Jello Poke Cake

I made a jello poke cake back in May. I think it must have been for the Mother's Day family party with Kevin's family or maybe when we got together for Memorial Day. I can't remember now, but I know I made it in May for some family party with Kevin's family. :) This is a very simple and easy dessert to make and most people love it. I haven't made one in years. Due to time constraints, I actually ended up going to the store and picking up a cake mix. I had planned to make my own, using the recipe I used for the strawberry cake a few months ago. I used strawberry jello and covered the top with fresh strawberries. It was a hit at the party. Everyone loved it and some had seconds. Its a very moist cake and the jello gives it a good flavor. You can use any kind of jello and fruit that you want. I've made it many different ways in the past. Its very versatile.

Sorry, no picture. I must have forgotten to take one.

Jello Poke Cake

1 package white cake mix
Water, oil, and eggs (as specified on cake mix package)
12 oz Cool Whip (I used the organic and natural stuff from Whole Foods)
3 oz package jello (I used strawberry)
1 cup boiling water
fresh berries (optional)

Prepare the cake with the water, oil, and eggs, following the directions on the packet. Bake at 350 degrees in a 13 by 9 inch pan for 40 to 45 minutes and then cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Poke holes all over the cake with a fork.

Dissolve the jello in a cup of boiling water and pour the mixture carefully all over the cake. Chill for 4 hours or until the jello has completely set over the cake.

Decorate the cake with Cool Whip, add the fresh berries if you are using them, and store the cake in the refrigerator

Strawberry Whip

I made this jello salad from AllRecipes for my cousin's baby shower on Saturday. This was very tasty and pretty easy make, too. Plus, it makes quite a bit - which always nice for a party.

Strawberry Whip

2 (6 ounce) packages strawberry flavored gelatin
4 cups water
1 cup frozen strawberries, thawed
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

Combine gelatin with 2 cups boiling water; mix well. When dissolved, add 2 cups cold water, mix and refrigerate.

Before gelatin is completely firm, stir in strawberries and thawed whipped topping. Refrigerate until completely chilled.

Orange Sherbet Salad

I made this jello salad from AllRecipes for our New Years Day dinner tomorrow night. Our friends Ben, Kati, and their dog Enzo will be coming over to join us for dinner and hang out. Kati has celiac disease, so I'm making everything gluten-free and I thought this would be an easy side dish... plus I can use up some ripe bananas that I have on my counter. :) This sure looks good - I'm sure it'll taste good, too! Its very similar to a recipe that my family makes quite often - only they use marshmallows instead of bananas... I figure the bananas make it a little healthier. :) Update: it was delicious! It filled in for our dessert since I didn't end up having time to make a flourless chocolate cake. Definitely a keeper and something I'll make again!

Orange Sherbet Salad

2 (6 ounce) packages orange flavored gelatin
4 cups boiling water
1 quart orange sherbet
2 (11 ounce) cans mandarin oranges
3 bananas, sliced

Combine the gelatin and boiling water; stir until dissolved. Add sherbet and fruit; mix well. Pour into a 9x13 dish and chill until set. Serve cold.

Dreamsicle Jello Salad

I found a recipe on RecipeZaar for a dreamsicle jello salad awhile back and have had all of the ingredients on hand for awhile now. So I decided I'd make it for our family party at the lake tomorrow afternoon to celebrate America's Birthday!! I tasted a small dab before I put it in the refrigerator and this really does taste just like a dreamsicle - so yummy if you like dreamsicles at least! I didn't take a picture - I'll try to remember tomorrow when I get it out and I'll update then.

Dreamsicle Jello Salad

2 (3 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding
1 (3 ounce) package orange Jell-O
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1 (22 ounce) can mandarin oranges (with juice)
1 (16 ounce) container Cool Whip

Combine the pudding, Jello and boiling water and dissolve completely. Add the Mandarin Oranges (with juice). Fold in the Cool Whip. Refrigerate.

Lime Pear Gelatin Salad

I decided to try out a recipe I found on AllRecipes for a lime pear gelatin salad. I took it to our family party this afternoon. It was very good! I was able to use up the lime jello and canned pears that I had in the pantry, as well as a tub of cool whip that I had in the freezer. I made a double batch so I could just use up some stuff.

Lime Pear Gelatin Salad

1 (.6 ounce) package sugar-free lime gelatin
1 cup boiling water
1 (15.25 ounce) can pear halves in juice
1 (3 ounce) package reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups reduced-fat frozen whipped topping, thawed

Whisk together the lime gelatin and boiling water in a large bowl until the gelatin dissolves. Pour the mixture into the container of a blender, and add the pear halves and cream cheese. Cover and blend until smooth. Pour back into the bowl, and gently whisk in the whipped topping. Transfer to a mold or serving bowl, cover and refrigerate until firm, at least 4 hours. To unmold, dip the mold briefly into hot tap water to loosen the gelatin, then invert onto a plate.

Strawberry Pretzel Delight

We're taking a trip out to Grand Rapids tomorrow afternoon to visit Kevin's grandparents, then we'll head over to my SIL/BIL's house for dinner and playtime with the little ones. So tonight, I made up a jello salad/dessert dish to take to Mary's and Justin's tomorrow. This is a recipe that my cousin Becky N. makes quite often. Its so good! This was the first time I've made it, so I hope it tastes as good as Becky's always does tomorrow! I used organic whole grain spelt pretzels and organic cream cheese. The rest of the ingredients are conventional - who would have thought it'd be so hard to find organic frozen strawberries, whipped cream, and strawberry gelatin?? I looked in three different stores (2 of which were health food stores) and never came across any of them.


Strawberry Pretzel Delight

CRUST:
2 cups crushed pretzels (not only were they organic whole grain spelt, but they had no salt on them either)
3 Tablespoons sugar
3/4 cup melted butter (I used about 3 Tablespoons and few squirts of butter spray)

CREAM CHEESE LAYER:
8 ounces cream cheese (I used the neuchatel 1/3 less fat cheese)
small container cool whip (I used fat free)
1 cup sugar

GELATIN LAYER:
6 ounces strawberry gelatin (I used sugar free)
2 cups boiling water
2 10-ounce containers frozen strawberries

Mix crust ingredients. Press into a 9x13 pan. Bake for 8 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool completely.

Beat together the ingredients for the cream cheese layer. Spread over cooled pretzel crust.

Dissolve gelatin into boiling water. Add strawberries. Let stand for 10 minutes. Then pour over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate overnight.

Top with cool whip and chopped nuts if desired. (I left this layer off)