Sous-sus Chef
Food and celebrating often go hand in hand. We celebrate a night of rest by having breakfast. We pay homage to a morning of work with lunch. Accomplishing another full day of love and work is recognized with dinner. Every meal can and should be savored and respected. And, of course, don’t forget that healthy choices and moderation coupled with plenty of exercise are required to counter the effects of over celebrating, if you know what I mean!
It is a documented and publicized fact that many chronic diseases in America can be challenged successfully with proper nutrition and exercise. Good nutrition does not mean cutting out all the tasty, fun flavors that are naturally found in fruits and juices. This recipe can help those who are looking for ways to honor good food choices with a light, refreshing dessert that doesn’t overdo the celebration factor of a good meal. While this dessert contains sugars, they are not in excess. In food, as in life, it is excess that can lead to problems. If you can’t eat sugar, try using a sugar substitute and choose juices without added sugar. Again, 100-percent juice without added sweeteners is the best. To avoid the sugar in the sparkling juice, use club soda.
For a festive, easy and inexpensive treat, Celebration Gelatin Dessert is a winner. It looks like a glass of chilled champagne but is friendly to everyone because it’s made with sparkling juice. The sparkling juice naturally makes a fizzy top that resembles the bubbles in champagne and gives you a tingle on the tongue as the gelatin sparkles all the way down. Everyone will celebrate with this one and you will ring in the New Year as a culinary champion!
Celebration Gelatin Dessert
1 package or 1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin
1 cup 100-percent white grape juice, chilled
2 tablespoons sugar
1 cup non-alcoholic sparkling white grape juice (any flavor sparkling juice will work)
4 chilled champagne glasses
Pour the chilled white grape juice into a sauce pan. Sprinkle unflavored gelatin on the surface of the juice and let sit for one minute. Preheat stove burner to medium-low while gelatin is dissolving. After one minute, heat the gelatin mixture stirring with a whisk. Once liquid is slightly hot, whisk in and dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
Slowly add the sparkling white grape juice while whisking into the gelatin mixture. Room temperature sparkling juice creates more foam, and adding it slowly retains the foam for a bubbly champagne appearance. Pour the mixture into chilled champagne or dessert glasses. Chill in refrigerator for approximately six to eight hours. Serves four.