On Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at 5:50:05 PM UTC-4, tert in seattle wrote:
> <http://tracybriggs.areavoices.com/2016/03/19/attention-fellow-midwesterners-jello-isnt-salad/>

What are Ms. Briggs' credentials as a culinary anthropologist?

> it's a little long - I did read some of it, and learned that apparently
> some clever marketing types came up with the brilliant idea of naming
> desserts "salad"
>
> proving again that HL Mencken was correct

The dictionary, which describes rather than prescribes usage, offers
this definition of "salad":

<http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/salad>

1 any of various usually cold dishes: as

a : raw greens (as lettuce) often combined with other vegetables and toppings and served especially with dressing

b : small pieces of food (as pasta, meat, fruit, or vegetables) usually mixed with a dressing (as mayonnaise) or set in gelatin

2
: a green vegetable or herb grown for salad; especially : lettuce

3
: a usually incongruous mixture : hodgepodge

Sounds like Jello salad fits a couple of those definitions.

Cindy Hamilton