Utah - Green Jell-o Lime Divine

Green Jell-o is the official state snack of Utah and Utahans consume the most Jell-o per year in the world!!!  We spent Thanksgiving in Utah last year so I made sure to check out the Jell-o selection at two grocery stores - pretty impressive!!!! 

Notice it is all Jell-o brand too!  Utah celebrated their love for Green Jell-o with a commemorative pin for the 2002 Winter Olympics and the pin quickly sold out and became a hard to find collectible. 

So what do Utahan's make with all that green Jell-o?  I bought a fun cookbook on our trip creatively named Utah Cookbook: A collection of favorite recipes from Utah and found a recipe for Lime Divine.  Above the recipe it says "A mainstay at Utah reunions and receptions, Lime Divine has become a cultural culinary representation of family fun!  It has also inspired the official Green Jell-o Olympic Pin." 


Ok - let's make some Lime Divine! 

ingredients
1 can (16 oz) pear halves, undrained
1 (6 oz) package Lime Jell-o
1 1/2 cups carbonated lemon-lime beverage
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup chopped pecans


recipe

• drain pears, reserving liquid
• dice pears and set aside
• add water to reserved pear liquid to make 1 1/2 cups
• place liquid in a saucepan and bring to a boil
• put gelatin in a bowl and add boiling liquid; allow to dissolve fully
• add carbonated beverage and lemon juice and combine
• pour 3/4 cup gelatin into a 5-cup mold
• refrigerate for one half hour, until thickened
• arrange 1/2 cup of diced pears in thickened gelatin in the mold
• in a large bowl, whisk the balance of the gelatin gradually into cream cheese until smooth
• refrigerate for one half hour or until thickened slightly
• stir in remaining pears, add chopped pecans and spoon mixture over gelatin layer in the mold
• refrigerate 4 hours or until firm
• release from mold and garnish as desired 

While it does look like a slice of glycerin soap, I have to say - I really enjoyed Lime Divine!  

There are three reasons this could be:

1. my southern heritage predisposes me to a fondness for congealed salads
2. I am pregnant and things cold and fruity taste really great right now
3. I like things that are green (see my California post) 

If any of the above apply to you, maybe you should make some Lime Divine!  Just know that there is a definite art to working with Jell-o molds - but even if it doesn't un-mold perfectly, it will still taste good!  

Enjoy!

mbf