Category: Food

Red, White, and Blue Jello Gelatin Dessert

written 07/15/2023, updated 07/15/2023

What

Jello, Gelatin dessert in patriotic Red, White, and Blue

Ingredients

Main: Red Jell-O/gelatin powder mix, Blue Jell-O/gelatin powder mix, Thai agar dessert mix (your choice of flavor, I like almond), and supplies

Supplies: Plastic cups or glass cups/stems (fancy, for serving), lidded containers (for transport or saving), baking sheet

Optional Toppings: Strawberries, Blueberries, Sliced Starfruit, Mint Leaf, Whipped cream, etc.

Serving

About 10 cup-like containers

Time

Blue (5 min prep + 2 hr refrigeration)

+

White (5 min cooking + 15 min cooling + 2 min doling + 1.5 hr refrigeration)

+

Red (5 min prep + 2 hr refrigeration)

=

TOTAL: ~ 6 hours, 32 minutes

Steps

Easy, just time consuming. Fun for kids!

  • Boil water
  • Mix into blue-colored Jell-O/gelatin according to instructions
  • Portion out into containers
  • Set in refrigerator to cool (2ish hours, until firm)
  • Make white agar agar dessert per instructions on the stove
  • Let cool about 10-15 minutes (important!!) until not hard, but not boiling
  • Portion into containers on top of chilled blue layer (test one first to see if it’s too hot or blue Jell-O hasn’t set all the way yet)
  • Refrigerate until firm (1.5ish hours)
  • Boil water
  • Mix into red-colored Jell-O/gelatin according to instructions
  • Portion on top of white layer
  • Set into refrigerator to cool (about 2 hours)
  • Add optional toppings
  • Serve, enjoy!

Pictures

Portioning out the blue
Making the agar
Portioning out the agar
Messed up on one, being impatient
What happens when it’s too hot
Red!
Easy way to stack in the fridge
Ungarnished, but would look awesome with cream and fruit toppings

Notes

  • I was too lazy to garnish mine with Cool Whip and fruits but would be very nice!
  • The flavors were great! Light with the strawberry, denser and sweet with the almond agar, and then a bit sour with the blue. Very good!
  • Be careful not to layer when it’s either too hot or the prior layer is not yet set… They will seep into each other. Unless that’s what you’re going for.

Breaded Chicken Rolls

written 07/08/2023, updated 07/08/2023

Variation without excess sauce or cheese

What

Chicken breast rolls stuffed with sauce, bacon, and spinach, breaded with Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Crumbs. Can easily be dairy-free without addition of cheese. No eggs. No soy. Unless in sauce.

Fun for a family because each roll can be customized for each person in terms of sauce, seasonings, and filling

Ingredients

Main: Chicken breasts (whole or sliced), Kellogs’s Corn Flakes Crumbs (or whatever breading, like panko), filling, seasoning, sauce, physical fastener

Your choices of whatever you like:

Filling: spinach, cheese slices, bacon, dried cranberries, onions, etc

Seasonings: soy sauce, salt, pepper, sugar, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, etc

Sauce: A-1, mustard, hot sauce, mango, tomato, etc

Fasteners: toothpicks, cooking twine, etc

Time

45 minutes prep + 30-45 minutes bake = 1.5 hours total

Steps

I used 4 whole breasts, pictures below

  • Cook bacon
  • Sauté spinach and flavor lightly with lemon, garlic, soy sauce, pepper, and crumbled bacon, if desired
  • Prepare and set out any seasonings or sauces (your hands will be dirty)
  • Prepare breading in dish and set aside
  • Line a baking pan with baking rack (you want airflow under the chicken)
  • Prepare a sheet of plastic wrap and set nearby
  • Butterfly the whole breasts (if using pre-cut breasts, skip ahead)
  • Lay plastic wrap on top of butterflied chicken
  • Using a meat tenderizer mallet, pound until flat
    • Repeat for all chicken
    • One by one, season the chicken on both sides
    • Pour sauce and rub it in
    • Layer cheese, bacon, and spinach
    • Top with more sauce, bacon, and cheese
    • Carefully fold in the sides, and then roll (Sauce and cheese will escape any holes or seams!)
    • Bind with physical fasteners (I use toothpicks)
    • Drizzle oil (optional)
    • Cover in Kellogg’s Crumbs/breading
    • Bake in oven between 350-400 degrees F for about 30-40 minutes (depends on how much chicken)
    • Remove fasteners
    • Slice, enjoy

Pictures

Saute spinach
Careful, don’t make it too salty
Breading
Used pre-cooked bacon this time. Meh.
Baking rack on lined pan
Meat tenderizer
4 whole breasts
Flattening
Flattened
Soy sauce
Spices
Sauce, bacon, spinach
Wrapped, about to bread
Baking

Notes

  • Sauce is imperative if you don’t want it to turn out dry
  • Fun to make for the family because everyone gets to choose their own sauce/flavor
  • Pre-cooked bacon is easy, but imparts little flavor
  • Bakes quickly since chicken is thin and filling is pre-cooked
  • Thermometers are not recommended given how thin the meat is, can be used as a gauge
  • Cutting open a test piece is the best option to test for doneness
  • Cheese is not necessary, but makes it oh so good
  • Colored toothpicks not recommended, lol. Color comes off in chicken.
  • Bite sized is fun to eat, but annoying to prepare
  • Try not to create holes when butterflying
  • Try not to lose any sauce or cheese to holes during baking. Makes it very dry