I love Pinterest. I love Pinterest so very much that I recently decided I was going to quit my job, leave my husband and hire a full time (24 hour a day) nanny to raise my kids so that I could devote every waking hour to creating the amazing masterpieces on Pinterest.
I look through my pretty, pretty Pinterest boards and fantasize about living in that gorgeous place that I create all by myself.
Then reality hits and I go pour a glass of wine and wait for Ed to finish making dinner.
I always say that I can’t do anything crafty, bake-y or cook-y. Because I can’t. I can’t even make Mac and Cheese that doesn’t look like cat vomit.
But then it struck me that while this is true, I’ll never be able to make anything unless I try. So I decided I’m going to attempt one Pinterest “project” per week.
Several weeks ago week, I wanted to make something in the kitchen. I first thought I would go with a rainbow cake, then started to dream bigger about a fancier rainbow cake, then I got downright stupid and settled on the seven tier Skittles cake.
But let’s be honest. I can’t boil water without burning it. And I have a husband who reminds me of this fact when I make a grocery list for him of “all the stuff I need to do Pinterest sh*t.” So I picked the simplest sounding thing that also looked just as pretty and colorful as the more difficult baking endeavors.
I found a pin for Rainbow Jello from food blogger Glorious Treats. The pin looked amazing, and I mean, Jello. Hello?! Who can’t work with Jello?!
I nervously emailed Glory to ask her for permission to use the image of her beautiful Jello treat. She graciously agreed that I could share her image and I was high as a kite.
I was doing this.
Unfortunately, I just skimmed the directions and didn’t realize that you have to make it one layer at a time . ONE. And there are 12 layers. TWELVE. I quickly discovered that each layer took an hour to set.
This is her beautiful Jello dessert. Click the image – it’s linked to her website that is overflowing with gorgeous food.
Image courtesy of Glorious Treats
So, here’s what went down.
I sent Ed to the store with instructions to buy 6 boxes of Jello – red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple – a big container of Coolwhip and sprinkles.
He delivered, although the sprinkles were the wrong size. Small fail. I’ll let it slide.
The necessary supplies (this looks easy, right?):
Even I can boil water for Jello. (Notice the crusty, dried cheese from Mac n Cheese on the pan. Hey, I buy Annie’s. Cut me some slack.)
I used the “quick set” method. Also, I clearly have a career in photography. Food photography, specifically. Obviously.
I had no issue with the regular Jello layers, but the layers that are mixed with Coolwhip gave me a run for my money. No worries, though. I made it happen. I can make it rain in the kitchen.
I got the blue and purple layers, plus the lighter of each — so four layers total – all set. That took two full days. Then I had to leave for Creative Alliance.
So I came home, inspired and full of ideas and ready for change. I set some of those changes in motion.
And I forgot about my Jello masterpiece.
So, on Monday – almost three weeks later – I pulled it out to continue my dessert mastery.
Except things weren’t looking so good.
Okay, fine, this is how it looked three weeks ago. But still.
So, I decided that I’d put the brakes on the bus and stop while I was still ahead really behind, but not quite buried. I had this left over:
(I have no idea what happened to the yellow Jello. Maybe Ed really likes yellow Jello. I dunno.)
And this is what my hard work looked like:
But I’m not one to skip out on finishing a half finished product a tiny bit more. Does that make sense? So, I broke out the Coolwhip and sprinkles. My work here is done. Bam. My layered Jello.
Okay, fine, but I’m doing this again and I’m doing all 12 layers. We all have to start somewhere, right?
Expect to see this on Foodgawker soon. Those folks recognize talent when they see it.
Joking aside, I’m not a quitter. I’m going to do this again. And I’m really going to nail it next time. Stay tuned.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Haha – you are brave trying that recipe! Good job.
HAHA!! I think what you actually did looks great! Had you finished it would have been awesome. That being said, who wants to make a dessert that takes 12 hours to complete?! That sounds like torture.
In 12 hours, I could eat several chocolate desserts and also drink a bottle of wine. So, yeah, there are better uses of my time for sure.
Well Laura you’ve got one up on me for having your Jello actually set. And I’m very good at cooking/baking etc but never in my life have I ever had my Jello set. (maybe it’s because it knows I actually find the thought of eating Jello utterly repulsive unless there’s some sort of alcohol in it). I’d say you did a great job and it probably would’ve turned out just fine. It was a very brave first Pinterest idea to try so cheers to that.
“I actually find the thought of eating Jello utterly repulsive unless there’s some sort of alcohol in it” <<– Truer words have never been spoken.
It’s actually not that bad looking. The original looks better because all the layers are there. Don’t look at your individual layers — you have to look at the whole work of art
Anyway, that seems pretty time consuming for just Jell-O. You could probably do the “donkey cookies” in less time. Just sayin’
“The whole of the art.” You ARE a word master.
Dying over the donkey cookies – you’re probably right. Maybe I should do those next!
Don’t knock it. It’s fantastic. It’s patriotic. It’s Patriotic Mix-N-Match Jello Surprise.
Ha! Thank you!
If you cooked regularly you might realize at a glance just what is involved in a recipe. I’ve always said you are not a quitter. I think the time involved making this jello project would make the six layer ‘skittles’ cake appear easy. At least after tinting batter you bake it all at once and voila-you have your cake. Perhaps it’s time to cut losses and move on? (Some things are worth the effort…others???).
xoxo
Mom
I can’t even reply to this. Because it’s true. So I guess I’m doing the cake next. I’ll do it at your house in two weeks. Your kitchen is bigger. xoxo
They are actually quite stunning…in a “glass half empty” sort of way.
And I am dying over the fact that you watermarked the photos, as if you were afraid someone else would want to pass them off as their own creations….xoxo
I puffy heart your Pinterest project.
You know, that just hurts. I mean, someone might want to steal that picture. Okay, fine, they wouldn’t…
xoxo
Come on, girl, give yourself some credit! The layers you’ve got look goo-ooo-ood! But, I love that you owned it, creatively-dolloped cool whip and all
Ha! Thank you!!! The next one I do is going to be epic – mostly b/c I’ll complete it.
I have a recipe for you that I need to find. Pretty much similar but think I used sour cream??? Been years so will have to look for it. I do it in a 9 X 13 ish pan and do not wait an hour between layers. It is one of those cheap ass dishes that looks so pretty and you only need a little bit since it’s so sweet. People are always dazzled by it and I remember thinking anyone, including you, trust me, can do it!! I’ll email you when I find it. Won’t be anytime soon since I am clueless where it could be. And it’s GF of course!!
you should check out the blog pinstrosity! http://pinstrosity.blogspot.com/ full of pinterest fails!
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