Myrtle’s Tomato Aspic

Myrtle’s Tomato Aspic is a full-on molded salad from another era, combining tomato juice, lemon Jell-O, stuffed olives, shrimp, and celery. The handwritten recipe even suggests filling a ring mold with chive cottage cheese—a wonderfully specific finishing touch that leaves no doubt this one was meant to make an entrance at the table.

Handwritten recipe for Myrtle's Tomato Aspic written on the back of a 1950 school levy ballot.

4 cups tomato juice
2 bay leaves
2 tbs sugar
small tsp salt
1 tbs vinegar
celery leaves
2 tbs grated (or chopped) onion

Boil together (come to bubbling boil – stand a few minutes)
2 pkg lemon jello – in bowl
Strain liquid into jello, stir, and set.

When slightly congealed, add
1 small jar stuffed olives
1 can shrimp
1/2 cup diced celery

If in ring mold, place chive cottage cheese in center.