Christmas Gelatin Ring Food

LAYERED STRAWBERRY-LIME GELATIN RING

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, combine the sweetened condensed milk and cream cheese and mix on low until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the sour cream and mix until smooth.
• Put the lime gelatin in a medium heatsafe bowl, pour in 1 cup boiling water and gently stir until completely dissolved. Add the gelatin mixture to the cream cheese mixture and stir until combined. Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a mixing bowl to remove any lumps.
• Spray a 10-cup fluted bundt pan with cooking spray. Pour the lime gelatin mixture into the prepared pan. Use a spoon to push the pineapple and cherries into the mixture and distribute them throughout. Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.
• After about 1 1/2 hours, put 2 cups cold water in a medium heatsafe bowl. Add the strawberry gelatin and let bloom for 5 minutes. Add 2 cups boiling water and stir until completely dissolved. Cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
• Dampen a baking sheet with a little water and set aside. Fill a bowl larger than the bundt pan with warm water (make sure it's not too hot). Dip the bundt pan into the water in 5-second intervals (don't hold it in there too long) to loosen the lime gelatin from the pan. This may need to be repeated a few times until you see it start to loosen from the sides and center. Once loosened, place the baking sheet on top of the bundt pan and flip to invert the lime gelatin onto the baking sheet. Lift the bundt pan off the gelatin and rotate it slightly, then place it back over the gelatin so the fluted ridges of the bundt pan and the molded gelatin do NOT line up (the strawberry gelatin layer will fill the spaces).
• Flip the bundt pan and baking sheet back right-side up so the lime gelatin is back in the pan but slightly off center. Pour in the cooled strawberry gelatin mixture; the lime gelatin should float in the strawberry liquid. Using your fingers, realign the lime gelatin with the proper grooves of the pan. Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.
• Dip the bundt pan into a bowl of warm water (following the method above), being careful not to hold it in there too long. Place a serving dish on top of the bundt pan and flip to invert the gelatin ring onto the dish.

HOLIDAY PUNCH BOWL ICE RING

Steps:

• Clear a spot in your freezer that is level and measures at least 14x14-inches.
• Place maraschino cherries in a pleasing design around the bottom of a 10- to 12-inch gelatin mold. Arrange mint leaves around the cherries, right-sides down (facing out and touching the mold).
• Combine maraschino cherry juice in a bowl with 2 cups water; pour 1/2 inch into the mold on top of cherries and mint, reserve remaining liquid. Place mold in the freezer until partially frozen, about 1 hour.
• Remove mold from the freezer and arrange green and gold kiwis on top of cherries. Use ice cubes and grapes to hold kiwi slices in place. Top with remaining ice and grapes. Carefully fill the mold with remaining water-juice mixture, and add more water as necessary to fill to the top edge of the mold. Place in the freezer until frozen solid, about 24 hours.
• To unmold the ice ring, fill a bowl that is larger than the mold with 1 inch of hot water. Place the mold into the hot water until ice ring separates from the mold, about 1 minute. Transfer ice ring into your punch bowl and serve immediately.

CHRISTMAS GELATIN RING

Steps:

• In a bowl, dissolve cherry gelatin in 1 cup boiling water. Drain pears, reserving 1 cup juice (discard remaining juice or save for another use). Stir pears and reserved juice into cherry gelatin. Pour into a 10-in. fluted tube pan or 3-qt. ring mold coated with cooking spray. Refrigerate until nearly set, about 1-1/4 hours., In a bowl, dissolve the lemon gelatin in 1 cup boiling water; refrigerate until slightly thickened. Beat in the cream cheese until blended. Pour over the cherry layer. , In another bowl, dissolve lime gelatin in remaining boiling water. Drain pineapple well, reserving juice. Add enough water to juice to measure 3/4 cup. Stir pineapple and reserved juice into lime gelatin; spoon over lemon layer. Refrigerate until firm. Unmold onto a serving plate.

SEVENTIES RASPBERRY MINT "JELLY" CAKE

Steps:

• Reduce the red wine: Combine the wine and sugar in a medium pot over medium heat and reduce until there are 2 cups total liquid, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Make the gelatin: In a large bowl, combine the gelatin with 5 1/2 cups boiling water, then stir in the still warm reduced red wine. Stir until dissolved. Add the cranberry sauce; stir until melted.
• Create the first layer: Layer 1/2 pint raspberries, top-side down, in each crevice of a 10- to 15-cup Bundt mold. Imagine you are looking at them and building this dessert upside down (because you are) and will see the opposite side when the dessert is unmolded. Gently pour enough of the cranberry mixture to cover the first layer of fruit, about half. Place the mold on a sheet pan and chill in the refrigerator until mostly set, about 2 hours.
• Create the second layer: On top of the set up gelatin, gently arrange another half pint of raspberries all through the center of the mold. Put mint leaves wherever there are gaps. Pour the remaining gelatin carefully on top. Refrigerate for another 2 hours or up to overnight.
• To serve: Dip the mold very briefly in a large bowl of warm water to loosen the gelatin from the sides of the mold. Place a serving plate or cake stand on top of the Bundt mold and invert onto the plate. Unmold the cake. Top with mint leaves and arrange the last half pint raspberries around the edges. Serve with the whipped cream.

CITRUS GELATIN RING

Steps:

• Soften gelatin in cold water for five minutes.
• Boil sugar and water together for three minutes or until clear.
• Pour over softened gelatin and stir until dissolved.
• Cool and add fruit juices and salt; pour into a ring mold.
• Refrigerate until set.
• Serve on a bed of lettuce leaves or mesclun and fill center with mayonnaise or seafood, chicken or meat salad.

CHRISTMAS GELATIN RING

Steps:

• In a bowl, dissolve cherry gelatin in 1 cup boiling water. Drain pears, reserving 1 cup juice (discard remaining juice or save for another use). Stir pears and reserved juice into cherry gelatin. Pour into a 10-in. fluted tube pan or 3-qt. ring mold coated with nonstick cooking spray. Refrigerate until nearly set, about 1-1/4 hours.
• In a bowl, dissolve the lemon gelatin in 1 cup boiling water; refrigerate until slightly thickened. Beat in the cream cheese until blended. Pour over the cherry layer.
• In another bowl, dissolve lime gelatin in remaining boiling water. Drain pineapple well, reserving juice. Add enough water to juice to measure 3/4 cup. Stir pineapple and reserved juice into lime gelatin; spoon over lemon layer. Refrigerate until firm. Unmold onto a serving plate.

RASPBERRY GELATIN RING

Steps:

• In a bowl, dissolve gelatin in water. Stir in the raspberries, pineapple and salt.
• Pour half into a 8 cup ring mold or bundt pan coated with nonstick cooking spray; refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm. Let remaining gelatin mixture stand at room temperature.
• In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sour cream, powdered sugar until smooth, stir in whipped cream. Add finely chopped walnuts. Carefully spread over gelatin mold; top with remaining gelatin mixture.
• Refrigerate for 6 hours or until firm.