The University of Jell-O

              

Well, well, it looks like Jell-o has mass marketed these fun University Mold Kits for the football season this year!  Woo-hoo! Apparently, they made a hand-full last year, but upped the big college team kits to 16 for this season. But are these awesome looking Jiggler kits really going to be great at your tailgating/watch party event, or are they too frustrating and should only be used as a novelty MIB (that's Mint In Box for all you non-collector nerds) decoration?

Well, it seems that there is a lot of debate about this very question all over the interwebs.  Some say that the Jell-o would stick in the hard plastic molds and they wound up just scooping them out and into a paper cup, thus loosing all the school pride details that the mold promises to provide. However, some of those who got frustrated with the product admitted that they did not spray the molds with cooking spray between each use, and others said they added more water/liquid than the Jigglers recipe suggested.  That being said, those who were unsatisfied that followed suggested procedures to a 'T', reported that they still had problems getting the Jell-o out of the molds with all the details fully intact.

Now, that being said, the reviewers that I've seen at various places online (like Amazon) have given this product an overwhelming thumbs up.  The ratio of yayers to nayers is about 100 to 1.  Some of the proponents have even listed tips for easy removal, including using a toothpick instead of a knife to get the Jell-o to release easily, and making sure to spray the molds with every use.  Another tip, is to let the liquid Jell-o cool down a bit before pouring it into the mold.  And the last handy-dandy tip I've read about is after the Jell-o has set, put the bottom tip of the mold tray down into some hot water for a couple of seconds (not too long or you will get some watery goo instead of a detailed logo.

I haven't tried these tips, but it seems that using a combination of the sort will get you some Jigglers that look exactly like, or at least somewhat like the pictures on the box or on Amazon.

Let's talk about the color schemes based on OU and Ohio State.  The red (crimson/scarlet) is easy for both of these.  You can use strawberry, cherry, dark cherry, blackberry or whatever reddish Jell-o you prefer. But unless Jell-o has come out with white or gray "flavors" recently, you are going to have to get creative.

Oh, wow, how 'bout that?  They evidently HAVE come up with a way to do a "cream" colored Jell-o! And it is conveniently in the flavor of Pina Colada, for those looking to add some adult beverages to their University molds.  Yay for Sooners!  If someone has actually tried this flavor, please let me know what you think in the comments below.  There are recipes all over the internet about how to make unflavored white gelatin using evaporated milk, but that's more for layering between other flavors for decoration, not as a standalone non-flavor.  That's just gross.

Ok, now do you think we'll get this lucky with Buckeye gray?  Not exactly.  We'll need to tweek an original flavor a bit.  According to The Columbus Dispatch, this is the way to get the gray: Hey look, I rhymed! 

Ingredients

2 boxes (3 oz. each) grape-flavored Jell-O gelatin 
1 box (3 oz.) lime-flavored Jell-O gelatin 
1 can (5 oz.) evaporated milk 

Combine 1 1/2 cups boiling water with the three boxes of gelatin and the evaporated milk. 

Ok, so now you got all your Jell-o University Mold Kit colors/flavors covered for the Sooner or Buckeye games!  Now, the question I know some of you are dying to know the answer to - Will it work for Jell-o shots?  The answer - it will, but it may not be worth the effort.  According to many people who bought these mold kits for this very reason, most have decided to just use the collegiate molds for desserts, and stick with the paper cup method for the shot version.  The main reason? Because the molds are too small and not worth the minute amount of liquor one would get from each logo block.  They claim to only get about half of an average Jello-shot in each one.  So yes, you may be able to make Jell-o shots in these molds, but whether the time, effort, and amount is worth it, is totally up to you.

They can also be used for non-Jell-o-y things such as ice cubes, chocolate, and whatever else you would normally use a plastic mold for.

Whatever you are using the molds for, be sure to get them soon, because these University kits are being sold for a limited time only!

Happy Tailgating!!!

Peppermint Dip, Pine Cones, and Other Party Favorites

Well, here we are.  The merriment of the holiday season is officially at its peak as of this weekend.  So, for all of you who are hosting or attending get-togethers and parties this weekend, I've decided to post a couple of themed recipes for you to try out.

The first one is something I had been thinking about off and on since last year's holiday season, and this year, with the help of my eldest niece, we gave it a go.  I served it at our annual family Grinch Party, and my sister took some to another gathering - it was a hit at both events!

Peppermint Candy Cane Dip

8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
12 oz. vanilla yogurt
4 candy canes (crushed)
5 oz. Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips
Chocolate graham crackers for dipping

Ok, this one is pretty quick and easy.  Place the cream cheese into a medium bowl.  Whip it a little to get the lumps out.  Once smooth, add in the yogurt and blend well.  

In a small bowl, melt the Andes chips in 20 sec. intervals in the microwave - stirring between each one.  Repeat until chips are melted with a smooth consistency.  Add the melted Andes to the cream cheese mixture and blend well.  Add 3 of the crushed candy canes and stir until evenly distributed. Transfer the dip to a decorative bowl and add the last crushed candy cane bits on top.  Serve with chocolate graham crackers.

This second recipe was sparked by a picture I came across on the internet.  I think it was originally from Pintrest, but I've since seen images on Food Network as well as Southern Living with same idea, but different recipes, so I can't be sure where the original idea came from. 

The image was of a cheese ball that was sculpted to resemble a pine cone, and then covered in whole almonds to accentuate the representation.  I know, genius right?  So, I took a family cheese ball recipe, altered it a bit, and went to sculpting.  This time, not just one, but BOTH of my awesome nieces jumped in to help!

Pine Cone Cheese Spread

8 oz. cream cheese (softened)

14 oz. sharp cheddar cheese spread

2 oz. dried beef (shredded)

1-2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce (to taste)

1/4 cup diced white onion (optional)

6 oz. whole raw almonds

3 tsp. poppy seeds

Rosemary to garnish (fresh sprig or dried)

Mix the cheese together in a medium bowl until thoroughly blended.  Add in the dried beef, Worcestershire, and onions (if using).  You may also substitute onion powder if you like the flavor, but not the texture of onions, or go without entirely - fix what YOU like.  

Sculpt the cheese spread into two large pine cones on a flat tray.  Wipe away any smudges of cheese that may have happened on the tray with a damp paper towel (or several if you are as messy as we were).  Ok, next, sprinkle the poppy seeds over both cheese sculptures.  Start at the tip of one of the pine cone shapes and layer the almonds on to resemble the scales of a pine cone.  Repeat with the other one until evenly covered.  

I meant to pick up a fresh rosemary sprig to lay in between of the pine cones to resemble a fresh pine tree twig, but I forgot.  However, I did have some dried rosemary on hand and decided I could pass it off as dried/fallen pine needles and sprinkled some in the middle of the tray.  It turned out to lend a nice accentuating flavor to the cheese spread that I did not expect, nor do I think I would have gotten the same volume of flavor with the fresh sprig, so I'm glad I tried it.  Feel free to use which ever one you would prefer.  If you are feel bold, you could even crush some up and add it to the cheese ball as you are mixing in the other ingredients?

Serve with a variety of snack crackers.  We used Garden Herb Triscuits, classic Townhouse, some sesame crackers, and another Wheat Thin type snack cracker (I can't remember exactly, I've slept since then).  Bread stick snacks, broken-up flatbreads, pita chips, bagel chips, etc., would all be fantastic with this spread.

If you have not tried this recipe for Creme Brulee Cheesecake Cookie Bars from Bettie Crocker, you are SERIOUSLY missing out!  Seriously, these things are so addictive rich and decadent and delicious!  

So many holiday recipes for sweets have nuts or peanut butter in them.  The only reason I even found this recipe was because I stumbled across it looking for a delicious seasonal treat for my friends with nut allergies, and I am so very thankful.  Please keep them in mind as you make and bake goodies for others this holiday season.  Or just make this, because everyone will love it, without the burden of peanut-induced anaphylactic shock. Everyone wins!  YAY!

I hope you all have a very safe and happy holiday season!