festive fun food

I made this fun jello salad for Easter at Steve's parent's house. We all got together the Saturday before Easter and had a great time.

Ribbon Jello Salad

1 (3 ounce) package cherry flavored gelatin mix
1 (3 ounce) package lemon flavored gelatin mix
1 (3 ounce) package lime flavored gelatin mix
1 (3 ounce) package orange flavored gelatin mix

1 (3 ounce) package berry flavored gelatin mix (optional)

2 cups milk
2 (.25 ounce) packages unflavored gelatin
1 cup white sugar
1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
In a medium saucepan, boil milk and sugar. Cool completely, but do not refrigerate.
Dissolve each package of flavored gelatin separately in 1 1/2 cups of boiling water. Set aside.
Dissolve unflavored gelatin in 1/2 cup of warm water. Add with sour cream to cooled milk and sugar and vanilla mixture. Set aside.
Spread gelatin of one color on the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan. Chill in refrigerator until set. Then put 1 1/3 cup of the sour cream mixture on the chilled, firm layer of gelatin. Keep alternating these until all gelatin is used. Be sure to chill after each addition of gelatin.

This was really fun to make and was so colorful but took a loooong time due to letting each layer set. The visual results were totally worth it though! I actually used 5 packs of jello so that is why I added an optional pack in the ingredients. The layers wanted to slide off one another so the next time I make this I will add each layer after about 20-25 mins instead of letting it set completely. I was not very diligent about timing the layers and often would forget about it! Don't let the sour cream throw you....the white layer tastes a lot like cream cheese:)

I also made Bird's Nests. This is a throw back to the days of my youth when Mom would whip these up. Super easy and very cute!

Bird Nest Cookies

1 bag milk choc chips

1 can (5 oz.) can chow mein noodles

1 c. chopped salted peanuts (optional)

1 bag sm. jelly beans

Melt chips in microwave or double boiler. Add noodles, stir until completely coated. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper shaping into nest. Cool completely. Add jelly beans.

There are so many variations on this cookie. You can use white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, or combine the butterscotch with the chocolate. You can even add peanut butter. Whatever you would like. I just went for easy and used the milk chocolate chips and the noodles. AND jelly beans of course!