marius

Tee hee, Baldur, agree about "old lady china." Will not breathe a word to in-laws about your views. However, must say ... when all the *other* stuff was on the table their Holiday china looked pretty, a great deal better than it does "standing alone."

If Baldur makes the "snowglobe Jello" I want to know about it. Sounds fun ... if it really looks like that.

Our great-Aunt/cousin people (not sure how they were related) brought nasty Jello's to every affair ... you know the ones that look rather like congealed vomitus in a hideous neon green? Maybe that is only a Midwest recipe, but thinking about those Jello concoctions (seeing them in the mind's eye) is enough to call for something to settle my stomach. Amazingly, they tasted sort of okay ... but, blech for the visual effect!

marius

Hehe, Dragon, about cat and butter. We would have "repaired" the butter too, but I know some who would toss the whole stick. : )

Here's a funny thing about our in-laws with the expensive antique dinnerware: they've eaten here and seemed to enjoy themselves. But this past summer when they came to town they wanted to "go out to eat." Before dinner they presented us with a wrapped gift. It was a large serving platter that has a fat cat painted in the middle of it and along the edges it says, "Everything is better with cat hair in it."

Um ... we're not sure if they were trying to give us a message, but it's likely they were. Even though spouse vacuums everything ten times over before company comes, there's sure to be some cat hairs somehwere.

And when they dined here the last time, brother-in-law got irritated because our Maine Coon was in love with his wife and would not leave her alone. He said, "That's why we don't have any pets, they steal attention away from me." [Can't stop laughing a out that one.)

Dragon

I once did a cross-stitch pattern for my mom. It had a beautiful long-haired tabby (probably a Maine Coon) laying on a shelf amidst (+5 points) all the bottles of ketchup and mustard and what-not. Below the picture it said "In this house cat hair is a condiment"

Dragon

I keep meaning to do the one that says "Dogs have owners, cats have staff"

I've found that to be very true, though I've known a few dogs who have staff rather than owners too.

marius

Dragon, drew you a pic. tee hee.

Love "cat hair is a condiment!" And, yes ... we know we are staff. Get this, there is a cat door to the screened porch but now cats sit and stare at their cat door because ... they are training spouse to open the big door so they don't have to go through their cat door. Well, this is going to stop!

marius

Step right up and place your bets. When was the marshmallow invented?

You must bet before you check the answer on Baldur's answer channel.
I lost money on this one, it's all I can say about it ... well, and that I was most surprised.

Baldur

Baldur disqualifies himself having gone to a culinary college.
That question was actually brought up in class.

Baldur

I must say I love this marius:

http://www.thinkdraw.com/picture.php?pictureId=70609

Baldur

Locally, in RI anyway I have never seen strawberries in this recipe.

The base seems to be universally lime flavored Jello.
To this one adds shredded carrots, crushed pineapple, mini marshmallows, and hang on to your hats people, even cottage cheese.
The secret here is to get the Jello partially set and 'goopy' before folding the other ingredients into it.
When cottage cheese is used it is not stirred in but rather plopped into the green goop in small scattered spoonfuls.

marius

Well thank you. Kept trying to add more to show all the teeny-revolting bits, but the stomach would not allow it.

Baldur

Every person has their own special additions, Baldur liked them all.
Now being a vegetarian I do not each Jello, but can eat the Kosher equivalent which is based on Agar agar rather than gelatin.
Admittingly the Kosher version is hard to find.

marius

I do not know if Aunt/cousin Francis ever used strawberries, but they sound revolting with carrots, hence the choice. Pretty sure there were raisons in Aunt Francis' creations ... and also cottage cheese. She also made a dark maroon version of the same thing.

marius

Baldur liked these creations??? Must admit, they never tasted horrible but I simply could not get over the look of them.

And, since when did jello become a meat product? Please explain.

Baldur

Now you can make the standard version to halfway fill the mold and then make another batch with a dollop of mayonaisse whisked in. This gives you a milky Jadite green version that you can layer over the clear.
It add a whole new dimension.

marius

Aha ...a "whole new dimension." I KNEW jello and tomato aspic came from another dimension ... just knew it!

Baldur

Gelatin is derived from animal cartilage.

If you've ever made homemade chicken soup and had it solidify in the refrigerator you are seeing gelatin in action. Cartilage is boiled, and then somehow purified (Baldur admits to not knowing the full procedure).
It is cleansed of it's hoof and joint flavoring and made 'neutral'

Baldur

Did you know that as late as the early 1970s you could purchase a vegetable flavored Jello?
It resembled Tomato aspic but contained flavors of celery, possibly onion as well.

Baldur

A New England traditional dessert is coffee gelatin.
One uses unflavored gelatin to thicken sweetened black coffee.
When set you cut it into little cubes and serve it in parfait glasses, either with whipped cream on top or unwhipped cream poured over it.

Baldur

Baldur misses Jello in all it's amazing versions.
The Kosher variety is so difficult to procure that I rarely have it.
I should see if it's available online

marius

Bet I've not had jello in several decades. Did like it, but only strawberry with bananas floating in it. Thanks for explaining how it's an animal product. I would never have guessed. Does Baldur also avoid eggs?