Cherry Walnut Gelatin Mold Food

FESTIVE FRUIT GELATIN MOLD

Steps:

• Prepare the gelatin mix according to the package instructions, using the seltzer in place of the cold water. Allow to cool for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place a mandarin followed by a blackberry in the grooves of a 2.1-quart fluted bundt pan. Repeat to form a circle. Pour in just enough of the gelatin to cover the fruit (about 1 1/2 cups). Chill until set, about 1 1/2 hours, leaving the remainder of the gelatin mix on the counter.
• Sprinkle the blueberries in an even layer over the firm gelatin. Cover with the remaining mandarin oranges. Top with the remaining blackberries. Pour the remaining gelatin mixture over the fruit. Chill until firm, at least 8 hours and up to overnight.
• When ready to serve, place the gelatin mold in a bowl of warm water for 2 minutes to loosen. Invert onto a circular serving platter. Fill the center of the mold with fresh berries to serve.

CRANBERRY MOLD

Steps:

• Empty a 12-ounce bag of fresh or frozen cranberries into a saucepan and transfer 1/2 cup to a small bowl. Add 1 cup sugar, 1 strip orange or lemon zest and 2 tablespoons water to the pan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the cranberries are soft, about 10 minutes. Increase the heat to medium and cook until the cranberries burst, about 12 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the reserved cranberries. Add sugar, salt and pepper to taste. Let cool.
• Heat 1/2 cup cranberry juice over low heat, then stir in a 1/4-ounce packet gelatin. Puree cooled cranberry sauce with another 1/2 cup cranberry juice, then add the gelatin mixture. Pour into a mold or empty soup cans and refrigerate overnight. Serve with whipped cream.

GINGERBREAD PLATTER AND BOWL WITH CANDIED WALNUT MOUSSE AND CINNAMON SUGAR CHIPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray a large, oven-safe platter and oven-safe bowl with nonstick cooking spray.
• Mix the flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, cloves and salt in a medium bowl. In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar. Mix in the molasses and egg, and then stir in the flour mixture. Wrap in plastic wrap and let chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours.
• Roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface to about 1/8-inch thickness. Carefully cover the platter and bowl with the dough, trimming the excess. Chill in the freezer for 20 minutes.
• Place the platter and bowl on a sheet tray and bake until just golden at the edges, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely.
• For the candied walnut maple mousse:
• Lower the oven to 325 degrees F. Toss the walnuts, egg whites, confectioners' sugar, cayenne, salt and 1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder in a bowl until evenly coated. Spread on a parchment-lined sheet tray and bake until crispy and brown, about 20 minutes. Place in a food processor and process until finely ground.
• Sprinkle the gelatin over 1/4 cup water in a small bowl. Set aside. Heat the maple syrup in a small saucepan with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder. Add the gelatin and whisk until dissolved. Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
• In a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whip the cream on medium speed until stiff peaks form. Slowly fold in the maple syrup mixture and ground walnuts, being careful not to deflate the whipped cream. Chill in the fridge until ready to serve.
• For the royal icing:
• Combine the confectioners' sugar and egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment. Mix slowly until stiff enough to form peaks; keep beating until the icing is pure white, fluffy and shiny. Use a silicone spatula to transfer the icing to a pastry piping bag and hold it at room temperature until ready to decorate the gingerbread.
• For the cinnamon sugar tortilla chips:
• Preheat the oil in a deep fryer to 375 degrees F. Alternatively, heat 3 inches of oil to 375 degrees F in a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven or stockpot.
• Mix the sugar and cinnamon together in a large bowl. Cut the tortillas lengthwise and then widthwise, creating small chips.
• Carefully lower the tortillas into the hot oil and fry until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Depending on the size of your fryer or pot, you maybe have to make 2 batches. Remove to a paper towel-lined sheet tray and then toss in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until coated.
• To assemble: Using a knife or small offset spatula, remove the gingerbread from the platter and bowl. Fill the bowl with the chilled candied walnut maple mousse and arrange the cinnamon sugar tortilla chips around the bowl. Cut the tip off the pastry piping bag of royal icing and pipe festive designs around the outside of the bowl and platter, adding candies as desired. Serve and enjoy!

MADELEINE WREATH WITH SOUR CHERRY MOUSSE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly spray four madeleine molds with cooking spray and then dust with flour.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip the eggs until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add in the granulated sugar and lightly mix to combine. Slowly beat in the lemon zest, vanilla and salt. Then, with the mixer running on very low speed, slowly add in the flour, a little at a time, until incorporated. Still running on a low speed, drizzle in the melted butter. Add the food coloring and mix until fully incorporated and there are no streaks, adding more coloring as needed.
• Use a tablespoon measure to spoon the batter into the madeleine molds, about 40 in total. Use a small offset spatula to smooth the batter so that it fills each mold. Bake until cooked through and spongy, 14 to 16 minutes, checking throughout to avoid browned edges. Cool the madeleines completely on a cooling rack.
• For the mousse:
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, cream together the cream cheese and 1/2 cup of the confectioners' sugar until light, fluffy and smooth. With the mixer on low speed, add the cherry syrup, kirsch if using and the vanilla, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. When fully combined, stop the mixer.
• In a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the heavy cream. Once the cream reaches the soft peak stage, add the remaining 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar and continue mixing until stiff peaks form. Using a rubber spatula, fold one-third of the whipped cream into the cream cheese to loosen the mixture. Then gently fold in the remaining whipped cream, being careful to avoid deflating the whipped cream. Once combined, fold in the sour cherries.
• Transfer the mousse to a large piping bag and cut off the corner. On a large platter or clean cutting board, pipe a thick circle of mousse to act as glue. Layer the madeleines in a circle so that they look like leaves on a wreath. Pipe more mousse and place the madeleines overlapping to layer the "leaves." Place some maraschino cherries throughout the madeleines as "berries." Roll the modeling chocolate to 1/4-inch thick to create a red ribbon. Use a pizza cutter to slice 6 strips of the chocolate, and then wrap the strips around a cardboard paper towel roll. Dab with some water to seal the edges. Place the chocolate ribbon at the top of the wreath in a bow shape, then serve.

CHOCOLATE-CHERRY GELATIN DESSERT

Steps:

• Add boiling water to gelatin mixes in large bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved.
• Microwave 6 oz. chocolate and evaporated milk in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 3 min. or until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after 1-1/2 min. Add to gelatin; beat with mixer until blended.
• Pour into 8-cup mold sprayed with cooking spray. Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm. Meanwhile, melt remaining chocolate as directed on package. Dip cherries in chocolate; place on waxed paper-covered baking sheet. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Unmold dessert onto plate. Serve topped with COOL WHIP and cherries.

CHERRY-LEMON CREAM JELL-O MOLD

Steps:

• Pour lemon mix into a medium bowl and add 2 cups boiling water. Stir until dissolved, then let cool until warm but not steaming hot, about 10 minutes. Gradually whisk in sour cream until smooth.
• Spray a 10- or 12-cup mold or Bundt pan, preferably nonstick, very lightly with neutral cooking spray. Blot any extra oil with paper towels. Pour in lemon-sour cream mixture and refrigerate until set, about 1 hour.
• About 15 minutes before lemon-sour cream mixture has set, pour cherry mix into a large bowl and add 2 cups boiling water. Stir until dissolved, then stir in cherry or cranberry juice. Make sure mixture has cooled to lukewarm at most before proceeding.
• When lemon-sour cream mixture is set, gently ladle the cherry mixture over it. Don't pour it on top, as the mixture breaks easily. Refrigerate again until completely set, at least 3 hours or overnight. (If you want to create multiple thinner layers of Jell-O, as seen in the picture here, instead of just one layer of each flavor, see Note.)
• When ready to unmold, run the tip of a sharp knife around the edge of the pan to break the seal. Dip the bottom half of the mold in warm (not hot) water for 15 seconds. Place a serving plate over the top and flip to unmold. (If the mold doesn't come out immediately, don't shake it; try the warm water treatment again, 15 seconds at a time, until it comes out. If you leave the mold in the water for a longer time, it may start to melt.)
• Just before serving, garnish, then slice, using a sharp knife and wiping the blade between slices.

CRANBERRY JELL-O® SALAD WITH WALNUTS

Steps:

• Dissolve cherry gelatin mix in boiling water in a bowl; stir cranberry sauce and oranges into gelatin. Refrigerate until mixture is thickened to the consistency of egg whites, about 45 minutes. Mix apple and walnuts into gelatin, transfer to a serving dish or mold, and chill until firm, about 2 more hours.

BING CHERRY GELATIN MOLD

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the reserved cherry juice with the cola. Bring to a boil, and stir in the gelatin until dissolved. Remove from the heat, and mix in the drained cherries, drained pineapple, and chopped pecans. Pour mixture into a mold sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, and refrigerate for at least 24 hours before serving.