (optional)

Mix together undrained pineapple with dry Jell-O. Fold in marshmallows and mints. Fold in Cool Whip and nuts. Cover and place in freezer for several hours or overnight. Serve with a garnish of fresh mint leaves and/or fresh raspberries. This is a light and refreshing side dish or dessert which is easy to make. It could easily become a long-standing favorite.

As a side note, the original version of this called for package sizes which are no longer available. This resulted in making some very minor adjustments to the ingredients. So, there you have it, a recipe which is New and Improved.

Oops! There’s that silly sentence again. Perhaps we should just say, Old and Updated.