Sometimes, I think science has spoiled us because fake food always tastes better than the real thing. For example, Tang tastes more orangey than real oranges. And Cool Whip tastes better than real whipped cream. And how about those strawberry marshmallows? You know the ones, with the crispy, sugary outer shell surrounding that soft interior? Way tastier than real strawberries.
While these homemade strawberries aren’t as good as the marshmallow kind, they’re pretty darn delicious. Plus, unlike real strawberries, they have calcium, thanks to sweetened condensed milk. And talk about cute!
Now look, I know not all of you are as artistic as me (Mother credits my small, doll-like hands), but these aren’t that hard to make. The recipe calls for green butter icing for the leaves, but I found another recipe that used green maraschino cherries. And I’m all for helping out those little green guys. Red maraschino cherries have all the fun.
PSST! To show how realistic these strawberries are, I put a real one in the photo. Think you can spot it? There’s a banana marshmallow coming your way if you do.
1 can Eagle Brand milk
2 tablespoons fruit sugar
¾ pound desiccated coconut (see note)
2 packages strawberry JELL-O
Keep out ½ pkg. strawberry JELL-O. Mix other ingredients. Form into strawberry shapes and roll in extra jelly powder. Make leaves of green butter icing and put small piece of green toothpick as stem.
Note: I eyeballed this one because I was afraid of how much ¾ pound of coconut would make. I mean, I like fake strawberries, but the ol’ thong is getting a little tight these days. LOL!!!
Pure genius!
ReplyDeleteI know! The only things missing are the seeds. But a sprinkle of sesame seeds might solve that. Take that, Mother Nature.
DeleteThat does seem like enough ingredients to make like a hundred fake strawberries…. Maybe if you were having some kind of church lady fund raising bonanza this would come in handy? Also *very Martha Stewartson*
ReplyDeleteWhenever anything is listed in pounds, it always scares me. If the recipe said "One package of coconut," I could deal with that. But what does 3/4 pound of coconut look like?
DeleteI received a call from Martha Stewartson this morning. She's putting my berries on the cover of the next Martha Stewartson Living! Pinch me!!!
It took me an hour or so, but I did manage to spot the real strawberry! It's the one on the bottom left? Pretty proud of my myself!
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Debzi333! A banana marshmallow has been mailed to you. Mind you, it will be very flat by the time it reaches you.
DeleteLove it.
ReplyDeleteLove it. Eat it. Shellac it and make earrings.
DeleteArgh, eaten comment (again).
ReplyDeleteThese look like a nice alternative to marzipan fruit, so I'm bookmarking these for Christmas. I imagine you could do oranges, and pears, etc.
In the US the large bag of coconut is 1 lb. It is a lot of coconut for these, but *just enough* if you're making a coconut cake (or if I'M making a coconut cake).
Bookmark these and then send me the pics. I have little doubt your creations will be masterful.
DeleteI have never made a coconut cake, but they always remind me of Maryann on Gilligan's Island. Or was that a coconut cream pie?
These look great Brian, and very fancy to boot! Anything dessert has a base of sweetened condensed milk is tops in my books. I know what you mean about the ol' thong being a bit tight these days. I've been on holiday this past week and donned my swimsuit for the first time since last summer :-( I feel your pain.
ReplyDeleteIt's awful! I had to spray my legs with Pam this morning just to slip it on.
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