French dressing French dressing French dressing is a term originally used for any oil-and-vinegar-based salad dressing. Today, it refers to a creamy ketchup-based dressing which varies in color from pale orange to bright red. It can be made by blending olive oil, vinegar, tomato paste, ketchup, brown sugar, paprika, and salt. In the United States during the 1950s, manufactured "French dressing" was developed. The manufactured version is sweet and colored orange-to-red from the use of paprika and tomatoes. In manufactured versions, "French dressing" is generally a pale orange and creamy, while "Catalina French dressing" is generally bright red and less creamy. In
Jello salad appearance. The "salad" theme continues in variants containing mayonnaise or salad dressing. When one uses plain gelatin instead of sweetened gelatin, then the use of vegetables becomes more common, such as in tomato aspic. The name comes from the brand name Jell-O, a common gelatin product. Jell-O salads are a common feature of US communal meals such as potlucks, most probably because they are inexpensive and easy to prepare. The origins of Jell-O salad can be traced back to a dish called Perfection Salad, by Mrs. John E. Cook of New Castle, Pennsylvania, which won third prize in a Better