A Twisted Family Tradition ~ The Lime Jello Brain
Originally brief now long note: I was adopted and searched for my biological family 20 years ago and I'm equally tight with both fams, although I only have my adoptive sister left of my adoptive family. My bio family is referred to as "The Fam", kind of like a cult but much more amusing and a *little* offbeat , in the best way! We, my biological mother, sister and brother (full siblings) are all brainy science types (cept me) and get obssessed with various odd things usually a mix of something scientific and goofy. Brains were an obsession for awhile (continue to be for me) and this lovely dessert caught on then and has been THE holiday dessert for a decade now. Recipe for flavor and wiggly jiggliness perfected although disasters have happened occasionally.
Other sorts of "family" fun have included making a parasite diarama as a b-day gift for my sister when she was in vet school or celebrating a little known Japanese holiday (little known by Japanese too! ~ "oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi" on Feb. 2, when one throws 108 adzuki beans out the door and yells the above each time. "Demons out , Angels in!" For mother's day her darling daughers mailed her a "Malaise Basket" filled with carefully bagged and labeled wierd stuff from our, uh, cluttered cars, backpacks and purse, like unraveled tapes, ibuprofen slipped from its bottle, old candy, dead batteries, etc.... I could go on but the list is long! We're easily amused.
More importantly, back to the brain: BREAKING NEWS - Electric Eye just sent me a link to a place that sells whole brains, yeah, www.bjwinslow.com/gallery/hauntedhouseprops/2101312Sbrain...
Brain Gelatin Recipe
INGREDIENTS
Two 6-ounce boxes of gelatin mix, LIME is strongly recommended and
goes with the rest of the recipe. (you really don't want to eat a
beige brain, promise)
1-3/4 cups boiling water
3/4 cup cold water
1 package of 8 oz package of firm cream cheese
I reg. can of 7 - up or a good fizzy lemon-lime soda
A hefty portion of chopped walnuts (like a cup or so, not too finely
chopped)
DIRECTIONS
1. Before each use, wash the mold with warm soapy water and a soft
cloth or sponge.
2. Spray or smear the inside of the mold with a small amount of
vegetable oil, then wipe out the excess but make sure the little
creases are oiled. VERY IMPORTANT STEP. Spray is better, don't use
olive oil!
3. Put the gelatin mix in a large bowl and add the boiling water. Stir
about two minutes until the mix is dissolved.
4. Stir in the cold water.
5. Beat in the cream cheese. Adjust color to your liking if necessary
w/ food coloring 6. Stir in nuts and seven-up.
6. Pour the mixture in the brain mold, stopping about 1/4 inch from
the top.
7. Place the brain mold in a shallow bowl so it will sit level VERY
IMPORTANT, and refrigerate until bouncy (about 3 or 4 hours). Warn
everyone with a huge note on the fridge that there's a brain
developing in the fridge so BE CAREFUL!
8. To remove the brain, Place the mold in a bowl of warm water for a
minute or so. This is a delicate procedure. Then tap around the mold
and shake it gently until the gelatin loosens. Place a flat plate
upside down over the open side of the mold, then flip the mold and the
plate together. Lift the mold off, leaving the brain on the plate.
This might take a couple of tries to get down but you'll get it. Our version is extremely tasty! The nuts and cheese kinda settle on the bottom giving it a little gourmet flair!
OMG, forgot something potentially important. You may add eyeballs, even battery operated glowing ones for decoration. I'll dig up one of those pics.
Good luck. Take pictures. We'll have a pool, of course. I'm printing out an 8x10 for my mom right now.
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Comments and faves
jcwinnie, silent_lady_d, William McCamment, thedivinemrswalters, and 70 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Naoise [deleted] (101 months ago | reply)
Eeewwww! I was just about to have breakfast. Why did I look, oh why!!?
:)
Luminuscule (101 months ago | reply)
How I would love to know the story behind this tradition!
hurleygurley (101 months ago | reply)
Luminuscule: read added commentary above!
Luminuscule (101 months ago | reply)
Hahaha, awesome! Of course, now I'm curious about the brain recipe, and about how one obtains the perfect jigglyness, and about where the hell one would find a brain-shaped mold, and..., and... I'm easily fascinated ;)
Coulee-Wind (101 months ago | reply)
Your genetic family sounds awesome:D
Suhyun (101 months ago | reply)
Very interesting, but kind of gross (my husband is now desperate to find one of those molds) :)
lykkelige mutant [deleted] (101 months ago | reply)
mmmmm... brains.... would make for fun Hallo'ween party treats, or as a decoy for any potential zombie attacks... ok, i tend to be a bit twisted
Nadar (101 months ago | reply)
Hurley, as far I understand, this is fantastic and I love the brain too!
Cheers!
Vanita (101 months ago | reply)
I am in favor of eccentricities. '-}
And of course it is a wonderful shot of dessert!
hundrednorth (101 months ago | reply)
That is awesome! Thanks for sharing the wonderful story behind it, too.
lunaryuna AGAINST CENSORSHIP [deleted] (100 months ago | reply)
I will simply echoe Vanita's statement for it summarizes it best for me as well :)
hurleygurley (98 months ago | reply)
bbaltimore, thanks! As noted above McPhee's sells only 1/2 brains now. Nevertheless, they will work fine. Recipe is above.
Nex Ninek (89 months ago | reply)
Looks very nice. And "The Fam" sounds like a fun bunch to be with.
cyberchaos (85 months ago | reply)
I want your family to adopt me! I love your traditions!
hurleygurley (83 months ago | reply)
surreal deep, i put a link to the site that sells them. we probably wouldn't have gotten into making these were it not for my vegetarian son. (sometimes the brains would replace a turkey or some other beast.)
wendygee (65 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Bay Area Bites and Beyond, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Peter Krafft (62 months ago | reply)
Hi. I am president of a neuroscience club at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I would like to use this picture as a logo on the club's website, at least temporarily. If I cited this address and your username in a Special Thanks section of the website, could I use your picture?
hurleygurley (62 months ago | reply)
Sure, Peter!
Except for the fact that i've been meaning to edit this photo for a couple of years, I'd be delighted to know this brain was serving your group's identity needs. It's late now but I can edit it tomorrow and repost it without the purple weirdness at the edge. Then you'd be free to use it and sure, you can give me credit.
My family will be honored. ; ~ }
Thanks and send me the link when its up! I'm ever curious about who's doing what in brainology.
Elisabeth Feldman
~*deerie*~ (62 months ago | reply)
I think it's a HOOT! And would definitely try this recipe for Halloween! Now, I just have to get the mold! hehe
MarieKharaz (61 months ago | reply)
Hello - where did you get this lime jello from?
I need one! or two! please pm me. or anyone that actually knows can pm me. cheers.
Theresa Thompson (61 months ago | reply)
Love your green brain!
Boju (60 months ago | reply)
You can buy brains online at
www.dappercadaver.com/advanced_search_result. php?keywords...
falken04 (59 months ago | reply)
gehirne sind also doch grün
KateHowe (59 months ago | reply)
wow, great shot!
TM - the crocheteer! (59 months ago | reply)
I love that one can create his or her own brain!
And I laughed out loud when I read about the
importance of warning people with a note on
the fridge!
shimmertje (59 months ago | reply)
Ew, LOL! Great story, and I didn't know you could include nuts and cheese in a jello recipe..
OrionSky (59 months ago | reply)
so cool!!!
Love Manor (58 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Hocus Pocus, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
rosebengal (58 months ago | reply)
Thanks for including your recipe. I'll have to dust off my jello brain mold and give this one a try. I usually use peach jello with a little blue food coloring (for gray matter) but the green is enticing and looks delicious in a respectably weird way.
Zillan (56 months ago | reply)
: O Sooo cool !
DailyCraft (55 months ago | reply)
Ohhh, this is creepy! I think I will make one tonight... have you ever tried using strawberry jello? I wonder if that would taste good...?
alejo calderón (53 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called n e u r o n a l . p h o t o g r a p h i e, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
O Bejeweled Land (Zendeh baad Azadi) (49 months ago | reply)
Love the glossy look!
BLU-RUKUS (47 months ago | reply)
awesomeeeee
Now where can I find one of those molds?
just.peekin (34 months ago | reply)
I love it!
I was writing about avocado (not lime, alas) fool and Jell-o molds, and I thought this was a great illustration. Used here: texmixcuisine.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/ways-w ith-avocado/
Thanks for giving it a Creative Commons license.
Mitthoo (31 months ago | reply)
I will be using the image for my presentation on top 10 extraordinary people here
# Top 10 Extraordinary People in the World
Lyme on my mind (26 months ago | reply)
hurleygurley, I have an odd request for the use of your photo. I am suffering from Chronic Lyme Disease that went undiagnosed for 12 years. It's been a long road of debilitating pain. Long story short, I live a long distance from family and friends and mainly keep in touch via Facebook. I am going to keep a private blog (friends/family) to let them know how I'm doing and how treatments are going. I knew nothing about Lyme when I was diagnosed. It can affect all systems within the body, including the neurological system, and most often does with chronic sufferers. The Lyme bacteria has affected my neurological system to a great extent....hence, the LYME BRAIN. So, that was long, sorry. So the pic is just for my private Facebook use. I may make the page public someday to try and educate people about this disease. May I use your awesome LIME/LYME BRAIN? Thank you!
sagitree (19 months ago | reply)
Going to try this for a party this weekend :)
This photo was invited and added to the Gruesome Grub group.
ScaryLily (11 months ago | reply)
oh my....the brain boggles...;-)
Where does one buy a "brain mould"?
Love the "malaise basket"
Note to self: clean out car, handbag, flat, and the rest of my life! :-)