Jelly Cake
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3 packets of jelly, each making 500ml of jelly in a light blue colour
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3 leaves titanium strength gelatine leaves
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A little vegetable oil to oil the mold
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Whipped cream
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crushed cookie crumbs
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underwater themed decoration (from a toy store, I bought mine from Kidstuff)
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2 litre jelly mold
Buyer's tip: Underwater themed decorations can be found at toy stores. Be careful that children don't swallow these.
Step 1 - First of all, check the capacity of your mold. You need to make enough jelly to fit this mold. Place the jelly crystals in a big bowl and make according to directions. You should have 1500ml of liquid now. The blue jelly is a bit too strong to see the sea creatures through and jelly is already quite sweet so I water it down.
Step 2 - Soak the gelatine leaves in cold water. When soft, squeeze them and then add them to the liquid blue jelly. Then add enough cold water to make 2 litre in total of liquid. Allow to cool a little but not solidify.
Step 3 - Lightly oil the mold and then pour half of the cool jelly mixture into the mold. Set the timer for half an hour and when this is up, check that the jelly is not fully set but it has some body to it so that the sea creatures don't sink to the bottom of the pan (which is in fact the top). Push the sea creatures into the jelly towards the edge so they can be seen from the outside and allow this to set firm.
Step 4 - When set, add the rest of the jelly liquid and set firm. When the jelly has completely set, about 4-6 hours later, take a presentation plate or stand. Have a basinful of hot water and plunge the outside of the jelly mold in it for a few seconds just to loosen it (not too long). Firmly clamp the plate onto the bottom of the jelly mold and upturn it in a swift motion jiggling it slightly if necessary.
Step 5 - Place cookie crumbs around the bottom of the edge in place of sand. Pipe some whipped cream around the mold and in the centre to fill the gap if you are using a ring mold. Place any additional sea ornaments on top.