Citrus Gelatin Ring Recipes

SANGRIA GELATIN RING

Steps:

• In a large heatproof bowl, add boiling wine to gelatin; stir 2 minutes to completely dissolve. Stir in chilled club soda. Refrigerate until thickened but not firm, about 45 minutes. Stir in berries and grapes. Pour into a 6-cup ring mold coated with cooking spray. Refrigerate until set, about 4 hours. Unmold onto a serving platter.

CITRUS ICE RING FOR PUNCH

Steps:

• It is best if the lime is as close in size to the lemons as possible.
• Cut lemons and lime in half lengthwise; with cut side down, cut into 1/4-inch slices.
• You will need a ring mold, preferably the kind with grooves in the bottom-- I use my tupperware jello mold and it's perfect.
• With the rind edge down, stand slices up around circle-- 1 lime, 2 lemon, 1 cherry, 2 lemon, all close together.
• Repeat five more times.
• Pour in enough water to be 1/2-inch deep.
• Freeze.
• When frozen, pour in an inch more water; freeze.
• When frozen, repeat.
• Keep doing this until mold is full.
• The reason you do this in stages is to prevent the fruit from floating.
• To unmold, run cold water over the bottom; it will then slip out.
• Place round side up in punch-- preferably Sparkling Party Punch (non-alcoholic), posted as a separate recipe here at Recipezaar(#24691).

CHAMPAGNE GELéE WITH KUMQUATS, GRAPEFRUITS, AND BLOOD ORANGES

Steps:

• To make the gelée, into a large bowl, pour 1/2 cup (125 ml) of the water. Sprinkle the gelatin evenly over the water and allow it to soften and swell for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, warm the remaining 1/2 cup (125 ml) water with the 1 cup (200 g) sugar, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
• Pour the warm sugar syrup over the gelatin and stir until the gelatin completely dissolves. Add the Champagne or other sparkling wine (it will foam up; hence the large bowl) and the lime juice. Taste and add additional lime juice, if desired. Cover and refrigerate until jelled, at least 6 hours.
• To prepare the fruits, slice and seed the kumquats. In a small saucepan, warm the 2 tablespoons (30 g) sugar and 1/2 cup (125 ml) water, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and add the kumquats. Let them soak in the sugar syrup for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, peel, section, and seed the grapefruits and oranges.
• To assemble, spoon some of the chilled gelée into 6 wine glasses or goblets. Add a few sections of fruit and a few strips of citrus peel. Spoon in more gelée. Continue to layer in the fruit, citrus peel, and gelée until each glass is full. Serve immediately or chill until ready to serve.
• The gelée mixture will keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Assemble the dessert the day of serving.
• Feel free to vary the fruit according to what's in season. In the summer, slightly sweetened peaches or nectarines are perfect, along with a few types of berries tossed in for good measure and color.
• If you're in a bit of a rush, you can speed up the jelling. Divide the still-liquid gelée mixture among 6 goblets or wine glasses and chill for a couple of hours until firm. When ready to serve, top each with a mixture of the fruits and citrus peel.