Jello Aquariums and Hot Dog Noodlers

Once in a while, I get hit upside the head with an inspiration that gets me going on a roll to want to try a couple of new things. That happened to me yesterday when I was looking around on Pinterest.

Pinterest is one of my most favorite ways to veg and to be inspired these days. In fact, I like it so much that I honestly have to ration my time on it. In case you don’t know Pinterest…it’s an amazing way to basically keep virtual bulletin boards of ideas you like, pictures that inspire, recipes you’d like to try, décor you want, and anything else really (plus, it links to the original source of the picture you pin as well.) It is also another avenue of social networking so you can see what other people you know are pinning and interested in as well. It’s awesome. But you have to be invited to do it…so if you’re interested, email me at Logan dot Wolfram at gmail dot com, and I’ll send you an invitation. It’s so much fun.

Anyhow, I saw the cutest thing on Pinterest the other night and it was one of those “I am absolutely going to buy the stuff to make those TOMORROW!” Then I saw another thing, and before I knew it, my day was definitely going to have some kid crafty foodie goodness going on.

Check out these Jello Aquariums…so stinking cute!

First order of business today was to make the jello aquariums since they’d need to set up in the fridge. To do these you’ll need:

• Jello Mixchief Soda Jello
• Some soda (I used a clear raspberry fizzy water so I could color the water as I wanted.)
• Swedish Fish
• Jelly Beans
• ½ pint mason jars

 

I wanted to make about a dozen of these to last a few days, so I actually used 3 packages of the Mixchief soda jello, and 1 package of berry blue jello.  I followed the instructions on the boxes and then mixed them together (the mixchief with the regular jello) and poured the liquid into the mason jars to set up in the fridge. I got 11 full jars out of the 4 boxes. (Next time I think I’d just use blue food coloring to make the “water” though because I think that the regular jello reduced the fizz factor of the soda jello.)

Now, here’s a tip. When you make these, you really should assemble them exactly when you want to serve them. I made one for my kiddo to eat and then one to take pictures of for you. After a couple of hours the Swedish fish in the middle looked bloated and gross, and the jelly beans in the bottom look mushy and slimy from being in the jello. So… to look cute and fresh, I stored all the prepared jello in the jars (in the fridge) for later assembly.

 

To assemble this tasty little aquarium, put a few jelly beans in the bottom of a clean jar (you could probably also use blueberries or something else round to imitate aquarium rocks.) Slide a knife around the edge of a full jar of jello to loosen it and pour it on top of the jelly beans in the fresh container. Then cut a slit in the top of the jello and shove your Swedish fish down in there to swim around. I’m thinking this would be ridiculously adorable in a fishbowl for a party to feed more people too. My son had an absolute fit over it. Loved it! I’m sending him one to school for snack tomorrow. It made him feel awesome. It’s the little things you know.

I, for one, think jelly beans and Swedish fish in jello sounds kinda nasty, but a 5 year old who also likes things like gummy bears and fruity pebbles and Nerds on ice cream will think this is fantastic. Trust me.

After I put the jello in the fridge to set, I got things ready to make our lunch…which incidentally also looks nasty to me, but my kids again thought it was pretty much the bee’s knees. They loved making it and both gobbled it up. I have to say, these things look hilarious to me. I don’t know why, but they do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

To make these weird hot dog noodlers, cut a hot dog into a few slices. Shove dry spaghetti into the hot dog section…however many you want. I think we stayed between about 5-7 noodles per slice. Drop the not dog noodlers (yes…I made up that name…hot dog noodlers) into boiling water and cook for as long as your noodle package tells you to cook them. I used regular spaghetti noodles and it took about 11 minutes. Drain them as you normally would and add whatever your kids like on top. I dumped some Classico tomato and basil marinara on ours to achieve a massive kid-friendly food home-run.

I’ll say, I’m not a person who makes “kid food” and “adult food” too differently. I expect my kids to eat whatever I’m cooking, but when it comes to lunches, we have been known to have a little fun…and this was definitely fun. Not to mention ridiculously easy, and my kids thought it was sort of like doing a craft which of course scored even higher in the cool factor category.

 

 

I think that both of these treats will be making future appearances around here. I could hardly wait to share the fun with you all too!

AND, don’t think I forgot…The winner of the “Enjoy Your Life for Dessert” favorite things gift package goes to….

entry #32 Kelly Jowers

who said: “Enjoying my life for dessert this summer has included spending at least one day a week in PJs all day with my girls…sometimes you just need days with no real agenda!”  Ain’t that the truth Kelly!?!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered, and to all of you for participating and making my “new” blog debut giveaway week such fun. I’m seriously considering compiling all of the answers from this giveaway in particular into one massive post. I honestly LOVED reading through these comments about how you each enjoy your life for dessert. I appreciate you all sharing, and it was so refreshing to hear new ideas of how to enjoy life and to be reminded of just how many blessings we each have in our lives. So, thanks ya’ll! I loved reading every single comment…truly. Makes me wish I had that many comments all the time! (hint hint! 🙂 )

Hope you all have a fantastic Labor Day weekend friends!