I was sent this recipe for edible “candles” by reader Keri and wanted to try it. I haven’t had much success with JELL-O before. (See Ribbon Salad.) But, like Charlie Brown running at the football, I thought it was worth one last kick.
It wasn’t.
When I unmolded the candles, they collapsed like Mushroom Fluff. Then I had an idea. I mixed JELL-O with gelatin (a reader once recommended that to firm up JELL-O), poured it into a soup can, added in some cranberries and put it in the fridge, pretty certain it would work.
It didn’t.
The candle held its shape better, but was Tower of Pisa-ish. I’m guessing it’s a mass/density thing. Anyways, if you have a suggestion about how to make this work, feel free to leave a comment. And remember: keep open flames away from party guests’ hair. Nothing kills the holiday spirit quicker than burnt hair smell. I'm speaking from experience.
1 1-lb. can of Ocean Spray Whole Cranberry Sauce
1 3-oz. pkg. red, yellow, or orange fruit-flavored gelatin
1 cup boiling water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup HELLMANN’s Real Mayonnaise
1 apple or orange, peeled or diced
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
Heat cranberry sauce, strain, set berries aside. Dissolve gelatin in hot juice and water. Add salt and lemon juice.
Chill until thickened enough to mound slightly when dropped from a spoon.
Beat in real mayonnaise with rotary beater till light and fluffy. Fold in cranberries, fruit and nuts.
Divide mixture evenly into eight 6-oz. fruit juice cans. Chill 4 hours or longer. Unmold. Garnish with real mayonnaise to taste.
To flame: Cut thin birthday candle in half to shorten. Insert into tops of cranberry candles. Light.
I mean, c'mon. There has to be wax in that.
I think we've all barely recovered from your last candle related post Brian! Mayonnaise??? Really?!?
ReplyDeleteI know. Mayo and JELL-O is a new low on this blog. Would it help if I said it was lite mayo?
DeleteYour version does not appear to have any mayonnaise in it. Mayonnaise: the secret ingredient to firmly upright candles.
ReplyDeleteWho knew mayo had that much mojo? I wonder if it also repairs flat tires.
DeleteWell this is disappointing. I thought you had discovered an alternative use for Jell-O as a fuel.
ReplyDeleteIf only. However, JELL-O and gas sometimes go hand-in-hand.
DeleteAre you sure the ones in the advert aren't made with Spam?
ReplyDeleteI have my suspicions, Debra. It's either Spam or one of those gel Air Wick fresheners.
DeleteYou just blew my mind with that one.
ReplyDeleteI know, right? When's the last time you saw a blob of JELL-O on fire?
DeleteI've always thought this recipe was cheating. It's not a cranberry candle, it's some kind of unholy cranberry mess WITH A CANDLE STUCK IN IT. I say we form a protest line outside the Hellmanns factory.
ReplyDeleteThank you for reminding people about keeping candles from party guests' hair. I would imagine the amount of Aqua Net at a Caker party would increase the flammability enormously.
Mangiacake flambé? x
DeleteAqua Net? Please. I need the 24-hour hold of Final Net.
DeleteI agree with you, Veg. It's technically cheating if there's a candle inside the "candle."
:D
ReplyDelete...but did you eat it? Garnished with mayo?
Oh, I ate it. Or tried to. You're not missing much.
DeleteOh, my. I just looked up banana candles. That's a bit disturbing.
ReplyDeleteSeems to me the real caker way should of been to just stick a candle in the eggnog dessert...two birds, one stone.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you think, Polly. One of those big, twisty tapered candles. The other option? Open a can of cranberry sauce, flip it over, let it slide out of the can and put a candle in it. Although, who'd eat an entire can of cranberries?
DeleteHa!
ReplyDeleteMaybe the recipe hailed from the days when everyone smoked (including the kids) and was intended as a communal lighter/salad course. I could see Granny leaning down, Pall Mall clinging to her coral lipstick to get a light from the beautiful Jell-O candle.
ReplyDeleteGod help me, I think I'm going to make this.
There's nothing more elegant than a granny lighting her smoke from a flaming tower of gelatin.
DeleteIf you do make it, take a photo. If you can get it to stand erect, I'll tip my hat to you.
Mayonnaise and jello? Really ? I'm feeling a bit ill at the thought..
ReplyDeleteOh, come on. You've seen worse than that, haven't you? I mean, it could've called for JELL-O and tuna. Hey, I think I have a recipe for that.
DeleteMake jello - float some tea candles - refrigerate until firm and vwolla! Light those suckers up and you have the whole family gasping. Remember....I know about this craft stuff!
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea, Melanie! Mind if I steal it and go on Dragon's Den?
DeleteIf it sells...remember who your muse was!
DeleteI'll split the profits with. I don't know what you'll do with that ten dollars, but spend it wisely.
DeleteOther than a bit wobbly I think this actually looks pretty good Brian. Send this over to Martha Stewart pronto!
ReplyDeleteShe won't feature it. I don't think Martha is a JELLO-tower-with-a-candle-stuck-in-it kind o' gal. Although you never know. She might be harbouring a secret caker inside.
DeleteI don't remember exactly what my grandmother did for ours but I think we let them sit in the fridge overnight for one thing
ReplyDeleteI think my family left ours in the fridge overnight
ReplyDeleteI believe the 6 oz. can is key here (Brian hinted at this referencing mass/density). A 12 oz. can is too big. 6 oz. frozen juice cans are becoming obsolete; can't think of the last time I saw one. Actually FROZEN juice concentrate is becoming obsolete, too. The shelf space in the freezer keeps getting narrower. Modern consumers are more likely to buy their juice premade in a carton. But there must be some container that would work, 'cause this is a brilliant idea.
ReplyDelete