31 Dec Layered Jelly & Custard

New Year 2019

Ring in the new year with this Layered Jelly & Custard, I just did! We, humans, have this tendency to wipe the axiomatic slate clean and start again at the start of a new year, a birthday or just the changing seasons. Why does it have to be that way if one wants to start an exercise regimen, going on a diet or think of spending more quality time with family and friends? Maybe they feel New Year is a new me. For them there are 12 new chapters and 365 new chances. Every day is a new day, isn’t it? Anyway, each to his own, for me it is just my regular post on a new day of the New Year.

Jelly & Custard

Jelly and custard are the two things I have grown up eating as English dessert. Custard is also my first attempt at cooking desserts. I remember so clearly, I was 14 and mom asked me to make the custard for my cousins who were coming home for the first time. Once lunch was cleared, I proudly brought out my fruit custard and served it. I was waiting for the words of appreciation when to my horror I was told that there was no sugar in the dessert. I was so embarrassed and ran back to salvage my pride and lick my wounds in solitude. (Nothing so dramatic, I just added powdered sugar and everyone finished their dessert)   

Kids love Jelly

I rarely have guests and when 2 of the guests are infants there has to be food they love. All kids love jelly. Why do they love it so much? Obviously children love jelly with as it is so colourful, has fruity flavours and of course because of its funny texture.

Kids are fascinated to see the jelly moving and wobbling and it gives them great pleasure in touching it and popping it into the mouth. But not only children even I love jelly for dessert compared to cakes and ice creams.

Jelly Love

Additionally, jelly is very easy to make, just add the mix to boiling water, you can already prepare it in advance and mould it into different shapes. It looks great in layered desserts and the aesthetic appeal of the dessert goes up a few notches with jelly. You can create your own recipes with fruit, custard or ice cream.

I decided to make Strawberry jelly with fresh strawberries in and added pineapple pieces to the custard.

Recipe for Layered Jelly & Custard

INGREDIENTS

½ litre milk

 3Tbsp. Custard Powder (vanilla Flavour)

1 pkt strawberry flavoured jelly

 ¼ cup fresh strawberries chopped

1/4^th cup tinned pineapple pieces

2 cups water

½ cup sugar

Method

I had the jelly layer first as I wanted to unmold the dessert.

Chop the strawberries and pineapple slices and keep aside.

First of all heat 1 cup of water. Add the jelly crystals to the boiling water and once it melts turn of the gas.

Add one cup of cold water to the hot jelly so that it cools down faster.

Take a jelly mould and line the strawberry slices in it.

Now pour the jelly and keep it in the fridge to set

Meanwhile, take a bowl and mix the Vanilla flavoured Custard Powder in half a cup of water to make a paste. I usually add cold milk instead of water.

Heat milk in a pan, and once it is boiling, add the sugar and custard paste.

Keep stirring continuously with a spatula to avoid lumps and cook till the mixture thickens.

Remove from heat and let it cool a bit.

Add the pineapple slices and mix.

Finally, pour the custard gently over the jelly and leave it to set in the fridge.

This Layered Jelly & Custard is ready to eat in a couple of hours.

When you want to serve, carefully overturn the bowl onto the serviette. It will easily plop out.

Decorate Layered Jelly & Custard with full or chopped strawberries.