Yea! It's Time for the Olympics!

(Image courtesy of lovejanine.blogspot.com)

I love the Olympics! I feel like I'm waiting forever for the years to pass. Anyway, now is as good a time as any to share a fantastic dessert recipe with you. I've been eating almond jello (or float) ever since I can remember. Whenever I make it, I have to have 2 batches ready before I can eat it or everyone in the house gets it before me. LOL! It's not your typical jello. The jello is prepared to have a slightly softer consistency and being not too sweet because you serve it in the juices from the fruit you serve with it. The mandarin juice adds a slight tang evening out the lychee juice, which is a bit sweeter. Oh, I'm getting hungry...I knew this would happen. lol You've got to try it...it's the lightest most refreshing dessert!

Almond Jello/Float

3 packages Unflavored Gelatin
1 3/4 c Water
6 T Sugar
2 c Milk
1 1/2 T Almond Extract
1 6oz can Mandarin Oranges
1 16oz can Lycee Fruit
1 12oz can Fruit Cocktail

Preparation: Dissolve the gelatin in 3/4 cup cold water with the sugar. Stirring well to mix. Bring the rest of the water (1 cup) of water to a boil. Pour over the gelatin mixture and stir until gelatin is dissolved and clear. Add milk and almond extract. Pour into a 7x12 inch pan (or something similar...ice cube trays, plain or decorative work well too!) so that the liquid is about an inch deep. Refrigerate until set or overnight. Chill the fruit while the jello is in the fridge.

Assembly: Cut jello into 3/4-1 inch squares. Place in large bowl. Cut the lychees in half or quarters. Add the fruits, reserving the liquids. Pour the mandarin orange and lychee liquids over the fruit and jello. Mix and serve.

Will last around a week in the fridge (if it lasts that long).

NOTE: Before I pour in the gelatin mixture, I will line the pan with a sheet of plastic wrap. This makes pulling the jello out a ton easier since you can just lift out the whole sheet...being careful not to spill anything. You can also leave out the lychees if you don't care for them and use the juice from the cocktail instead.